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Paul Pardi was born on 25 April 1920 (some sources erroneously suggest 19 April 1920) in Sotta, sorthern Corsica, France, the only child of Italo Pardi, a stonemason and Angèle Marie Pardi (née Mancini), both natives of Corsica but of parents who had originally come from the Tuscany region of Italy. Like his parents, Pardi was therefore of French nationality.

When he was just one year old his family moved to Sartène in Corsica where his mother ran a well-known restaurant. The family subsequently moved to Ajaccio so that Paul could attend the Lycée Laetitia Bonaparte there, and settled at 42 cours Napoléon. Pardi was described as a sporting boy, full of daring. He developed a passion for aviation, joining the Corsican flying club and gaining, at just 18 years of age, his civil pilot's licence in 1938. It is believed he also travelled to Spain to observe, at first-hand, the Spanish Civil War and developed a sympathy for the Republican cause.

While a civil aviation pilot based in Ajaccio in Corsica from 1938-39, Pardi had joined the volunteer reserve of the Armée de l’Air, the French Air Force......[Remainder of case study is complete - contact author for further details].

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