Sergente Maggiore Luigi Gorrini

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Sergente Maggiore Luigi Gorrini Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare

Luigi Gorrini was born in Alseno in the province of Piacenza, on 12 July 1917.

He joined the Regia Aeronautica in 1937.

He flew with a Fiat CR.32 for the first time 09.55 on 5 May 1939 at the Fighter School at Castiglione del Lagos airfield (Perugia).

His first flight with a CR.42 was at 16.15 on 8 November 1939 from Mondovis airfield (Cuneo). At this time he was attached to the 85a Squadriglia ”Ocio Che Te Copo”, 18o Gruppo, 3o Stormo as a Sergente Pilota. He was to serve at this unit until the Armistice in September 1943. While at Mondovis he meet Giuseppe Ruzzin who had recently returned from the Spanish Civil War. Ruzzin was tasked with giving Gorrini more practice and training.

With his unit he took part in the short French campaign in 1940.

He was with the unit during its operations in the Battle of Britain as a part of C.A.I. when 18o Gruppo was temporarily assigned to the 56o Stormo. They were based at the Saturn base (Ursel). While operating over Britain he took part in the big combat on 11 November over Harwich. He also took part in the big fighter sweep on 23 November.

When 18o Gruppo returned to Italy in January 1941 they were immediately sent to Africa. According to Gorrini the conditions there was horrible regarding logistics and weather. The dessert wind ”Ghibli” was devastating for the engines on the aircraft since they lacked dust filters.

He claimed his first victory in Libya when he shot down one of the first Beaufighters to appear in the Mediterranean area on 16 April 1941. On this day he took off from Derna airfield (Cirenaica) at 07.30 for a fighter patrol over the coast and harbour at 3500 meters altitude. Two enemy aircraft was spotted and after intensive fights one of the British aircraft was shot down and the other damaged. He landed back at Derna at 09.15 after having spent 1100 rounds of ammunition.

On 29 June he took off from Benghasi K2 (Cirenaica) at 16.10 for a fighter patrol over ships, harbour and the town of Benghasi at 8100 meters altitude. Over the radio they were notified of enemy presence. They pursued British Blenheims and after an intensive battle he claimed a Blenheim before losing conscious due to lack of oxygen. However he manage to return to base were he landed at 18.15 after having spent 1375 rounds of ammunition. Initially he claims this aircraft as only a probable.

He didn’t claim any more victories until 2 January 1943 when he claimed a P-40 over Sirte and also a damaged Spitfire in the same combat while flying the Macchi MC.202 Folgore over Tunisia. While in Tunisia his unit had been attached to the 3o Stormo.

On 11 January 1943 MC.200s from 13o Gruppo attacked British airfields in the Uadi Tamet area. These fighter-bombers were escorted by MC.202 from 18o Gruppo. Acting as close escort on this mission were four aircraft from 95a Squadriglia under the command of Capitano Giorgio Solaroli. A little bit higher up were Maggiore Gustavo Garetto with six aircraft. As top cover at 6000 to 7000 metres were six MC.202s from 23o Gruppo under the command of Capitano Mario Rigatti and above these were six more under the command of Tenente Colonello Tito Falconi. The Italian aircraft were attacked by RAF and 18o Gruppo managed with difficulties to defend the fighter-bombers. During the combat were Sotto Tenente Telleschi and Maggiore Garetto shot down together with a MC.200 from 13o Gruppo. All three pilots managed to escape by parachute. The pilot from 13o Gruppo managed to reach the Italian lines but the other two pilots were captured. It is probable that Telleschi and Garetto were claimed by the British ace Flying Officer Neville Duke of 92 Squadron in Spitfire Mk.Vb EP338 ‘QJ-S’ (victory 8 and 9). The Italian attack were however a success and a fuel depot, a transport aircraft, which was surprised while taxiing, and several parked aircraft were destroyed in the British airfield. Also six British Spitfires were claimed in the combat. One of them were claimed by Solaroli, one by Sergente Gorrini (who also claimed one damaged) and a third by Maresciallo Felice Longhi, who returned with his aircraft damaged by enemy fire on several places. The Italians also claimed hits on 9 additional enemy aircraft.

