Nicola Bellomo (general)

He gave up active duty in 1936, but was reactivated in 1941, when he was assigned as commander of the XII MVSN Zone, and Bari province.

On 30 November 1941 two British prisoners of war, Captain George Playne of the Royal Armoured Corps and Lieutenant Roy Cooke escaped from Torre Tresca POW detention camp but were recaptured a few hours later.

He wanted to personally investigate the course of events leading to their escape, and asked the two British officers to show him the location from which they had launched their plan.

Again, the two British prisoners took their chances to escape, although this time Italian sentries opened fire, killing Captain Playne[1] and wounding Lieutenant Cooke.

Bellomo was wounded, but the action was successful; the Italians forced the Germans to retreat, leaving the port facilities intact.

Bellomo, who refused to ask for pardon, was executed by a firing squad on the Island of Nisida north of Naples on 11 September 1945.