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Born | Eugene Louis Faccuito March 20, 1925 |
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Died | April 7, 2015 (aged 90) New York City, New York |
Occupation | Dancer, choreographer, teacher |
Eugene Louis Faccuito (March 20, 1925 – April 7, 2015), known professionally as Luigi, was an American jazz dancer, choreographer, teacher, and innovator who created the jazz exercise technique. The Luigi Warm Up Technique is a training program that promotes body alignment, balance, core strength, and 'feeling from the inside.'[1] It is also used for rehabilitation. This method became the world's first standard technique for teaching jazz and musical theater dance.
Faccuito developed the technique, which consists of a series of ballet-based exercises, for his rehabilitation after suffering paralyzing injuries in a car accident at the age of twenty one. He couldn't stop dancing, so he first learned to regain control of his body by what he uses as a cornerstone of his technique – namely, to 'lengthen and stretch the body without strain' and 'put the good side into the bad side.' He then focused on a way 'to stabilize himself – as if he were pressing down on an invisible (dance) barre.'[2] e went on to have a successful dance career and became a world-renowned jazz teacher.[3][4]
- 7Filmography
Early life and career[edit]
Born in Steubenville, Ohio, Luigi is the eighth of eleven children of immigrant Italian parents, Nicola and Antoinette (Savoia) Faccuito. His father died when Luigi was five. His older brother Tony taught him to sing, dance, and use contortionist skills so he could enter local talent contests to win prize money for the family. He was a natural performer who won many events. At the age of ten, he had an agent who got him a job with bandleader Ted Lewis as the shadow in Lewis's 'Me and My Shadow'. He won The Original Amateur Hour contest in nearby Pittsburgh.
At thirteen, Luigi replaced Dean Martin, his neighbor, in the Bernie Davis Orchestra, a local twelve-man band that performed at weddings, school dances, and special events throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.[5] He stayed with the band for close to five years.
Aged 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater – New Guinea and the Philippines - until the war's end. After returning home at age twenty-one, he enrolled in college to become a lawyer, but his brother Tony pushed him to study in Hollywood under the G. I. Bill of Rights to pursue a film career.[citation needed]
He moved to California, enrolled in his first ballet classes with Bronislava Nijinska, and studied other theatrical forms at Falcon Studios in Hollywood. Three months later, in 1946, he was in a car accident that left him paralyzed on the right side of his body. After awakening months later from a coma, he was told by doctors that he would never walk again.
Technique and Hollywood career[edit]
Conventional therapy at that time did not help Luigi much.[6] To regain control of his body, he started to experiment and design his own stretches. After nine months of self therapy, he returned to Falcon Studios where he trained daily. In 1948, he was hired by Horace Heidt, a popular pianist and big band leader, to choreograph for his Bandwagon tour. A few months later, back in Los Angeles, the three became housemates. It was then that Luigi, with Frontiere's help, coined '5, 6, 7, 8' as a lead-in for when to start dancing.[7] He started to use the phrase around other dancers.
In 1949, a talent scout discovered Luigi in a benefit show and brought him to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios to audition for On the Town. Gene Kelly was impressed by Luigi's dancing and gave him the job despite his facial paralysis and crossed eyes. This job led to a long friendship, during which Kelly became Luigi's mentor and used him in his other films, such as Singin' in the Rain. He warmed up using his own stretches and strengthening exercises and soon found other performers following him. 'Alton encouraged (Luigi) to take up teaching his evolving style', so he began a late afternoon class at Rainbow Studios in 1951.[8]
Between films, Luigi also performed in professional musicals at the Greek Theatre and with the Moro Landis Dancers, mostly at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. While Luigi was working with Nita Bieber in an East Indian dance act promoted by MGM, Bieber's agent offered to represent him if he formed his own act, which he did, the Gene Louis Dancers.[citation needed]
New York City and career[edit]
In 1956, choreographer Alex Romero brought Luigi to New York City to perform on Broadway with Ethel Merman and Fernando Lamas in Happy Hunting. The show brought Luigi to the attention of east coast dancers, and choreographer June Taylor, who invited him to teach at her school.[9] A few months later, to better suit his schedule, he began teaching his own classes. In 1961, Luigi was one of the first teachers hired for Dance Caravan, a yearly summer dance convention troupe. This job brought his teachings and his new technique book - with his philosophy and recorded music for class - to dancers in major cities across America. He remained with the organization and became one of the long-standing teachers until its closing in 2009. In addition to his classes in New York City, dance conventions helped turn Luigi's work into the foundation for jazz dance classes in academic institutions and studios across the United States. He found himself in demand for a wide range of projects, including teaching, choreographing, staging, and touring. He accepted an invitation from Germany to teach at an international workshop which boosted his reputation across Europe. He was invited to work in many more European countries including, England, Italy and France; began teaching master classes at the Radio City Music Hall for the performers; and joined the faculty of the Harkness Ballet School.[10]
Highlights[edit]
- In 1967, Luigi choreographed a short film, Exorcism, which won the Cine-Golden Eagle Award in the United States and the Irish Film Festival Award.
