Casualty of WWII,Fortunato was a Civilian with the Special Operations Executive, but served under the alias of a Free Frenchman,Private Pierre Dupont.He was very much an anti-fascist. He emigrated to Britain in 1929, and was employed as head waiter at the prestigious Savoy Hotel in London.In 1941 he became a British citizen and resigned his employment to volunteer with the British armed forces in which he served as a paratrooper.
During the planning stage for Operation Colossus (the raid on the Tragino Aqueduct)in Italy, it was decided that the raiding party should include some Italian speakers to assist during the 60-mile journey planned by submarine. Ultimately, three Italian-speaking men were taken on amongst the 36 men selected for the raid. Two were servicemen, one, Private Nicol Nastri was already a member of the 11th SAS Battalion; he served as Private John Tristan. The other was an RAF intelligence officer, Flight Lieutenant R. Lucky.Fortunato landed with the other paratroopers in the Tragino valley on the night of 10 February 1941. Once the aqueduct had been blown up, the raiding party split up into smaller groups to get back to the submarine pick-up point. Fortunato was in the party led by Major Pritchard who was the raid commander.They were captured on 12 February and taken to Naples prison.
Once the authorities discovered Fortunato's true identity, he was tried for treason, found guilty, and executed by Italian firing squad on 5th or 6th April.
He was 41/42 and the son of Mrs Florence Lantieri of London.
He was accepted for commemoration as war dead on 25th October 2014.
During the planning stage for Operation Colossus (the raid on the Tragino Aqueduct)in Italy, it was decided that the raiding party should include some Italian speakers to assist during the 60-mile journey planned by submarine. Ultimately, three Italian-speaking men were taken on amongst the 36 men selected for the raid. Two were servicemen, one, Private Nicol Nastri was already a member of the 11th SAS Battalion; he served as Private John Tristan. The other was an RAF intelligence officer, Flight Lieutenant R. Lucky.Fortunato landed with the other paratroopers in the Tragino valley on the night of 10 February 1941. Once the aqueduct had been blown up, the raiding party split up into smaller groups to get back to the submarine pick-up point. Fortunato was in the party led by Major Pritchard who was the raid commander.They were captured on 12 February and taken to Naples prison.
Once the authorities discovered Fortunato's true identity, he was tried for treason, found guilty, and executed by Italian firing squad on 5th or 6th April.
He was 41/42 and the son of Mrs Florence Lantieri of London.
He was accepted for commemoration as war dead on 25th October 2014.
Casualty of WWII,Fortunato was a Civilian with the Special Operations Executive, but served under the alias of a Free Frenchman,Private Pierre Dupont.He was very much an anti-fascist. He emigrated to Britain in 1929, and was employed as head waiter at the prestigious Savoy Hotel in London.In 1941 he became a British citizen and resigned his employment to volunteer with the British armed forces in which he served as a paratrooper.
During the planning stage for Operation Colossus (the raid on the Tragino Aqueduct)in Italy, it was decided that the raiding party should include some Italian speakers to assist during the 60-mile journey planned by submarine. Ultimately, three Italian-speaking men were taken on amongst the 36 men selected for the raid. Two were servicemen, one, Private Nicol Nastri was already a member of the 11th SAS Battalion; he served as Private John Tristan. The other was an RAF intelligence officer, Flight Lieutenant R. Lucky.Fortunato landed with the other paratroopers in the Tragino valley on the night of 10 February 1941. Once the aqueduct had been blown up, the raiding party split up into smaller groups to get back to the submarine pick-up point. Fortunato was in the party led by Major Pritchard who was the raid commander.They were captured on 12 February and taken to Naples prison.
Once the authorities discovered Fortunato's true identity, he was tried for treason, found guilty, and executed by Italian firing squad on 5th or 6th April.
He was 41/42 and the son of Mrs Florence Lantieri of London.
He was accepted for commemoration as war dead on 25th October 2014.
During the planning stage for Operation Colossus (the raid on the Tragino Aqueduct)in Italy, it was decided that the raiding party should include some Italian speakers to assist during the 60-mile journey planned by submarine. Ultimately, three Italian-speaking men were taken on amongst the 36 men selected for the raid. Two were servicemen, one, Private Nicol Nastri was already a member of the 11th SAS Battalion; he served as Private John Tristan. The other was an RAF intelligence officer, Flight Lieutenant R. Lucky.Fortunato landed with the other paratroopers in the Tragino valley on the night of 10 February 1941. Once the aqueduct had been blown up, the raiding party split up into smaller groups to get back to the submarine pick-up point. Fortunato was in the party led by Major Pritchard who was the raid commander.They were captured on 12 February and taken to Naples prison.
Once the authorities discovered Fortunato's true identity, he was tried for treason, found guilty, and executed by Italian firing squad on 5th or 6th April.
He was 41/42 and the son of Mrs Florence Lantieri of London.
He was accepted for commemoration as war dead on 25th October 2014.
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