Thorlifter
Captain
A group of Italian amateur researchers has unearthed the remains of an Italian World War II pilot who died in a dogfight with U.S. pilots 70 years ago.
The pilot was found 13 feet underground with the wreckage of his crashed plane, a Macchi 205 Veltro. His remains were still sitting on the parachute in the cockpit.
The pilot was identified as Lt. Guerrino Bortolani. His plane disappeared in the Padua countryside in northern Italy, planting itself deep in the bank of a ditch as it crashed on March 11, 1944.
Along with the remains, the wreckage hunters also found the ring Bortolani was wearing at the time of the crash. He was given that ring at the fighter pilot academy.
The excavation also revealed many pieces of the Macchi plane, such as the main landing gear wheel, the tail wheel, pieces of the engine, the control stick, the pedals and parts of fuselage.
Bortolani will be finally given a proper burial in the next months, as soon as his closest relatives are found.
The pilot was found 13 feet underground with the wreckage of his crashed plane, a Macchi 205 Veltro. His remains were still sitting on the parachute in the cockpit.
The pilot was identified as Lt. Guerrino Bortolani. His plane disappeared in the Padua countryside in northern Italy, planting itself deep in the bank of a ditch as it crashed on March 11, 1944.
Along with the remains, the wreckage hunters also found the ring Bortolani was wearing at the time of the crash. He was given that ring at the fighter pilot academy.
The excavation also revealed many pieces of the Macchi plane, such as the main landing gear wheel, the tail wheel, pieces of the engine, the control stick, the pedals and parts of fuselage.
Bortolani will be finally given a proper burial in the next months, as soon as his closest relatives are found.
