1:48 scale premium diecast aircraft by Carousel One.

Francesco Baracca remains the greatest hero of Italian military aviation. He entered Italy’s Scuolo Militaire in 1907 and began flight training in 1912. Italy declared war on Austria on 19 May 1915, and in July Baracca was posted to the 8a Squadriglia . They flew Nieuport 10 two-seaters, but Baracca’s efforts to shoot down Austrian airplanes were spoiled by frequent machine gun jams. In December Baracca’s unit was re-designated the 1a Squadriglia , and they received Nieuport 11’s in February 1916. Baracca’s first victory came on 7 April 1917 when he forced down an Australian Hansa-Brandenberg, wounding its two-man crew.

On 15 April 1916 the squadron was re-designated the 70a Squadriglia. Baracca’s second victory came against an Austrian Lohner over Gorizia on 23 April 1916. His third victory, a Hansa-Bradenberg , came on August 23rd. On 13 September Baracca led his squadron in escorting Italian Caproni bombers attacking on Trieste. He scored again on 16 September , shooting down an Austrian Lloyd. His fifth victory and last of 1916, another Hansa-Bradenberg , came on 25 November over Valle del Chiarzo’. After landing, Baracca had a prancing horse painted on the fuselage sides of his Nieuport 11, in tribute to his former cavalry regiment, Piedmont Real, which had prancing horse emblem.

In December 1916 the Squadriglia received faster Nieuport 17’s, but they were used for only a few months before SPAD 7’s arrived in March 1917. On 1 May the 70a was re-designated yet again to become the 91a. As the great 10 Battle of Isonzo began, Baracca became a double ace on 10 May 1917. He had become the leading ace of Italy and received many decorations and enormous public adulation. But Baracca remained a modest, sensitive man who did his duty, compassionate not only to his squadron mates, but also to his defeated enemies. Many pilots enjoyed meeting captured enemy airmen before they were sent to prisoner of war camps. Alone among the famous aces, Baracca continued to visit wounded victims in hospitals, encouraging them and writing their families.

In September 1917, Baracca received the first SPAD 13 supplied to Italy, but he also continued to fly SPAD 7’s. On 19 June 1918 Baracca was killed by a single bullet, apparently fired by Austrian infantry while he was strafing near the banks of the Piave.