Franco Bordoni

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Franco Bordoni-Bisleri (January 10, 1913 in Milano - September 15, 1975 near Chiavari) was an italian aviator and racing car driver.^[1]

His grandfather was Felice Bisleri (1851-1921) who had started and owned the family-run maker of the Ferro-China-Bisleri amaro (drink). Franco studied at Collegia San Carlo, became civil pilot (1936) but failed joining the Regia Aeronautica. Instead, he got a military aviation license (1937), which allowed him to combat in World War II, first assigned to the Albenga Air Base, fighting France (1940), the Corpo Aereo Italiano for Battle of Britain, and also in Libya.

After the war, he became president of the family's liquour company and was president of the Milano Aeronautico Club. He also continued car racing, becoming one of Europe's leading amateur drivers (especially using Maserati cars), continuing the use of a "Robur" logo and slogan (featuring a fighting lion) also used on the liquour bottles. He died in a storm-caused flying accident near Chiavari at age 62, along with his 10-year son and a friend.