Tenente Francis Carlo Lombardi

Royal Italian Air Service

Francis Lombardi joined the Italian Air Service in 1915 and served with pursuit Squadron 7a, flying Spad VII aircraft. The served with distinction and attained 7 official victories. He died in 1983 and was the last surviving Italian ace of World War I.

Lombardi gained fame after the war pioneering air routes through out Europe, Africa, and Asia; and as a racecar driver.

Francis Lombardi attended the Final Reunion of the Ace’s of the Great War, Paris, France, 1981 organized by James J. Parks, MD, Ph.D.

In the fall of 2006, the museum was able to obtain a four-pocket dress tunic and overseas cap, as well as assorted shoulder boards belonging to Col. Lombardi.