Aldo Bellò

Aldo Bellò was an Italian aviator and military man. As a lieutenant and pilot he fought in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. He was an Italian pioneer and record holder in gliding. Born in Solagna, he was passionate about aviation from a young age. At age 18 he volunteered in the Royal Air Force, where he obtained his military pilot’s license, but after his mandatory military service he was dismissed.

On 9 August 1939 Bellò bettered the Italian duration record by remaining in flight for 8 hours and 26 minutes. After Italy entered the war, he was employed as a pilot instructor at the Gorizia school from April 1941. During the Allied landings in Sicily, Bellò took off from Palermo-Boccadifalco airport trying to reach Roma, but never made it, probably shot down by enemy aircraft. On 22 July 1943 he was judged untraceable at Boccadifalco Airport, and it was not until 31 May 1947 that the Ministry of Air Force declared him officially deceased as of 22 July 1943.