Aldo Buvoli
 

Good evening,

how many of Aldo Buvoli's kills were scored in the Fiat G50bis ?

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Hello,
Maresciallo (WO) Aldo Buvoli is credited of six kills during WWII + two during the SCW.
At least four of his kills were obtained on a Fiat G50bis of 378^ Squadriglia / CLV Gruppo CT (CastelBenito, Lybia) on July, 9th, 1941 when he shot down four (out of seven) Blenheims IV of 110 Squadron, off Tripoli, sent to attack shipping in the area.
The Blenheims were Z6449, Z9537, Z9553 and Z9578.

Regards

Fabrizio

Sources
Shores, Cull, Malizia "Malta: the Hurricane years 1940-41", Grub Street, 1987
Massimello /Apostolo "Italian Aces of the WW2", Osprey, 2000

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Hello Fabrizio,

I've heard about the story with the Blenheims. I wonder if he scored the decisive fifth (or sixth) G.50bis kill to make him an ace on that type...

Have a nice first Advent,

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

All

Shores and Massimello give a different view in 'A history of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-45 vol 1.

On page 496-497 Massimello states that Buvoli in MM6384 only claimed two of these Blenheims, the other two were claimed by Paolo Montanari and Ottorino Ambrosi.

Since Giovanni Massimello clearly seems to know what he is talking about I have no reason to doubt his further research. It certainly add/replace whatever was stated in Malta, the Hurricane Years and should certainly also update the Osprey book.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Hello Stig,

I haven't got the newer volume of Mr Massimello. Does he downgrade the total of Buvoli to 6 (4 WW2+2 SCW) ?
Or does he mention what aircraft flew for his other two WW2 kills ?

Have a nice first Advent,

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Michael

I don't know anything about any separate writings by Massimello.
The book I am refering to is the (by now) standard reference work regarding the North African campaign (vol 1 and 2 published in 2012 and vol 3 hopefully next year)

With regard to myself, I don't stare myself blind on the aces as such since I want to understand the campaigns and I have in fact not a clue if Buvoli by now is downgraded in his victory total or not. Makes no difference to me....

Cheers
Stig

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Hello,

as a passionate collector of top-aces-by-plane it is of largest importance to me to find out ever someone attained 5 or more kills in the Fiat G.50bis. Buvoli might be a candidate...

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

I've checked his flight book and the only claims of Aldo Buvoli in G.50 were those ones claimed on 9 july 1941: so he was not an ace in that aircraft.

Gianandrea

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

If you are searching for the Fiat G 50 aces, I would advice to look also for the Finnish pilots. They were quite successful with Fiat and I guess that such character as Oiva Tuominen is the all-time top ace with Fiat G 50 - I´m not sure if his score with Fiat was as high as 23 (should be checked). Other Finnish Fiat aces were Olli Puhakka (15 air victories with Fiat) and Nils Trontti (6 air victories with Fiat).

According to Finnish sources they claimed in total 99 air victories with Fiat and lost just 3 Fiats in air combat and the air combat "kill/loss" -rate with Fiats was the best of all aircraft of Finnish Air Force! This success is partly explained by the fact that Fiat was used as an active combat aircraft during the time when confronted Soviet fighters were mostly such types as Polikarpov I-16 or I-153. Other success factor were unescorted Soviet bomber formations which suffered heavy losses from the interceptions of Finnish fighters.

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Hello,

'Oippa' Tuominen claimed 15 with the G.50 (+2 shared) (http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/finland_tuominen.htm)

Is there anyone with dates for Buvoli's claims in Spain (one claim 10/03/38?).

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Hello,

I've collected all the Finnish Fiat G.50 aces. Now I'm searching for a Fiat G.50bis ace. The Finnish didn't fly the bis, did they ?
I'm intrested in Buvoli's SpCW tour, and thus biplane career, too.

Have a nice Wednesday,

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Sergente Aldo Buvoli (cover name in Spain Aldo Briotti), served with 19a Squadriglia from 23 december 1937 till 24 september 1938 flying CR.32.

Claims in Spain:

10 march 1938 a Rata with all other pilots of his formation ("collettivo")
23 may 1938 a Curtiss shot down individually
18 july 1938 a Rata individually s/d and a "collettivo" Curtiss
23 august 1938 a "collettivo" Rata

Gianandrea

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Dear Gianandrea,

cool !
Do you also have the dates for his WW2 kills ?

Have a nice Thursday,

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Thanks Gianandrea!

Much appreciated!

//Håkan

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

I've checked the pages of his Flight log: the only claim - apart the (two) Blenheim claims on 9 july 1941 - is that one of a Spitfire over Malta on 23 june 1942, in the very same combat when m.llo Buvoli was s/d and became a POW.

Please note that the various sources give different claims about the combat of 9 july 1941 with different attribution to Buvoli, CR.42 pilots and AAA.

Gianandrea

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Dear Gianandrea,

this is of help, Grazie.
Thus, Buvoli may have 2+3sh Fiat C.R.32 kills (?), 2 in the Fiat G.50bis, and one in 1942. Do you know what he flew when scoring his last one ?

Cheers

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

He flew Macchi C.202 MM 7849 of his unit, 378a Sq., 155° Gruppo, 51° Stormo.

Gianandrea

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Very cool. Thank you.

Have a nice weekend,

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Thanks Gianandrea

Updates Malta: The Spitfire year 1942
Back in 1990 Nicola Malizia claimed Buvoli was with 360 Sq.....

It is surprising that basically no losses back then was acknowledged by MM numbers.
What has happened during these 25 years for so many losses to be identified by their MM numbers? Newly found documents or simply better research regarding details?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Stig,

when I wrote the history of the 155° Gruppo CT ("Pantere", 2001, Giorgio Apostolo Editore) I met Buvoli's brother, Nevio, who showed me the flight registers of the 378a Sq., held by the late Aldo.

The register included MM of each aircraft flown, and they were one of my sources.

After the book was published, I suggested that the registers should be delivered to the Italian AF historical archive and Nevio Buvoli handed over them to that office.

Aldo Buvoli never served in 360a Sq.

ciao

Gianandrea

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Ahhh

So it is in fact a deeper research which makes your statements valid.
Thanks for sharing your extended discoveries with us Gianni.

Very much appreciated!!!:)

Ciao
Stig

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

155° Gruppo CT ("Pantere", 2001, Giorgio Apostolo Editore) is a very nice and highly recommended book (unfortunately only in Italian).

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

In italian but with an english summary...

Gianandrea

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

...to sum up, at least three aces have scored in the Fiat G.50bis: Guiducci (5), Buvoli (2), Celentano (1).
Are there any more Fiat G.50bis pilots of note ?

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Hallo to All,
there is also Furio Doglio Niclot who scared with the Fiat G.50.

Cheers
Carlo Cimaroli

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Håkan Gustavsson has updated the Aldo Buvoli biography on his website:
http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_buvoli.htm
However, the total should be 5+3sh, not 8+3sh, shouldn't it ?

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Dear Håkan & Co,

do you happen to know in which aircraft type the three kills were scored that are no listed in the kill list of your Buvoli profile ?
Or may it be that Buvoli's often quoted total score of 8 is simply 5+3sh?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

On the Håkan's Biplane Fighter Aces homepage it says:

If you have any questions or comments please contact me on: surfcity@dalnet.se

Better to ask him direct than to try asking via TOCH.

Re: Aldo Buvoli
 

Has any ace ever scored more Fiat G.50bis kills than Spiridione Guiducci (5) ?