Gen.Brigata Aerea Mario Piccini - 23.04.1943. Regia Aeronautica

[drifter206]

Hello all
On 23.04.1943. Gen. Brigata Aerea Mario Piccini was killed in an crash of Caproni Ca-312. I found this info in Vojislav Mikić book Italian aviation in Yugo. 41-43. Cause and location unknown (Mikić states in his book).
Where can I find any info regarding this case.
as always thanks in advance
b.r.
Antun

[Gianandrea Bussi]

He was at that time the commander of the "Aviazione Slovenia Dalmazia". The only info I've found is that he lost his life in a flight accident.

Gianandrea

[drifter206]

thanks Gianandrea
I find this very interesting, he was a commander and there is not a single information about this case. Croatian daily reports from that period are informing about heavy fighting in area of Gospić (Lika,Croatia) and that together with Italian air force they attacked partisan forces on multiple dates. Even the Italians sent reinforcements from Karlobag due to dire situation in that area. (very basic description)
Also strange is that Croatian reports don't mention anything about this. On the other hand they reported crash of Ju 52 when German Gen. Glisczinski was killed.
Allegedly his Caproni was 312 (recce - liaison) so there is possibility that he was on board on some of this mission, or maybe he crashed somewhere else.

[Gianandrea Bussi]

Please note that the date of the death of gen. Piccini is given in Italian records as 24 April 1943. It could be an error but in the records of the Mostar airport the information about the loss of this general is mentioned on 25 April 1943.

Then, the location of the crash is given as "Territorio metropolitano", so, Italy: but at that time, also Istria was part of my homeland.

From my notes about the activity of the airport of Zara-Zemonico I see that this high officer arrived there on 18 April 1943 coming from Grobnico and left Zara to Grobnico on 22 April 1943 (no mention of the aircraft flown). Unluckily, I've not got any information about Grobnico airport.

Ca.312 was usually used for liaison duties, not for recce missions.

ciao


Gianandrea

[sidney]

Gianandrea,

If you are looking for some information about Grobnico, you may find it here https://forgottenairfields.com/airfi...bnicko-65.html (45°22'44"N - 14°30'25"E)

or here http://ww2.dk/Airfields%20-%20Yugoslavia.pdf under Sušak (45 22 45 N – 14 30 18 E).

Regards,
Sinisa

[Gianandrea Bussi]

Thank you, but I meant that I had not information about the R. Aeronautica activity in Grobnico in April 1943....

ciao

Gianandrea

[sidney]

You are welcome, that part was not clear from your post 331 above. It is clear now.

Regards,
Sinisa

[drifter206]

Thank you Gianandrea and Siniša
Giandrea I've sent you PM