Mario Fucini was born on 1 February 1891 in Empoli. As World War I began, he volunteered for military service in the engineers. He was appointed as a
Sottotenente on 9 May 1915. After a transfer to the
Corpo Aeronautico Militare, he earned a pilot's license on 13 March 1916. The following month, he qualified to fly
Voisins. On 12 April 1916, he was assigned as a pilot to
5a Squadriglia Voisin (later to become
25a Squadriglia). On 28 July 1916, he completed a bombing
sortie despite constant attacks by a pair of enemy fighters; he was awarded a Silver
Medal for Military Valor for this feat. He remained in aviation as the
Corpo became the
Regia Aeronautica, rising to successive commands of
29a Squadriglia and
78a Squadriglia. In 1931, he was promoted to
Tenente Colonnello. In 1932, he published
Voli sul nemico, his memoirs. He was given command of the
Castiglione Fighter School in 1933. From December 1933 through August 1925, Fucini edited the official journal of the
Regia Aeronautica, the
Rivista Aeronautica. He retired from active duty on 15 September 1937. However, in April 1953, he was promoted to
General in the reserves. Mario Fucini died in Rome, Italy on 1 September 1977. ==References==