During both world wars, some aces fought for the Allied Powers, while others fought for the Axis Powers. However, very few fought on both sides. Marziale Cerutti, an Italian ace, served in WWI with the Allied Powers and in WWII with the Axis. Born on March 10, 1895, in Brescia, Italy, he initially entered WWI as an artilleryman. In 1915, Cerutti volunteered for flight training and began pilot training at a flying school in Pisa on November 30. He was promoted to corporal on May 15, 1916. On June 26, he began advanced training on Farman reconnaissance two-seaters, and on September 11, he trained on Caproni bombers. Three days later, at Cascina Costa, he began fighter training on Nieuports. In November 1916, he became a sergeant and was assigned to his first operational unit, 79a Squadriglia. Cerutti began his flying career as a fighter pilot with a Nieuport 11 and later, during the war, switched to a Nieuport 27.
Ace Journey of Marziale Cerutti
Flying a Nieuport 27, the fuselage of which was marked “MIR,” Marziale Cerutti’s first victory came on November 24, 1917, followed by another victory on the same day. His third victory came on November 27, ending 1917 with three confirmed victories. On January 28, 1918, Cerutti shot down two aircraft to complete his five victories and officially became an ace. In February, he shot down three air targets, followed by one in March, four in June, one in August, two in September, and one in October to end his WWI score at 17. Out of 17, eight were EA aircraft, three each were Scout and two-seater aircraft, and one each was a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I, an Albatros D.III, and a balloon. All his victories came flying Nieuport 27s. For his WWI contribution, he was awarded three Silver Medals for Military Valor, French Croix de Guerre, and Serbian Order of the Star of Karađorđe with Swords. Marziale Cerutti also claimed five unconfirmed victories, including two Scouts, and one each of an EA, a two-seater, and a Seaplane. After WWI, he stayed in the Italian Air Force. On February 1, 1919, a military intelligence group reviewed his claims of aerial victories. They did not accept five of his uncounted victories, but credited him with 17 aerial victories during the war. Marziale Cerutti was promoted to sottotenente, a rank equivalent to second lieutenant, on March 23, 1919.
WWII and Death
As the Italian Air Force became the Royal Italian Air Force, Marziale Cerutti was promoted to command the 60th Group in 1931. By 1935, he had become a colonel and was commanding the 15th Wing. The next year, he transferred to command the 11th Wing. At the beginning of WWII, he worked at the Headquarters of the Italian Armed Forces in North Africa. On March 28, 1941, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. In August 1941, he became Chief of Staff of the Italian transport command, known as Servizi Aerei Speciale. After the armistice on September 8, 1943, which divided loyalties in the Italian Armed Forces, General Marziale Cerutti chose to support Benito Mussolini’s faction and joined the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, also known as the National Republican Air Force, which was the air force of the Italian Social Republic, a World War II German puppet state in Italy. Because of this choice, the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force removed Cerutti from duty after the war. While he was waiting for a review of his military status, Air Brigadier General Marziale Cerutti rode his home-built motorcycle on May 26, 1946, and died in an accident. In the Aces series, he saw WWI and WWII, became an ace, and served on both sides of the world wars. Despite some controversial decisions in WWII, Marziale Cerutti still stands as a brave pilot and commander who had his own set of rules. Read stories about more Aces HERE.
