The aces in Italy’s pack
QUESTION
Did Italy have fighter aces in World War II? THE problem for Italian pilots was that for most of the war, their aircraft (Macchi Mc200s, Fiat G50s and various biplanes) and armament were significantly inferior to those of the allies.
at the time of the Italian surrender in September 1943, the regia Aeronautica Italiana (Italy’s air force) had just started using the excellent Fiat G55, the Macchi MC205 and the Reggiane Re205, all powered by the German dB605 series engine — but too late to have any effect on the war.
Some have criticised the bravery of the pilots, but this is unfair. Canadian ace George Beurling summed it up: ‘I think the eyeties have more courage than the Germans, but their tactics aren’t so good. They are very good gliders, but they try to do clever acrobatics and looping. But they will stick with it even if things are going against them, whereas the Jerries will run.’
despite the poor equipment, more than 150 Italian fighter pilots achieved ace standard (those with more than five kills) in World War II. The best known was Franco Bordoni-Bisleri (1913-1975).
as heir to the family business, making Ferro-China Bisleri liquor, Franco could indulge his passion for speed, first as a talented racing driver and then by joining the regia Aeronautica Italiana.
Sent to 18 Gruppo’s 95 Squadriglia, he participated on the Channel Front of 1940 in Belgium but soon found that his Fiat CR42 biplane was outclassed by the defending RaF Hurricanes and Spitfires.
In January 1941, 18 Gruppo was sent to north africa where the arid desert suited the Fiat biplane’s open cockpit layout better and Franco enjoyed far better fortune here, downing a Blenheim on March 10. He claimed a Hurricane on april 14, followed by another Blenheim three days later. He ‘made ace’ in June when he was credited with two more Blenheims destroyed. Bordoni-Bisleri survived the war with 19 kills to his name and went on to have a successful motor racing career. He died in an air accident in 1975.
The top-scoring Italian aces were Teresio Vittorio Martinoli (1917–1944) and leonardo Ferrulli (1918 -1943) with 22 kills and Franco lucchini (1917-1943) with 21 or 22 kills. These men flew mainly Fiat CR42s in north africa, where they downed a series of largely superior craft, including Gloster Gladiators, Bristol Blenheims, Hawker Hurricanes, Curtiss p-40s and Spitfires.
Ferrulli and lucchini were both shot down over Sicily on July 5, 1943, and Martinoli was killed on august 25, 1944. all three were posthumously awarded the Medaglia d’oro al Valor Militare.
I. E. Alleyne, London SW7.
QUESTION
What does the word ‘shaw’ mean when it appears as a compound of an English surname, e.g. Chris Beardshaw, the gardening presenter? IT IS derived from the Old english sceaga meaning ‘copse’ or a ‘thicket’, and through the Middle english schage, shage, schawe, and shawe. The name might have referred to someone who lived in or near a wood, or it was a habitational name derived from places named after these words.
Shaw is often used as a suffix for compound names. In the case of Beardshaw it might have been based on their occupation or a distinguishing physical trait. Variations include Bradshaw —‘broad grove’ — from the Old english word brad, meaning ‘broad’ or ‘wide’, and Henshaw or Hanshaw from hethin-sceaga or ‘the wood by the heath’.
Kershaw or Kirkshaw is from kirk-sceaga or ‘church-wood’ and Crawshaw from crawa-sceaga or ‘Crowswood’.
Blackshaw is ‘blackwood’ and Redshaw is ‘redwood’ — probably referring to birch trees as they appear in the spring. Oldershaw or Olerenshaw come from aelren-scaega meaning ‘alder-wood’.
Kevin redshaw, Liverpool.
QUESTION When the boilers of ships such as the Titanic were heated by coal, did the stokers and firemen have a problem with pneumoconiosis, the lung disease that troubled coal miners?
FURTHER to the previous answer, my relative, Frederick Olive doel, was a stoker on the Titanic, and there’s an interesting story about his survival.
after the collision, he reached the deck late and found that the only lifeboat remaining on the port side was collapsible boat C, the one in which J. Bruce Ismay — managing director of the Titanic’s owner, White Star line — escaped.
It was full, but one of the occupants, sailor david Matherson, who lodged with Frederick’s family in Southampton, heroically gave up his seat for his friend.
Matherson drowned and is buried in the Fairview cemetery in Halifax, nova Scotia, with other victims of the disaster. Frederick died on november 15, 1940, aged 51, so his job may well have shortened his life.
Diana Lyons (nee Doel), Leeds.
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