Italy, Kingdom. An Al Valore Militare To Airman Mottet Guiseppe, 1937

Instituted by Charles Albert, King of Sardinia on March 26, 1793. Awarded for the Spanish Civil War, an official issue Silver Grade Al Valore Militare Medal, in silver, the obverse bears a crowned cross encircled by a wreath and the inscription Al VALORE MILITARE, the reverse is engraved CIELO DI SPAGNA – LUG. 1937 MOTTET GUISEPPE with a wreath surrounding the name, measures 33.5mm (w) x 39mm (h – inclusive of integral suspension bar), weighs 20.8 grams, lovely patina, worn on original blue ribbon, in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Guiseppe Mottet was born in Fontanemore on September 12, 1912. He obtained a French flight licence in August 1934, returning to Italy in 1935, enrolling in the Regia Aeronautica. He was given the rank of Sergente Pilota (without having to follow any courses), flying the Fiat CR.30 and CR.32. He was therefore assigned to 3o Stormo in Malpensa. In 1937, he volunteered for the Spanish Civil War, and was assigned to 20a Squadriglia, XXIII Gruppo “Asso Di Bastoni” and flew a Fiat CR.32s. He claimed an I-15 over Segovia on June 2nd of that year, and another I-15 on July 6th. A shared I-16 over Madrid was claimed on July 7, and a shared Tupolev SB-2 bomber was claimed on August 24 over Escorial. Mottet flew roughly 90 missions during his tour in Spain, mostly escorting flights to bombers and field protection sorties. He was involved in 10 active combats with Republican aircraft. Following the war, he was awarded two decorations for gallantry, and was assigned to 53o Stormo based in Torino. He later served in the Second World War, ending the war with a total of 6 biplane victories and a total of 6 destroyed.

Mottet died on March 30, 1950 following a plane fire which resulted in a crash landing in the airfield. While he was extracted from the wreck alive, he died a few hours later.