12 Facts About Ferruccio Ranza

Brigadier General Ferruccio Ranza began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with seventeen confirmed victories and eight unconfirmed ones.

Ferruccio Ranza served through the end of World War II.

Ferruccio Ranza was born on 9 September 1892 in Fiorenzuola d'Arda, the Kingdom of Italy.

Ferruccio Ranza won a Bronze award of the Medal for Military Valor for carrying out an artillery spotting mission under heavy fire on 1 April 1916.

However, Ferruccio Ranza had no success in aerial warfare until he transitioned to Nieuports and joined 77a Squadriglia on 22 June 1916.

Ferruccio Ranza made another unconfirmed claim on 4 April 1917.

Fulco Ruffo di Calabria was removed from command of 91a Squadriglia because of combat fatigue; Ferruccio Ranza was appointed to succeed him in command, on 1 May 1917, while still flying with 77a Squadriglia through June.

Ferruccio Ranza scored again on 23 June 1917, and would continue to score through the end of the war, with his last claims being two unconfirmed victories on 29 October 1918.

Ferruccio Ranza would be awarded two more Silver Medals for Military Valor.

Ferruccio Ranza ended World War I having flown 465 combat sorties and had posted 20 aerial victory claims.

Ferruccio Ranza rose to command of Italian air assets in Tripolitania, in 1928, then returned to Italy as Chief of Staff for 1st Zone Air Place.

Ferruccio Ranza died in Bologna, Italy on 25 April 1973.