- In 1972, Luigi taught in Cape Town, South Africa, where he was the first dance teacher to allow both whites and blacks to participate together in classes and then, during a public lecture at the Nico Malan Opera House, to perform together onstage to demonstrate his work.
- In 1974, he formed Luigi's Jazz Dance Company, which toured internationally for two years. The company folded because he could not get government funding. His pieces from that era are performed in venues around the world.
- After returning from teaching in Tokyo, Japan, in 1978, Luigi started to teach a second method that he devised with Michio Ito. This work concentrates on a set of arm positions which go beyond ballet's basic five arm positions. These twenty four additional arm placements give jazz dance more patterns, with a unified appearance.[11] He named these arms positions Lurythmics.
- In 1981, Gene Kelly asked Luigi to assist him on a Broadway show that he was to direct and choreograph. The show, called Satchmo, was based on the life of Louis Armstrong bit never went into production because of financial difficulties.
- In 1982, Donald Saddler brought Valentina Koslova to Luigi to be coached for her Broadway debut in the revival of On Your Toes. The show featured George Balanchine's Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, which Luigi worked with Koslova on.
- In 1982, Luigi's technique book was translated into Japanese.[12] Also, the biggest Japanese dance supply company, Chacott, started to market Luigi-endorsed jazz shoes and a line of apparel called Luigi Brand Dancewear.
- In 1987, Luigi's warm up book was translated into Italian.[13]
- In 1992, Luigi trained the Hungarian Sports and Rhythmic Gymnastics Team in Budapest, Hungary, for two weeks. Many of the team members went on to compete in the Olympics.
In addition to teaching at Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America's conventions, Luigi has served as guest faculty for the High School of Performing Arts, City University of New York, Sarah Lawrence College, Renato Greco's Stages in Rome and Amalfi, Italy, New York University, The Metropolitan Opera, Joffrey Ballet Summer School, Dennis Wayne's Dancers Workshop in Italy, Broadway Theater Project, Studio Maestro Summer Workshop, Jacob's Pillow, Youth Dance Festival and Dance Teacher Summit in New York City.
2000 and beyond[edit]
Since 2000, Luigi has choreographed and staged numbers for many benefit events, including Michael Zaslow's benefits for A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's disease) on Broadway, the Dance Library of Israel, the New York Jazz Choreography Project, Dancers Over 40 benefits for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the TranscenDance Group dance company, and the Ailey/Fordham Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Solo Concert.[14]
Awards and honors[edit]
He has been commended for his life's work by three U.S. Presidents – Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. He received the 'Fred Astaire Award from the Theatre Development Fund, a proclamation for 'Luigi Day in New York City' from Mayor Ed Koch, was the grand marshal of the Dance Parade on Broadway in 2008, and an Ohio governor awarded him the Man of the Year in his hometown. In 2013 he was honored by Antonio Fini with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Italian International Dance Festival.
He received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Dance at the 2013 Bessie Awards.[15]
Filmography[edit]
Features[edit]
- Yes Sir, That's My Baby (1948)
- On the Town (1948)
- Toast of New Orleans (1948)
- Jerry Gray and the Band of Today (1948)
- Let's Dance (1949)
- Annie Get Your Gun (1949)
- An American in Paris (1950)
- Singin' In The Rain (1950)
- Rainbow Round My Shoulder (1951)
- Five Thousand Fingers of Dr. T (1951)
- Call Me Madame (1952)
- The Band Wagon (1952)
- All Ashore (1953)
- Calamity Jane (1953)
- White Christmas (1955)
- Cha-Cha-Cha-Boom (1956)
- Invitation to the Dance (1956)
- Bela Lugosi Meets the Brooklyn Gorilla (1956)
- Ten Commandments (1956)
- Exorcism (1967)
Stage productions[edit]
- Anything Goes, 1948, performer, the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA.
