Alberto Masprone

Alberto Masprone was an Italian athlete and military man. He was Italian Champion in the discus throw in 1906, won the discus at the Concorso Ginnico Internazionale in Milano, and also competed that year at the Intercalated Olympic Games in Athina. In 1907 he won the discus and pentathlon competitions at the King’s Cup, held in Venezia.

In June 1915 Masprone became second lieutenant in the 83rd General Government Battalion. In July 1916 he was sent to Mirafiori for the pilot course on Caudron aircraft. After several training courses, he was assigned to the Air Force Command in mid-December and proposed the idea of establishing a squadron which in January 1918 became the 87th Most Serene Squadron and Masprone became its commander. The squadron had the task of carrying out strategic reconnaissance; however, he had deficiencies in command and in September 1918 was removed.

Masprone was a staunch supporter of the famous Vienna venture conceived by the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, with which thousands of tricolor leaflets were launched into the Vienna sky containing a provocative exhortation to surrender and to end belligerence. After the war Masprone moved to Milano and started an industrial business, dying there in 1964 at the age of 80.

Personal Best: DT – 40.10 (1908).