Biography
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He was born in Rome on 1 October 1896, and in January 1915 he volunteered to join the [[Royal Italian Army]], assigned to the 13th Field Artillery Regiment as an [[officer cadet]]. He was promoted to [[second lieutenant]] in the following June, shortly after Italy’s entry into the [[First World War]], and was assigned to the 23rd Field Artillery Regiment. On the same year, after attending the [[heavy artillery]] course at the Application School of [[Turin]], he was sent to the front with the 1st Heavy Field Artillery Regiment until November 1916, when he became navigator cadet in the 45th Airplane Squadron, flying aboard [[Farman MF.11|Farman 14]] and [[Savoia-Pomilio SP.2]] aircraft. After obtaining an aircraft navigator’s license and a promotion to [[lieutenant]] he participated in numerous [[reconnaissance]] flights, until in July 1917 his aircraft was shot down in an air battle near [[Solkan]] and he was wounded. For his behaviour during this action he was awarded the [[Silver Medal of Military Valor]]. After recovering he returned to service at the Aviation Depot in Turin, but a few days later he was sent to [[Tripolitania]], where he arrived on October 28, 1917, to serve at the 12th Caproni Squadron based in [[Tripoli]]; he was awarded two [[War Merit Cross (Italy)|War Merit Crosses]] for his role during the [[Senussi campaign]].<ref>https://generals.dk/general/Silvestri/Fernando/Italy.html</ref><ref>Ordine Militare d’Italia 1911-1964, Rome, Ufficio Storico dell’Aeronautica Militare, p. 181</ref><ref>Manlio Molfese, L’aviazione da ricognizione italiana durante la grande guerra europea (maggio 1915-novembre-1918), pp. 15-27-46</ref>
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He was born in Rome on 1 October 1896, and in January 1915 he volunteered to join the [[Royal Italian Army]], assigned to the 13th Field Artillery Regiment as an [[officer cadet]]. He was promoted to [[second lieutenant]] in the following June, shortly after Italy’s entry into the [[First World War]], and was assigned to the 23rd Field Artillery Regiment. On the same year, after attending the [[heavy artillery]] course at the Application School of [[Turin]], he was sent to the front with the 1st Heavy Field Artillery Regiment until November 1916, when he became navigator cadet in the 45th Airplane Squadron, flying aboard [[Farman MF.11|Farman 14]] and [[Savoia-Pomilio SP.2]] aircraft. After obtaining an aircraft navigator’s license and a promotion to [[lieutenant]] he participated in numerous [[reconnaissance]] flights, until in July 1917 his aircraft was shot down in an air battle near [[Solkan]] and he was wounded. For his behaviour during this action he was awarded the [[Silver Medal of Military Valor]]. After recovering he returned to service at the Aviation Depot in Turin, but a few days later he was sent to [[Tripolitania]], where he arrived on October 28, 1917, to serve at the 12th Caproni Squadron based in [[Tripoli]]; he was awarded two [[War Merit Cross (Italy)|War Merit Crosses]] for his role during the [[Senussi campaign]].<ref>https://generals.dk/general/Silvestri/Fernando/Italy.html</ref><ref>Ordine Militare d’Italia 1911-1964, Rome, Ufficio Storico dell’Aeronautica Militare, p. 181</ref><ref>Manlio Molfese, L’aviazione da ricognizione italiana durante la grande guerra europea (maggio 1915-novembre-1918), pp. 15-27-46</ref>
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In April 1922 he was formally transferred to the Army Air Service, assigned to the 3rd Airplane Group, and in October 1923 he was transferred to the newly established [[Regia Aeronautica]] with the rank of [[lieutenant]]. In May 1924 he assumed command of the 20th Reconnaissance Wing, and in April 1925 he was promoted to