- New Moon, 1949, performer, the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA.
- Girl Crazy, 1949, performer, the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA.
- Annie Get Your Gun, 1951, performer, the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA.
- Look, That’s Life, 1952, assistant choreographer to Nick Castle, Las Palmas Theater, Los Angeles, CA.
- Happy Hunting, 1956, performer, Broadway, New York, NY
- Whoop-Up, 1958, assistant choreographer, performer, Broadway, New York, N.Y.
- The Happy Time, 1959, assistant choreographer, performer, Broadway, New York, NY
- Carousel, 1960, performer, choreographer, Equity Library Theater, New York, N.Y.
- Can-Can, 1960, choreographer, Charlotte Summer Theater, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Brigadoon, 1960, choreographer, performer, Charlotte Summer Theater, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Let it Ride, 1961, assistant choreographer, performer, Broadway, New York, N.Y.
References[edit]
- ^Luigi's Jazz Warm Up and Introduction to Jazz Style & Technique, a Dance Horizons Book, Princeton Book Company, Publishers, by Luigi, Lorraine Person Kriegel and Francis J. Roach, 1997, page 6
- ^Dance Spirit, December 2009, Luigi's Legacy by Lauren Kay, page 60
- ^ProfileArchived 2013-02-18 at the Wayback Machine, swingapore.com; accessed April 18, 2015.
- ^Straus, Rachel (August 2007). 'Teacher's Wisdom: Luigi'. Dance Magazine. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^Francis J. Roach and Donna Gianell. Dance Pages, Volume 4, Number 1, Summer '86, Luigi – His Life and His Movies, p. 26
- ^Masters of Movement – Portraits of America's Great Choreographers, Smithsonian Books, Washington, Publisher, Photographs and text by Rose Eichenbaum, 2004, pp. 113-115.
- ^Fusco, Mary Ann Castronovo (April 15, 2001). 'IN PERSON; 'Never Stop Moving''. New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^Dance Teacher, January 2011, Robert Alton by Rachel Straus, p. 38
- ^Harriet R. Lihs. Appreciating Dance – Fourth Edition – A Guide to the World's Liveliest Art, a Dance Horizons Book, Princeton Book Co. (2009), page 94
- ^1971 Harkness House brochure lists Luigi as a guest teacher
- ^'Michio Ito'. Dance Teacher.
- ^The Luigi Jazz Dance Technique, Shufunotomo Co., Tokyo, 1982,
- ^Eugene Louis Facciuto, Danza Jazz: la tecnica di Luigi, Di Giacomo Editore, Roma, 1987
- ^Angela Barbuti. 'A Life of Dance', West Side Spirit, Manhattan Media LLC, March 17, 2011, p. 8
- ^'Luigi Receives 2013 Bessie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance Today'. BroadwayWorld.com. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
External links[edit]
- Eugene Louis Faccuito on IMDb
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eugene_Louis_Faccuito&oldid=922348441'
Sergente Maggiore Luigi Gorrini (D'Amico-Valentini archive) | |
Born | 12 July 1917 Alseno, Italy |
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Died | 8 November 2014 (aged 97) Alseno, Italy |
Buried | |
Allegiance | Italy |
Service/branch | Regia Aeronautica Aeronautica Militare Italiana |
Years of service | 1933 – 1945 |
Rank | Sergente Maggiore |
Unit | 85ª Squadriglia, 18° Gruppo, 3° Stormo (RA); 1° Gruppo (ANR); 50°StormoAMI |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards | Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare 'a vivente' Medaglia di Bronzo al Valor Militare German Iron Cross first and second class |
Luigi Gorrini, MOVM (12 July 1917 – 8 November 2014), was an Italian World War II fighter pilot in the Regia Aeronautica and in the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. During the conflict he flew with the Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI, Italian Air Corps) during the Battle of Britain, fought over Libya and Tunisia, and was involved in the defence of the Italian mainland. Gorrini was credited with 19 (24 according to some sources) enemy planes shot down plus 9 damaged, of several types: Curtiss P-40, Spitfire, P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt, B-17 'Flying Fortress' and B-24 Liberator. He claimed his air victories flying the biplaneFiat C.R.42 and monoplanesMacchi C.202 and C.205Veltro. Gorrini was the top scoring C.205 pilot. With the Veltro he shot down 14 enemy planes and damaged six more.[1]He was the highest ranking Italian ace still alive until his death, and the only surviving fighter pilot awarded the Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare (Gold Medal of Military Valor).[2]
North Africa and Greece[edit]
Bristol Beaufighter Mk 1, North Africa - The first aircraft shot down by Gorrini was one of the first Bristol Beaufighters arrived in North Africa
Gorrini came to North Africa as a member of 85aSquadriglia of 18° Gruppo C.T.. He shot down his first aircraft on 16 April 1941, over Derna, in Cyrenaica, Libya.[3]
A Fiat CR.42 in Regia Aeronautica service. Flying this nimble biplane, Gorrini scored his first victory on 16 April 1941, over Derna, in Cyrenaica.
