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FLAVIO TOELLO BARACCHINI
1895-1928 |
FLAVIO TOELLO BARACCHINI
Flavio Toello Baracchini, an Italian ace with 21 victories and
his Hanriot 515 with the insignia of four aces. He was with Nannini in
the 76 squadron for a time and together with Nannini Sandoval
and Silvio Scaroni, destroyed an observation balloon.
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| The Hanriot 515 which was flown by Flavio
Baracchini is currently on display at the
Museo Storico Vigna di Valle. The model is of Hanriot HD.1,
serial unknown Aviazione Militare, 81a Squadrigilia, late spring 1918.
With the 81a Squadrigilia, Flavio Torello Baracchini marked his Hanriot
with a shield, replacing the four aces carried with his previous unit.
This a a Macchi-built aircraft, apparently finished with metal forward
fuselage, silver-doped wings and clear-doped rear fuselage. The
shield which also appears on the fuselage decking is black. |
BARACCHINI, Flavio Torello
1895 - 1928
(Translation courtesy of Giovanni Giorgetti, 9-16-05)
He was born in Villafranca di Lunigiana (Massa Carrara - Italy) on
1895.
He got his pilot's licence during the war against Austria, in which
he participated from the end of 1915; after Barraco, he shot down the
greater number of enemy airplanes - 21 officially recognized - setting a
record of 9 during 30 days.
He was injured on August 8, 1917 in an aerial combat, because of
which he only returned to the front after nine months.
On May 22, 1918, he defended himself from the attack of fifteen
enemy airplanes in the sky of Montello; on the following 25 June, he was
severely injured when he was shot down due to enemy machine-gun fire.
He left Aviation in 1921 after the war and settled in Rome,
attending to some studies of aeronautic applications. He invented a
special apparatus for signalling to airplanes. This apparatus was at
once adopted by our Aeronautics. He was trying to develop an explosive
mixture for use in his airplane, and was seriously hurt due to an
accident. He died a little later, on August 18, 1928.
He had been promoted to Lieutenant for meritorious service in the
war: He was cited twice (only he) by the Diaz bulletin.
He was decorated with the gold and silver medal for gallantry and
was conferred the Croce di Cavaliere dell'Ordine Militare di Malta; and
many other decorations of the Allies and a mention in dispatches.
He was an Ace of Italian Aviation. |
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| Flavio Toello Baracchini died on 18 August
1928. |
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Designed by Pierre Dupont, the Hanriot HD.1 biplane
was small but agile. It was rejected by the French
Air Service in late 1916 but found favor with the
air services of Belgium and Italy, becoming the
standard Italian fighter during World War I. Though
not as fast as the Albatros scouts or the Hansa-Brandenburg
D.I, it was sturdy, reliable and very
maneuverable. Entering service during the summer of
1917, the HD.1 proved its worth throughout the war.
On 26 December 1917, Italian pilots equipped with
the Hanriot HD.1 engaged and destroyed eleven German
reconnaissance aircraft at Istrana without incurring
a single loss. Willy
Coppens, Belgium's consummate balloon-buster,
scored most of his victories flying this aircraft. |
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| Hanriot HD.I
Specifications |
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Country: |
France |
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Manufacturer: |
Société
Anonyme des Appareils d'Aviation Hanriot |
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Type: |
Fighter |
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First Introduced: |
1916 |
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Number Built: |
831 in Italy
by Macchi
125 in France
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|
Engine(s): |
Le Rhône 9JB,
9 cylinder, air cooled rotary, 120 hp |
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Wing Span: |
28 ft 6½ in
[8.7 m] |
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Length: |
19 ft 2¼ in
[5.85 m] |
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Height: |
9 ft 7¾ in
[2.94 m] |
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Empty Weight: |
[385 kg] |
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Gross Weight: |
1,334 lb [605
kg] |
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Max Speed: |
115 mph [184
km/h] |
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Ceiling: |
20,670 ft
[6,000 m] |
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Endurance: |
2½ hours |
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Crew: |
1 |
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Armament: |
1 machine gun |
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| Units |
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Belgian Air Service: |
1ère,
9me,
10me,
11me |
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Italian Air Service: |
70a,
76a,
78a,
79a,
81a |
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| Hanriot HD.I Aces |
| 1 |
 |
Willy Coppens |
37 |
| 2 |
 |
Flavio Baracchini |
13 |
| 3 |
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Antonio Riva |
6 |
| 4 |
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Amedeo Mecozzi |
5 |
| 5 |
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Andre de Meulemeester |
5 |
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