1. Amedeo Mecozzi was an Italian fighter ace of World War I, a general of the Italian and a military theorist credited as the founding father of the "Attack air force" doctrine, which made him a strong opponent to general Giulio Douhet's theories.
16 Facts About Amedeo Mecozzi
1. 2.
Amedeo Mecozzi was born on 17 January 1892 in Rome.
3.
Amedeo Mecozzi joined the Italian Army as an engineer and spent a year as a volunteer in Somalia before applying for pilot's training in 1915.
4.
Amedeo Mecozzi scored his first victory the day after Christmas, 1917, teaming with his wingman to send an enemy reconnaissance plane down in flames.
5.
Amedeo Mecozzi eagerly rushed off to the wreckage of his victim, only to find outraged farmers whose barn was burning along the wrecked plane.
6.
Amedeo Mecozzi would go on to claim an observation balloon in June and three more aeroplanes in October 1918 but these four wins went unconfirmed.
7.
Amedeo Mecozzi served with 78a Squadriglia past war's end, until February 1919.
8.
Amedeo Mecozzi was awarded the Silver Medal for Military Merit in the post-war honors list.
9.
Amedeo Mecozzi stayed in the military postwar and ascended through the ranks.
10.
Amedeo Mecozzi was accepted for permanent service on 31 October 1919.
11.
Amedeo Mecozzi was a member of the Italian Aviation Mission to Paris.
12.
Amedeo Mecozzi developed a theory of military aviation which was dubbed the "Attack air force" or "Assault aviation" doctrine.
13.
Amedeo Mecozzi continued to be promoted, becoming a Brigadier general on 8 April 1937.
14.
Amedeo Mecozzi was invalided from duty and became president of the national aviation club.
15.
Amedeo Mecozzi became eccentric; he wore his flying suit to the magazine's offices.
16.
Amedeo Mecozzi died on 2 November 1971 in his native Rome.