While flying alone a CR. 42, during a protection sortie, he intercepted two of the first Bristol Beaufighters, just arrived in the Mediterranean Theater. Gorrini opened fire, immediately before the two British aircraft reached the airstrip N 1 on Ftheja, were his 85ª Squadriglia was based. [4] He shot the leader aircraft from a distance of 700-800 meters, scoring hits on the right wingtip. While the second Beaufighter was taking evasive action, Gorrini closed to a distance of 250 meters hitting again the other Bristol. The British aircraft was by now on the Italian airstrip so Gorrini strafed it a third time and the Beaufighter crashed just south of the airstrip. [4] He was credited with a kill and a damaged. He shot 1,100 rounds. On 29 May, Gorrini intercepted two Blenheim bombers over Benghazi. He shot down one that fell just outside the city, and shot all the remaining rounds at the other Blenheim that managed to escape.[5] Repatriated with his unit, on 29 August he was on Caselle Torinese airfield to start the training on the new monoplane fighters, the Fiat G.50 and Macchi C.200.[6] Gorrini and the rest of 18° Gruppo moved lately on Mirafiori base and then to Ciampino Sud airfield, where the training on the G.50 and the C.200 came to an end on 10 December when his Gruppo flew with Macchi C.200s to Lecce and then to the new base of Araxos, in Greece.[7]During winter 1941-42 he escorted convoys between Italy and Greece. On 17 December, in the air space around Argostoli port, in Kefalonia island, intercepted two Bristol Blenheims, painted in black. He attacked the leading aircraft hitting it repeatedly and then strafed the second. The two aircraft disappeared in the clouds and Gorrini was credited with a 'probable' and a 'damaged'. Gorrini had no other chance to clash with the enemy and he flew back to Italy with his Gruppo, on 25 April 1942.[8] Back in Italy, Gorrini and his fellow pilots were trained to fly the C.200 as a fighter-bomber until mid-July. On 23 July, the 18° joined the 23° Gruppo on Abu Haggag base, in North-Africa.[9] There, Gorrini flew protection sorties for Axis ships and ground-attack missions. When in October the 4° Stormo was moved back, it delivered his Macchi C. 202s to the 3°Stormo.[10] 'At last, with the Macchi 202 we had a competitive plane. But when they threw over us, during Allied offensive, a whole host of P-40 and Spitfire, even this machine could not do that much. The Spit was a 'very hard bone'... It carried a lot of machine guns, plus two 20 mm cannons and it was faster. The 202 was inferior in speed and armament'.[11] On 2 January 1943, the whole 3° Stormo, now equipped with Macchi C.202s, took off to face two formations of Douglas DB.7 Boston and B-25 Mitchell, escorted by Spitfires and P-40s. In the ensuing dogfight, Gorrini shot down a R.A.F. Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk, that fell west of Sirte.[12] Then he damaged a Spitfire that was attacking another Macchi. Gorrini shot 880 bullets but his aircraft had been hit: there were 12 holes in his fuselage.[13] Nine days later, the whole 18° Gruppo was escorting C.200 fighter-bombers in action on British airfields in Uadi (or Wadi) Tamet area. Gorrini shot down a 92 RAF Squadron Spitfire and he damaged another from the squadron of the British ace Flying Officer Neville Duke,[5][14] shooting 688 12,7 mm bullets.[12] His Gruppo was often tasked to strafe the advancing Allied columns or to escort German bombers. On 26 February 1943, in the morning, he took off from El Hamma, to escort, with other pilots of his Squadriglia, Stukas attacking Allied armoured forces in Ksar Ghilane (an oasis of southern Tunisia located on the eastern limit of the Grand Erg Oriental), then he strafed the enemy troops. In the afternoon, on Kebili, with tenente Melis and two other fellow pilots, he intercepted four Allied aircraft. Gorrini claimed a Hawker Hurricane IID, armed with 40mm Vickers cannons. [15]But this was last air battle in Africa. His irritating eye injury was worsening and he was grounded and subsequently, at the end of February, hospitalized in Sfax.[16] He returned to Italy in late March 1943.[17]
Defence of Rome[edit]