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In April 1922 he was formally transferred to the Army Air Service, assigned to the 3rd Airplane Group, and in October 1923 he was transferred to the newly established [[Regia Aeronautica]] with the rank of [[lieutenant]]. In May 1924 he assumed command of the 20th Reconnaissance Wing, and in April 1925 he was promoted to squadron commander (rank transformed into that of [[captain]] after the internal reorganization of the Regia Aeronautica). In December of the same year he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the [[Order of the Crown of Italy]], and in the same month he married Miss Carolina Pezzi, sister of his comrades and friends [[Mario Pezzi (aviator)|Mario Pezzi]] and [[Enrico Pezzi (general)|Enrico Pezzi]]. In June 1926 he obtained the pilot license for [[Ansaldo A.300]] aircraft, and in the following October he assumed command of the 3rd Territorial Air Zone (ZAT), which he maintained until February 1928. On that date was assigned to the General Staff Office of the Regia Aeronautica, but in May 1930 he resumed command of the 20th Wing with the rank of [[major]], being promoted to [[lieutenant colonel]] in March 1932.<ref>Vincenzo Lioy, L’Italia in Africa. L’opera dell’Aeronautica Eritrea-Libia (1888-1932) Vol.1, pp. 49-59</ref><ref>Alessandro Fraschetti, Prima organizzazione dell’Aeronautica Militare in Italia dal 1884 al 1925, pp. 95-96-110</ref>
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In May 1934 he assumed command of the [[Cerveteri]] Aerial Observation School, while also holding the position of [[flight instructor]] and teacher of Air Military Art. In February 1936 he was promoted to [[colonel]], taking over the East Sector Command of the Air Force of [[Libya]] in August. In 1939 he was promoted to air brigadier general ([[air commodore]]). He participated in the early military operations following Italy’s entry into [[World War II]], on 10 June 1940; following the reorganization of the Italian forces, the Air Force of Libya was renamed 5th Air Fleet on 15 July 1940. In February 1941 he became Chief of Staff of the 5th Air Fleet (replacing General [[Egisto Perino]]), a post he kept until February 1942 when, after promoted to Air Division General ([[air vice marshal]]), he returned to Italy and was assigned to the General Staff of the Regia Aeronautica. During his period there he was among the promoters of “Operation S”, a planned demonstrative [[bombing raid]] on [[New York]] which would be carried out by a single bomber (initially the [[Piaggio P.23R]], later replaced by a [[CANT Z.511]] and then by a [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.95]]), which however was never carried out due to the worsening of the Italian war situation.<ref>https://generals.dk/general/Silvestri/Fernando/Italy.html</ref><ref>https://www.sergiolepri.it/10-maggio-1943/</ref><ref>https://comandosupremo.com/regia-aeronautica-commanding-officers/</ref><ref>Alessandro Fraschetti, Prima organizzazione dell’Aeronautica Militare in Italia dal 1884 al 1925, pp. 95-96-110</ref><ref>Chris Dunning, Combat Units of the Regia Aeronautica. Italian Air Force 1940-1943, p. 4</ref>
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In May 1934 he assumed command of the [[Cerveteri]] Aerial Observation School, while also holding the position of [[flight instructor]] and teacher of Air Military Art. In February 1936 he was promoted to [[colonel]], taking over the East Sector Command of the Air Force of [[Libya]] in August. In 1939 he was promoted to air brigadier general ([[air commodore]]). He participated in the early military operations following Italy’s entry into [[World War II]], on 10 June 1940; following the reorganization of the Italian forces, the Air Force of Libya was renamed 5th Air Fleet on 15 July 1940. In February 1941 he became Chief of Staff of the 5th Air Fleet (replacing General [[Egisto Perino]]), a post he kept until February 1942 when, after promoted to Air Division General ([[air vice marshal]]), he returned to Italy and was assigned to the General Staff of the Regia Aeronautica. During his period there he was among the promoters of “Operation S”, a planned demonstrative [[bombing raid]] on [[New York]] which would be carried out by a single bomber (initially the [[Piaggio P.23R]], later replaced by a [[CANT Z.511]] and then by a [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.95]]), which however was never carried out due to the worsening of the Italian war situation.<ref>https://generals.dk/general/Silvestri/Fernando/Italy.html</ref><ref>https://www.sergiolepri.it/10-maggio-1943/</ref><ref>https://comandosupremo.com/regia-aeronautica-commanding-officers/</ref><ref>Alessandro Fraschetti, Prima organizzazione dell’Aeronautica Militare in Italia dal 1884 al 1925, pp. 95-96-110</ref><ref>Chris Dunning, Combat Units of the Regia Aeronautica. Italian Air Force 1940-1943, p. 4</ref>
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