Gastone Novelli

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Gastone Novelli (born 13 June 1895 in Ancona, Kingdom of Italy – died 3 July 1919 in Padua, Italy) was an Italian World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.

He was the son of an Italian Army General and studied at the Collegio Militare in Rome and the Scuola Militare in Modena. In February 1915 he was commissioned as a Sottotenente in the 8th Montebello Lancers. After a brief stint as a reconnaissance scout for the 43rd Artillery, he became an aerial observer for 28a Squadriglia by August 1915. He earned a pilot’s license for the Caudron G.3 in April 1916 and qualified on Farmans three months later in Busto Arsizio. He flew with 30a Squadriglia from August 1916 to January 1917, earning a Silver Medal for Military Valor.

Promoted to Tenente, he joined 81a Squadriglia and began training as a Nieuport fighter pilot. He claimed an aerial victory on 15 April 1917 (unconfirmed) and, after completing his training in May, scored his first three confirmed victories in June 1917. On 1 August he was transferred to acting command of 76a Squadriglia. On 11 August he was wounded in the left arm but continued the mission, earning a second Silver Medal.

While the Battle of Caporetto raged, he was out of action, but on 3 November 1917 he joined 91a Squadriglia and fought as part of a team. He scored five more confirmed victories, all shared with fellow Italian aces, including Francesco Baracca and others. For his service, he received a third Silver Medal, as well as the War Merit Cross and the Serbian Golden Merit Medal.

Gastone Novelli died in a takeoff accident at Padua on 3 July 1919.