When he recovered, was posted as a flying instructor in 3° Gruppo C (Complementare), based on Venaria Reale airfield.[18] Later Gorrini served as a ferry pilot to transfer captured French Dewoitine D.520 fighters from France to Italy, for Italian home defence. 'I have collected several dozens Dewoitine from various French airfields and the Toulouse factory', he recalled later. 'At the time, when we were still flying the Macchi C.200, it was a good, if not very good, machine. Compared to the Macchi 200, it was superior only in one point - its armament of the Hispano-Suiza HS 404 20mm cannon.'[19]Gorrini, who had, by February 1943 achieved four confirmed victories and one unconfirmed, was given, at the beginning of summer 1943,[20] one of the three Macchi C.205 'Veltro' assigned to the 3° Stormo as a special favour (the other two were allotted to the ace Tenente Franco Bordoni Bisleri and to MarescialloGuido Fibbia). During Summer 1943, in defence of Italy, he claimed 11 enemy aircraft.[21]
Regia Aeronautica C.205V - Luigi Gorrini was the 'Veltro' top scoring ace. Flying this outstanding dog-fighter, he destroyed 14 Allied aircraft and damaged six more - Here a C.205 with a North Africa dust filter
On 19 July, during a single sortie west of Rome, Gorrini destroyed a four-engined Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber and a Lockheed P-38 Lightning (another P-38 was damaged). Next day, he claimed another P-38 destroyed and a P-38 damaged. On 25 July Benito Mussolini had been overthrown, but this had no decisive effect on the morale of the Regia Aeronautica. Gorrini recalled: 'After 25 July, despite the arrest of Mussolini, the morale of my unit, 85aSquadriglia and my personal readiness for action remained high. Despite all the reverses that Italy had suffered by the time, our 3° Stormo was the only one still fully ready for combat: my section was detailed to defend Rome. The larger part of the Regia Aeronautica was uninterested in politic or parties, they were men infatuated with flying and determined to defend the land of their birth and to give their lives if necessary in the attempt to stop the bombing of Italian towns.'[22]
On 13 August Gorrini 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, the whole Stormo scrambled to intercept four-engine bombers, which were attacking Cerveteri, on Latium coast, in central Italy. Gorrini, still flying a Veltro, shot down two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, in a single engagement (according to other sources, Gorrini claimed two B-24s).[citation needed] One wing of his C.205 was damaged after an overheating cannon muzzle exploded. After running out of gasoline, he glided back to his base for a powerless landing. On 29 August, he claimed two P-38s destroyed and two more damaged.
P-38s flying in formation - Gorrini scored several kills against this two-engined fighter, during the Defence of Rome, in summer 1943.
On 30 August Gorrini claimed another B-17 'Flying Fortress' over Frascati and the same day he was mentioned on Bollettino di Guerra: 'Sergente Maggiore Luigi Gorrini da Alseno (Piacenza) of 3° 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 85aSquadriglia, with Gorrini in a C.205V, took off from Palidoro airfield (Rome) at 12.00, flying in the direction of Naples to engage enemy bombers. At 8,500 meters the Squadriglia clashed with escorting Spitfires with 85a claiming three Spitfires destroyed and five damaged during this combat. Gorrini shot down one Spitfire (his 15th air victory) and damaged a P-38, but his aircraft was badly hit by machine gun fire and he made a forced landing away from his airfield at 12.50. Gorrini was seriously wounded and hospitalised. He was out of the fighting when Italy surrendered to the Allies on 8 September 1943. During three years of combat service Gorrini was involved in 132 air battles, was credited with 15 confirmed air victories, was wounded twice, crash-landed and baled out once, was mentioned on dispatches several times, and was awarded two times.[5][23]
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana[edit]
Republic P-47 in formation: under ANR insignia, Gorrini claimed several P-47s before being shot down and wounded in a dogfight with Republic fighters.
