Lotto di foto Regia marina Motosiluranti Tenente di Vascello Mezzadra Franco 1942/1943

Lieutenant Franco Mezzadra 1942/1943, an important batch of photos taken while sailing on the Motosilurante 22 in August 1942. The 8 photos show in the foreground Commander Franco Mezzadra, Silver Medal and Gold Medal for Military Valor (in memory of him) who sank the British cruiser MANCHESTER on the Motosilurante M22 on August 13, 1942. He dedicates the photo to his ship's electrician; one photo shows the British officers just captured after the sinking. Other photos show the use of the Jolly Roger as the battle flag of the Motosilurante. Franco Mezzadra: Born in Vignale Monferrato (Alessandria) on October 13, 1918. After graduating from the Terenzio Mamiani High School in Rome, he attended the Naval Academy in Livorno in 1935 and in 1939 he obtained his degree. Appointed Midshipman. He first served on the training ship Cristoforo Colombo and subsequently on the cruisers Trieste and Pola, where he was stationed when World War II declared. Promoted to Lieutenant in September 1940, he boarded the destroyer Pessagno, where he remained for over a year as Navigation Officer. In March 1942, he was assigned to the MAS Flotilla in Pola and took command of Motor Torpedo Boat 22, which, in collaboration with another unit of the Squadron, attacked and sank the British cruiser Manchester in the Strait of Sicily (August 12, 1942).