Francesco Baracca was a highly awarded Italian aerial fighter in World War I and his legacy still is alive after all these years.
In 1907, Francesco Baracca, the son of Count Enrico Baracca and his wife Paolina, enrolled at the Military Academy of Modena. By 1910, his passion for horse riding led him to join the prestigious Piemonte Reale Cavalleria Regiment. This position allowed him to indulge in cultural activities in Rome, as well as hunting and equestrian events.
However, his lifestyle was disrupted when he received orders to relocate to a small town in central Italy. It was there that Baracca developed an interest in aviation, eventually learning to fly in Reims, France. He obtained his pilot's license on July 9, 1912, and served with the Battaglione Aviatori until the outbreak of World War I, when he joined the 5th and 6th Squadriglie.
World War I
Before Italy entered World War I in May 1915, there was a lot of heated debate back home between those who wanted war and those who didn’t. Throughout all this, Baracca stayed neutral, ready to serve wherever he was needed. He joined various squadrons until his first big win in 1916.
Photo: Museo di Francesco Baracca
Baracca was known for a slick flying maneuver where he'd stealthily approach from below and behind an enemy aircraft, firing his machine gun at close range. This move not only made him famous across Italy but also helped him climb the ranks fast. On one notable day, April 26, 1917, he took down his eighth enemy and was awarded the Military Order of Savoy. In October 1917, he upgraded to a Spad XIII, achieving a few more victories with it.
Francesco Baracca became a legend in the skies, scoring his first win on April 7, 1916, when he shot down an Austrian Hansa-Brandenburg C.I, marking Italy's first aerial victory in World War I. By the end of 1917, he had racked up 30 victories, and his total reached 34 in 1918, just before he failed to return from a mission over the Montello area on June 19…
Baracca’s death
The Italians were using their air superiority to launch low-flying ground attack missions amid heavy small-arms fire. On the morning of June 19, 1918, during a troop support mission, Francesco Baracca and a rookie pilot, Tenente Franco Osnago, were hit by ground fire and separated. Shortly after, both Baracca's home airfield and Osnago witnessed a burning airplane crash.
When Baracca's body was found, it had a bullet wound to the head. His pistol was found out of its holster and away from his body, sparking rumors that he might have chosen to end his own life rather than risk dying in the crash or being captured. Although Ltn Arnold Barwig in a Phönix C.I 121.17, piloted by Zgsf Max Kauer, claimed to have shot down the Italian ace, evidence suggests that Baracca was more likely struck by ground fire.
Legacy
Throughout his life, Francesco Baracca received numerous awards for his bravery, including the Gold Medal of Military Valor, three Silver Medals of Military Valor, the British Military Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, and the Belgian Order of the Crown. At the end of 1917, King Victor Emmanuel III personally decorated him at La Scala. Baracca's 34 victory claims are well-documented through Austro-Hungarian losses and surviving military records, confirming him as one of the top-scoring Allied pilots of the conflict.
You can visit the Museo di Francesco Baracca in Lugo, Italy. It was inaugurated on 16 June 1926 and includes decorations, diplomas, personal correspondence, some uniforms and various other objects.
Cavallino Rampante
Photo: Museo di Francesco Baracca
You might wonder what Francesco Baracca has to do with Ferrari's famous Prancing Horse logo. Back in April 1916, Baracca’s squadron allowed its aviators to personalize their planes with unique symbols. Baracca chose a black prancing horse for his Nieuport 17. In a letter to his mother dated 27 April 1918, he claimed to have adopted the horse in tribute to the Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd) he once belonged to, which had used a similar symbol since 1692. This was in silver but Baracca opted for black to make it stand out against the fuselage of his aircraft.
Emblem of the Regiment Piemonte Cavalleria (2nd)
Years later, in 1923, after winning a race at the Savio circuit in Ravenna, Enzo Ferrari met Baracca’s parents, Count Enrico Baracca and Countess Paolina. The Countess suggested that Enzo use the prancing horse on his cars for good luck. Although he embraced the idea, it wasn’t until July 9, 1932, during the Spa 24 Hours race in Belgium, that the Prancing Horse made its debut on Scuderia Ferrari’s cars. This symbol, first featured on the team’s stationery and then on their Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 MM, proved lucky indeed as the team secured a win.
Photo: DK Engineering
The logo evolved by 1947 when the Ferrari 125 S, the first car to bear Ferrari's name, featured a rectangular version of the logo. The yellow background pays homage to Modena, Enzo’s hometown, while the letters “SF” represent Scuderia Ferrari. The Italian tricolore at the top completes one of the world's most iconic car logos. But, what about Porsche...?
Different stories
It's true that Porsche, the carmaker from Stuttgart, also features a prancing horse on their emblem, but there’s no evidence linking this to Ferrari's famous logo. One story suggests that the horse on Baracca's plane became a symbol after he downed a German pilot from Stuttgart, whose city coat of arms also features a horse. While it was common for pilots to display their foes' symbols, there’s no proof supporting this claim, and the Museo Francesco Baracca has no documents to back it up. The Porsche logo, on the other hand, was designed by Max Hoffman, an Austrian-born US car importer, and is based on Stuttgart’s city seal.
Photo: JCT600
There are various tales about the origins of Baracca's Prancing Horse. Some say it reflects his love for horse riding, others believe it was inspired by a particular stallion he owned, and there are claims that the horse was originally red and only painted black as a tribute after Baracca’s death. However, the Museo Francesco Baracca confirms that the horse was indeed black during Baracca’s lifetime, based on a painted panel predating his death.
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