On 12 October 1943, the legendary Lt Col Ernesto Botto (who had lost a leg while serving as a fighter pilot in Spain, but had continued to fly operationally during 1940-43), the newly appointed Undersecretary of the New Republican Air Force, appealed over the radio for airmen to enlist, and Gorrini, together with 6,996 others, did not hesitate to rejoin in combat against the Anglo-American forces:
'After flying for three years side by side with the German pilots, on the English Channel, in North Africa, Greece, Egypt, Tunisia and finally over my own homeland, I had made friends with some of them, particularly from JG27… I did not want to hang my coat in the wind, so to speak, and perhaps fire on my German friends. Also, I wanted to protect the northern Italian towns from indiscriminate bombing as much as possible.'[24]
On 23 December 1943 Gorrini joined the Italian Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR) where he was assigned to 1aSquadriglia, 1° Gruppo Caccia and continued to fly C.205 fighters. At this time this unit was under the command of 'Ace' Capitano Adriano Visconti and based at Lagnasco airfield (Cuneo). On this day Gorrini flew in a C.205V at 10.15 and was declared fit for combat. On 30 January 1944,1 ° Gruppo was scrambled to face a formation of USAF bombers escorted by P-47s. The C.205s intercepted the enemy aircraft off Grado.[25] Gorrini hit one of the Thunderbolts that had attacked sottotenente Re, and shot it down. Then he damaged a B-24 and rushed to intercept American aircraft that had attacked his base in Campoformido. When he arrived, a P-47 was on the tail of a Bf 109 from JG 27, that had intercepted the USAF raid on the Italian air base. Gorrini hit the P-47 that crashed near the airfield.[26] On the following day, he claimed a P-38.
A Fiat G.55 with ANR livery exhibited at the Museo storico dell'Aeronautica Militare di Vigna di Valle. Gorrini flew this outstanding dogfighter under ANR insigna.
A B-17 was claimed on 11 March and another P-47 on 6 April thus reaching 19 victories. On 24 May 1944, sergente maggiore Gorrini achieved his last air victory. He took off with tenente Vittorio Satta, to intercept a formation of B-24 flying between Parma and Fidenza. The two A.N.R. pilots intercepted the American bombers and their escort on Colorno. They selected the two last Liberators and attacked them. Gorrini put his B-24 on fire after his first pass, but two escorting P-47 bounced his leader and shot him down, killing Lt Satta.[27]On the following day, Gorrini claimed a B-17 damaged. But on 15 June 1944, in the sky of Modena-Reggio, Gorrini fought his last air battle. He suddenly found himself surrounded by four P-47 Thunderbolts. In the ensuing dogfight, his fighter was hit and Gorrini was forced to bail-out. He waited to open the parachute until he was close to the ground, fearing to be strafed by the American pilots. However, the harness was too loose and, when he opened it, he suffered a violent jerk and lost consciousness. When he woke up, he was in an infirmary. After being hospitalized, he was sent on leave.[28]During his time with the A.N.R. he flew in combat with the Macchi C.205V and Fiat G.55.[29] Wounded twice, he did not fly again during World War II. He summed up his career, with these words: '212 air combat, 24 solo air victories, 5 parachute jumps.' [30]
Postwar[edit]
After the war Gorrini enlisted in the newly formed Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) but, due to Allied opposition, he was kept in the rank of warrant-officer. His last unit was the 50° Stormo.[30] He was promoted Tenente only when he retired.[5][23] He died on November 8, 2014.
Awards[edit]
Gorrini has been awarded with a Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare (in 1958), two of Bronzo, and German Iron Cross of First and Second Class. 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.
References[edit]
- ^Nico Sgarlato. 'C.202 Lo chiamavano il Macchi' (in Italian). Parma: Delta Editrice 2008
- ^Giovanni Massimello and Giorgio Apostolo. Italian Aces of World War Two. Osprey Publishing: Oxford 2000. p. 78
- ^Neulen 2000, p. 48.
