Ottorino Beltrami

[Platon Alexiades]

I am interested in finding out when T.V. Ottorino Beltrami (CO of submarine Acciaio) was wounded in 1943 and in what circumstances (air bombardment? where?). I understand that he lost his leg but managed to continue his service in SIS. 

 

Many thanks and Happy New Year!

 

Platon

[Corto Maltese]

I am interested in finding out when T.V. Ottorino Beltrami (CO of submarine Acciaio) was wounded in 1943 and in what circumstances (air bombardment? where?). I understand that he lost his leg but managed to continue his service in SIS. 

 

Many thanks and Happy New Year!

 

Platon

He was wounded in February 1943 during an air bombardment on Cagliari

[Platon Alexiades]

Many thanks. Do you know the exact date? 22 or 23 February?

 

Platon

[Corto Maltese]

I'am sorry, Platon, my sources don't mention the exact date, but there are 3 possibilities: 17, 26 or 28 February. I can only add that his leg was amputated by Raffaele Paolucci, known for having sunk, together with Raffaele Rossetti, the battleship Viribus Unitis.

[Platon Alexiades]

"Corto": Beltrami had just returned to Cagliari from patrol on 17 February when there was a heavy air raid (20 killed and 30 wounded among the naval personnel, so perhaps he was one of them). T.V. Sergio Puccini took over command of Acciaio on 23 February.  I assume that this was after he was wounded. Yes, I know that his leg was amputated by Paolucci (from the Wikipedia page, not always the most accurate source of information!) and that this did not deter him from continuing his career in SIS. He passed away in 2013 at the ripe age of 96. I regret that I never had the chance to meet the gentleman.

Edited December 29, 2018 by Platon Alexiades

[Corto Maltese]

"Corto": Beltrami had just returned to Cagliari from patrol on 17 February when there was a heavy air raid (20 killed and 30 wounded among the naval personnel, so perhaps he was one of them). T.V. Sergio Puccini took over command of Acciaio on 23 February.  I assume that this was after he was wounded. Yes, I know that his leg was amputated by Paolucci (from the Wikipedia page, not always the most accurate source of information!) and that this did not deter him from continuing his career in SIS. He passed away in 2013 at the ripe age of 96. I regret that I never had the chance to meet the gentleman.

 

Hi Platon, I never use Wikipedia...

 

Vittorio Feltri and Stefano Lorenzetto in their book "Buoni e cattivi. Le pagelle con il voto ai personaggi conosciuti in 50 anni di giornalismo", Marsilio, 2014, say:

 

"BELTRAMI Ottorino (Pisa, 1917 - Milano, 2013). Manager. Ufficiale della Regia marina, partecipò alla secondaguerra mondiale su diversi cacciatorpediniere e infine sui sottomarini Toti, Ametista e Acciaio. Di quest’ultimo fu comandante. Perse una gamba in un bombardamento. Dopo il congedo, lavorò per Adriano Olivetti e per vari grandi gruppi industriali a partecipazione statale, fra cui Finmeccanica, Stet e Sip. Fu presidente di Assolombarda e della Fondazione Cariplo.

Mai conosciuto un uomo più in gamba di lui, nonostante uno dei due arti inferiori gli fosse stato amputato dal generale medico Raffaele Paolucci, l’eroe che nel 1918 aveva partecipato all’azione di Pola e all’affondamento della corazzata austriaca Viribus Unitis".

 

We must consider that they are journalists, not historians, but Raffaele Paolucci during the Second world war, was, in fact, called back to service: 

 

"Subito dopo l'entrata in guerra dell'Italia nel secondo conflitto mondiale fu nuovamente richiamato alle armi e destinato a Roma presso il ministero della Marina, dove prestò servizio fino all'armistizio dell'8 settembre 1943 nel grado di tenente generale medico della riserva, promozione conseguita nei primi mesi dell'anno." (P. Alberini, F. Prosperini, "Uomini della Marina 1861-1946. Dizionario biografico", USMM, Roma, 2015).

 

 

 

[Corto Maltese]

"Corto": Beltrami had just returned to Cagliari from patrol on 17 February when there was a heavy air raid (20 killed and 30 wounded among the naval personnel, so perhaps he was one of them). T.V. Sergio Puccini took over command of Acciaio on 23 February.  I assume that this was after he was wounded. Yes, I know that his leg was amputated by Paolucci (from the Wikipedia page, not always the most accurate source of information!) and that this did not deter him from continuing his career in SIS. He passed away in 2013 at the ripe age of 96. I regret that I never had the chance to meet the gentleman.

 

Hi Platon, I never use Wikipedia...

 

Vittorio Feltri and Stefano Lorenzetto in their book "Buoni e cattivi. Le pagelle con il voto ai personaggi conosciuti in 50 anni di giornalismo", Marsilio, 2014, say:

 

"BELTRAMI Ottorino (Pisa, 1917 - Milano, 2013). Manager. Ufficiale della Regia marina, partecipò alla secondaguerra mondiale su diversi cacciatorpediniere e infine sui sottomarini Toti, Ametista e Acciaio. Di quest’ultimo fu comandante. Perse una gamba in un bombardamento. Dopo il congedo, lavorò per Adriano Olivetti e per vari grandi gruppi industriali a partecipazione statale, fra cui Finmeccanica, Stet e Sip. Fu presidente di Assolombarda e della Fondazione Cariplo.

Mai conosciuto un uomo più in gamba di lui, nonostante uno dei due arti inferiori gli fosse stato amputato dal generale medico Raffaele Paolucci, l’eroe che nel 1918 aveva partecipato all’azione di Pola e all’affondamento della corazzata austriaca Viribus Unitis".

 

We must consider that they are journalists, not historians, but Raffaele Paolucci during the Second world war, was, in fact, called back to service: 

 

"Subito dopo l'entrata in guerra dell'Italia nel secondo conflitto mondiale fu nuovamente richiamato alle armi e destinato a Roma presso il ministero della Marina, dove prestò servizio fino all'armistizio dell'8 settembre 1943 nel grado di tenente generale medico della riserva, promozione conseguita nei primi mesi dell'anno." (P. Alberini, F. Prosperini, "Uomini della Marina 1861-1946. Dizionario biografico", USMM, Roma, 2015).

 

 

 

[Platon Alexiades]

Many thanks "Corto". Happy New Year!