His unit was withdrawn from Tunisia in early April 1943 but he had already returned to Italy since at 15.00-17.45 on 9 March 1943 he flew a CR.42 for the last time. The flight, which was a transportation flight, were from Alitalia airfield (Torino) to Ciampino airfield (Rome) at an altitude of 1500 meters. Gorrini describes the CR.42 as a tough aircraft and good up till 5000-6000 meters but slow. Back in Italy 85a Squadriglia was re-equipped with the Macchi MC.205 Veltro and assigned to the defence of Rome.

He was grounded for a while due to an irritating eye injury.

On 19 July he claimed a B-24 and a P-38 and a P-38 damaged over Rome.

Next day on 20 July he claimed another P-38 destroyed and a P-38 damaged.

On 13 August he claimed a B-24 off the coast at Ostia, in the Lazio region, but he was also shot down by defensive fire from the bomber, bailing out safely.

He claimed a Spitfire on 26 August.

The next day, on 27 August, the whole Stormo scrambled to intercept four-engine bombers, which were attacking Cerveteri. During the combat, Gorrini claimed two B-24s. One wing of his MC.205 was damaged after that an overheating machinegun-muzzle exploded and after running out of gasoline he glided back to his base for a powerless landing.

Two P-38s was claimed destroyed and two more were claimed damaged on 29 August.

He claimed a B-17 over Frascati on 30 August.

He was mentioned in dispatches on 30 August:

“ Sergente Maggiore Luigi Gorrini da Alsen (Piacenza) of 3o Stormo Caccia has distinguished himself during the aerial battles of the 27th and 29th, during which he has shot down two four-engined bombers and a twin-engined fighter.” On 31 August he took off from Palidoro airfield (Rome) at 12.00 in a MC.205V. They flew in the direction of Naples to engage enemy bombers over this town. At 8500 meters they became involved in heavy dogfights with escorting Spitfires. He shot down one Spitfire and damaged a P-38.His aircraft was however badly hit by machine-gun fire and he was forced to make a forced-landing away from his airfield at 12.50. He was seriously wounded, hospitalised and was out of the fighting when Italy surrendered to the Allies on 8 September 1943. 85a Squadriglia claimed 3 Spitfires and 5 damaged during this combat.

On 23 December 1943 Gorrini joined the Italiana Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR) where he was assigned to 1a Squadriglia, 1o Gruppo and continued to fly MC.205 fighters. At this time this unit was under the command of Capitano Adriano Visconti and based at Lagnasco airfield (Cuneo). On this day Gorrini flew up in a MC.205V at 10.15 and was declared fit for combat.

He claimed a P-47 on 30 January 1944 followed by a P-38 the next day.

A B-17 was claimed on 11 March and another P-47 on 6 April thus reaching 19 victories.

On 25 May he claimed a B-17 damaged.

He was again shot down during a dogfight with P-47 Thunderbolts and seriously wounded on 15 June 1944. He did not fly again during World War II.

During his time with the A.N.R. he flew in combat with the Macchi MC.205V and Fiat G.55. Gorrini was shot down four times and wounded twice during the war. He was awarded with two Medaglie di bronzo al Valore Militare and the German Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd Class. In 1958 he received the Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare. Gorrini is the only pilot who has served in the A.N.R. to be awarded with the Italian highest military award after the war for his accomplishments obtained before the Armistice of 8 September 1943!

Gorrini ended the war with 2 biplane victories and a total of 19. 15 of his claims were with the Regia Aeronautica and 4 were with the A.N.R. Please note that all Gorrini’s claims were and are unofficial, as up to date there isn’t any official confirmed listing of Italian aces.

Following the war he joined the rebuilt Italian Air Force and served with it until 1979, when he retired, being nominated Ufficiale on retirement.

Gorrini lives in retirement today in Alseno