- ^ abManfredi 1978, pp. 80-82
- ^ abcdPagliano, Franco. Aviatori Italiani. Milano: Longanesi, 1969.
- ^Manfredi 1978, p. 99.
- ^Manfredi 1978, p. 105.
- ^Manfredi 1978, p. 107.
- ^Manfredi 1978, pp. 111-113.
- ^Manfredi 1978, p. 131.
- ^Benzi, Andrea (Interview with Luigi Gorrini). 'Storia del XX Secolo N. 33.' Febbraio, C.D.L. Edizioni srl, 1998.
- ^ abManfredi 1978, p. 146.
- ^Manfredi 1978, pp. 147-148.
- ^Hakan aviation page http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_gorrini.htm
- ^Manfredi 1978, pp. 158-159.
- ^Manfredi 1978, pp. 160-161.
- ^Massimello and Apostolo 2000, p. 78.
- ^Manfredi 1978, p. 163.
- ^Neulen 2000, p. 67.
- ^Neulen 2000, p. 70.
- ^Shores 1983, p. 92.
- ^Neulen 2000, p. 73.
- ^ ab'Italian biplane fighter aces - Luigi Gorrini'. dalnet.se.
- ^Neulen 2000, pp. 76–77.
- ^Manfredi 1978, pp. 255-256.
- ^Manfredi 1978, pp. 256-257-258.
- ^Manfredi 1978, pp. 283-284.
- ^Manfredi 1978, p. 288.
- ^Pesce, Giuseppe and Giovanni Massimello. Adriano Visconti Asso di guerra. Parma: Albertelli editore s.r.l., 1997.
- ^ ab'Il portale dell'Aeronautica Militare - Cordoglio per la scomparsa dell'Asso della Caccia Gorrini'. difesa.it.
Bibliography[edit]
![Luigi traino areva t d automation italy Luigi traino areva t d automation italy](/uploads/1/2/5/2/125292092/990997363.png)
- Benzi, Andrea (Interview with Luigi Gorrini). 'Storia del XX Secolo N. 33.' Febbraio, C.D.L. Edizioni srl, 1998.
- Gustavsson, Håkan. URL 'Italy Sergente Maggiore Luigi Gorrini Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militareconsultato.'Biplane fighter aces on Håkan's aviation page. Retrieved: 12 May 2009.
- Haining, Peter. The Chianti Raiders: The Extraordinary Story of the Italian Air Force in the Battle of Britain. London: Robson Books, 2005. ISBN1861058292
- Lioy, Vincenzo. Gloria senza allori (in Italian). Roma: Associazione Arma Aeronautica, 1953.
- Lazzati, Giulio. Ali nella tragedia (in Italian). Milano: Mursia, 1970.
- Lazzati, Giulio. I soliti Quattro gatti (in Italian). Milano: Mursia, 1965.
- Manfredi, Giacomo: Ali d'Italia. «Vespa 2» La storia di Luigi Gorrini, asso dell'aviazione da caccia Italiana, medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare Editore (in Italian). Modena: S.T.E.M.-MUCCHI, 1978.
- Massimello, Giovanni and Giorgio Apostolo. Italian Aces of World War Two. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN978-1-84176-078-0.
- Neulen, Hans Werner. In the Skies of Europe. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press, 2000. ISBN1-86126-799-1.
- Pagliano, Franco. Aviatori Italiani (in Italian). Milano: Longanesi, 1969.
- Paravicini, Pier Paolo. Pilota da caccia 1942-1945(in Italian). Milano: Mursia, 2007. ISBN8842536768
- Pesce, Giuseppe and Giovanni Massimello. Adriano Visconti Asso di guerra (in Italian). Parma: Albertelli editore s.r.l., 1997. ISBN8885909809
- Sgarlato, Nico. C.202 Lo chiamavano il Macchi (in Italian). Parma: Delta Editrice, 2008.
- Sgarlato, Nico. 'Macchi Folgore' (in Italian). Aerei Nella Storia 1998 (8): 8-20. Parma, Italy: West-Ward sas.
- Shores, Christopher. Air Aces. Greenwich, CT: Bison Books, 1983. ISBN0-86124-104-5.
External links[edit]
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