The unique and historically important, posthumous award to Pilot Sergeant-Major Giorgio Compiani; in GOLD, of the type awarded by the Republic of Italy: the obverse with the state’s coat-of-arms and, below the “Z” mark, indicating and officially-made piece, struck at the State Mint in Rome; the reverse with laurel wreath and in the field, the engraved recipient’s name “COMPIANI / GIORGIO” and around, below “CIELO DEL MEDITERR. 14. VI. 1942”; typical “stirrup” suspension and original ribbon; TOGETHER, from Compiani’s estate, a War Merit Cross, Kingdom type; a particularly fine piece, patinated bronze, with original ribbon.
A beautiful group, belonged to one of Italy’s war heroes of the Air Force; on his name streets have been dedicated and also military structures, excellent condition.
Dim.: (the medal) 37,7 x 33,47 mm.; weight 26,5 g.
Note: Giorgio Compiani, was born in Parma, on Oct. 15th, 1915; after his course of school, in 1936 enlisted in the Royal Italian Air Force as sergeant cadet pilot, later assigned to the Padua Airport. Promoted to sergeant. In 1937 he volunteered to the Spanish Civil War as a pilot. Back to Italy in 1938, he was reassgned to the 19th Bombing Squadron being later honourably discharged. On his request he returnerd to active service, he was assigned to the bombing school in 1940, and in 1941, to the Torpedo Aircrafts School, being then assigned to the 252th Torpedo Squadron, being sent to Lybia on the North African war theatre. Sent back to Italy for a serious illness, although not recovered and still suffering, he succeeded to return to the operational area in Northern Africa, assigned to the 253th Torpedo Squadron, equipped with the excellent Savoia Marchetti S79 (the so-called “Spooky Hunchbacks”). On June 14th, 1942, he with his unit took off to intercept a stongly escorted convoy on the Mediterranean Sea, supported by the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle. The Airplane was commanded by Lt. Paolo Ingrellini and both decided to attack the aircraft carrier. The other italian airplanes were successful to sink various British vessels and a light cruiser was severely damaged. Ingrellini and Compiani had their plane damaged by A/A fire but, sighted the Eagle, they decided to attack it with their single torpedo: flying as low as 36 m. above sea level they released the torped with excellent precision at a distance of 366 m. from the enemy ship, centering and severely damaging it; being the aircraft also damaged, with no chance to fly back to the base, the crew dead or mortally wounded, Ingrellini and Compiani saluted the other planes by wireless and crashed their plane on an enemy unit.
At first, the two pilots received the posthumous award of the Silver Medal for Military Valour (March 1st, 1943) but later, acquired more and exact information about the circumstances of their action and self-sacrifice, on December 30th, 1947, the Gold Medal for Military Valour was granted to both Ingrellini and Compiani, while the Silver one to the rest of the crew.
Giorgio Compiani is amongst the National Heroes of the Italian Air Force. I RR!