The younger Baracca initially studied at a private school in Florence before entering the Military Academy of Modena in October 1907.
13 Facts About Francesco Baracca
2.
Francesco Baracca then became interested in aviation and learned to fly at Reims, France, receiving his pilot's license on 9 July 1912.
3.
Francesco Baracca then served with the Battaglione Aviatori and in 1914 with the 5th and 6th Squadriglie.
4.
Francesco Baracca remained aloofly neutral, but ready to serve his nation.
5.
Francesco Baracca's second victory was an Austrian Lohner over Gorizia on 23 April 1916.
6.
Francesco Baracca temporarily upgraded to a Spad XIII in October 1917, using it to achieve a couple of victories on 22 October, and on a win scored on a joint sortie with Pier Piccio on the 25 October.
7.
Francesco Baracca remained a modest, sensitive man conscious of his duty and compassionate to both his squadron comrades and to his defeated enemies.
8.
Francesco Baracca would try to visit his victims in hospital afterwards, to pay his respects, or he would place a wreath on the grave of those he killed.
9.
Francesco Baracca had raised his score to 30 by the end of 1917.
10.
Francesco Baracca was personally decorated by King Victor Emmanuel III at La Scala at this time.
11.
Francesco Baracca saw little action in 1918, but he added more victories, for a total of 34, before failing to return from a strafing mission on the Montello area on 19 June.
12.
Francesco Baracca's pistol was out of its holster, but away from his body, leading to suspicions that he elected to take his own life rather than die in a crash or be taken prisoner.
13.
In later years, Francesco Baracca's mother presented his prancing stallion emblem, the Cavallino Rampante, to Enzo Ferrari.