We send our birthday greetings to Torre del Lago in Tuscany: Emilio Bianchi turns 100 years (!) on monday, october 22nd 2012. He is the last living member of the “fab six” SLC commandos, who took part at the mission “G.A. 3” in December 1941, soon to be 71 years ago… For being co-pilot of Luigi Durand de La Penne’s SLC221 against the “HMS Valiant” in the harbour of Alexandria / Egypt, Emilio Bianchi was awarded with the italian gold medal for gallantry at war (M.O.V.M.).

You can read about Emilio Bianchi in the book “Panerai Historia” by Giampiero Negretti (page 72-79). Also informations can be found in the book “I Mezzi d’Assalto della Xa Flottiglia MAS” by Marco Spertini / Erminio Bagnasco / Albertelli Editore (page 48-50). Emilio Bianchi is featured in the japanese “Panerai Style Book” by Begin, 2001.

[photo courtesy of Antonio Guccione / Officine Panerai, 1999]

Emilio Bianchi is also featured in the book “The Value of Time” on page 71 wearing a Luminor Marina at 4:25 p.m., being one of the “portraits of positiveness” aside other personalities choosen from arts, sport and professions.

In the past, Emilio took part on several meetings of the Club Panerai in Viareggio. The visit of the former training camp for SLC commandos during the 2nd world war, an old farm house at Bocca di Serchio, will remain unforgettable to Panerai enthusiasts who took part back in may 2005.

[photo: Emilio Bianchi with members of the Club Panerai meeting at Bocca di Serchio, 2005]

Piero Lapiana from Club Panerai in Viareggio informed us that the city of Sondalo, where Emilio was born, has announced a ceremony. Also the Commune di Viareggio, where Emilio resides, will have a ceremony on monday, 22nd.