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Elia and Andrea Silvio Schiona Archive, 1-9-08 |
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Leonida SCHIONA March 1st, 1894 September 13th, 1984 via email from Andrea Silvio Schiona, 6-11-08 -08 Leonida Schiona was born in Orgiano (Vicenza - Italy) on March 1st, 1894, his father Augusto was a music teacher and was first violin at "La Fenice" Theatre in Venice. His mother, Amelia Montagner di Giovanni, was a housewife. He was called up in 1914, and was assigned to the 34th Battery of the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment in Belluno. On May 24th, 1915, Italy declared war on Austria. In Cameri, (Novara), he began Flight School on Gabardini 35 Hp aircraft. On April 17th, 1916, he achieved the licence to fly on "Gabardini" aircraft single wing 50 Hp. On July 16th, 1916, he was qualified to fly the "M. Farman 14". Then he was assigned to 34th Squadron in Valona (Albany). |
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Valona - 34th Squadron - Farman - 1916 Schiona (right) Elia and Andrea Silvio Schiona Archive, 6-10-08 |
| On August 22nd, 1916, he was shot down in action in Durazzo's sky by Fokker, with a synchronized machine-gun. He landed in the sea, but because he could not swim, he was helped by his observer, Captain Scarioni. Both were saved by the torpedo-boat destroyer Ardente and land in Valona. He was promoted to Sergeant-major for "war merits". |
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Captain Scarioni - Leonida Schiona Elia and Andrea Silvio Schiona Archive, 6-10-08 |
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On January 1917, he attended the Flight School for fighters (Nieuport Bebč) in Malpensa (Milan), then the Flying Shooting School in
Pisa. He was sent to the Isonzo battle front within the 84th Squadron, but after the Caporetto retreat, (October 27th, 1917), the 84th Squadron was deactivated, so he was transferred to the 78th Squadron Hanriot of Baracca's Group. |
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Hanriot HD1 I believe that aircraft was assigned only for him, because when Leonida was alive, he told me that he had a White horse insigna on the fuselage, and that his aircraft came from France because the Italian production of the Hanriot was fitted for small people, As Italians used to be. In fact, Leonida was taller than italian average, so that he could not pilot small aircrafts. Elia and Andrea Silvio Schiona Archive, 1-9-08 |
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On February 18th, 1918, he was escorting a SAM recognition aircraft on Monte Lisiert, and was engaged
by enemy aircraft. He was able to shoot down the enemy and was awarded the 1st Silver medal for military valor. On June 1918, Austria began an offensive on the Piave River. On June 15th, 1918, while flying on Montello, together with Marshal Fornaciari, he engaged enemy aircraft and shot down one enemy plane on Sernaglia (Treviso) at 4, 55 AM. He was awarded his 2nd Silver medal for military valour. On November 3rd, 1918, Austria surrendered. |
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Leonida Schiona February 18, 1918 Elia and Andrea Silvio Schiona Archive, 6-11-08 |
Fornaciari - Schiona Jume 15. 1918 Elia and Andrea Silvio Schiona Archive, 6-11-08 |
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Leonida Schiona - 1919 Elia and Andrea Silvio Schiona Archive, 8-27-08 |
| On May 1919, Leonida was transferred to the 57th Squadron S.V.A. On September 1919, he left the Force with the War Cross for military valor. |
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