Maresciallo GianLino 'Giri' Baschirotto
Gianlino Baschirotto was born on August 15, 1914 Montagnana near Vicenza, in the province of Padua.
When you joined the Regia Aeronautica had already obtained a pilot license pre-military Campoformido with a squadron of local air tourism.
In 1935 he earned his military wings in Aviano, and after this was assigned as Sergente Stormo CT-1
1st Stormo was the oldest Stormo Regia Aeronautica and was considered a rare privilege to be assigned to this unit, as it was considered an "Academy aerobatics".
Baschirotto got basic operational training with the 88th Gruppo Squadriglia 6th.
In August 1936 he volunteered as one of the first pilots for service in the Spanish Civil War with the nom de guerre 'Edoardo Giri'.
When World War II began on 6th Gruppo was equipped with Macchi MC.200s and based in Sicily (6th Gruppo was the first unit to receive this aircraft when received the first 29 on November 1, 1939).
The unit participated in both attacks on Malta.
On June 16 Baschirotto, who had been promoted to Field Marshal, called shared with eight other riders over Malta gladiator. The Malta Gladiator however managed to escape safely.
In late July 1940, the 6th Gruppo was assigned to the 1st Stormo.
In October 1941, the unit returned to Italy to re-equip with Macchi MC.202s (Series 3 aircraft) and was sent to Libya.
The unit began operating in front of North Africa in January 1942.
