Born in 1891 in Modane, France, Italo Luigi Urbinati volunteered for the Royal Army alongside his brothers and became a car driver. During his service, he was noticed by Carabinieri officers who, impressed by his imposing stature, directed him to the Corazzieri corps. At the outbreak of the conflict, Urbinati requested to be transferred to the air force, becoming a maritime reconnaissance pilot in the summer of 1916. From the Marcon airfield near Venice, Urbinati carried out various observation missions of the Austro-Hungarian fleet anchored in naval bases from Pola to Cattaro. In 1917, Urbinati's squadron, consisting of Caproni aircraft, was also assigned bombing missions in which the aviator distinguished himself to the extent of being entrusted with the role of night combat instructor. Following the Battle of Caporetto, all air forces were mobilized to delay the advance of Austro-German troops and cover the Italian army's retreat to the Piave River. On November 2, 1917, Urbinati's squadron received orders to bomb an Austrian camp in Motta di Livenza, where during a dangerous low-altitude strafing action, the Corazzieri pilot was hit in the head by anti-aircraft fire. Italo Luigi Urbinati, along with Albino Mocellin, was one of the two Carabinieri guards of the King who fell during the Great War. He was awarded a Silver Medal for Military Valor with the following motivation:

Carabiniere Guard of the King requested and obtained passage to aviation, demonstrating, in all actions he took part in, contempt for danger and singular audacity. Tasked with bombing an enemy camp near Motta di Livenza, he descended to such a low altitude that he was hit by a barrage of enemy machine guns that severely wounded him in the head and damaged the aircraft's control organs. The aircraft, left without guidance, crashed to the ground with him gasping for breath amid the wreckage. Motta di Livenza, November 2, 1917.