Thursday, October 09, 2003
“Wings of Italy: Italian
Aviation Posters
1910-1943” exhibition
The ANNOTICO Report
At the beginning of World War I, the Italian aircraft industry was
almost nonexistent..
The Italian aircraft industry started to take its first steps in 1910
when Gianni Caproni built a factory to produce large bombers. But the
industry expanded tremendously during the war. By the end, 12,000
airplanes and 25,000 engines had been produced. Italy had become the
fourth aeronautical power in the world, after France, the United
Kingdom, and Germany.
The end of the war necessitated a re-conversion of the aeronautical
industry in order to ensure the continued employment of the 300,000
people involved. Caproni was the first to promote and encourage the
construction of large civil airplanes.
The period between the two wars was characterized by great Italian
exploits in sorties, air cruises, records, and sport victories. Among
these were: speed record for seaplanes, as yet unbeaten (Macchi, 1934);
the two air cruises through the Atlantic under Italo Balbo's leadership
(South America, 1930; North America, 1934); and the Schneider Cup for
seaplanes, which was won four times by the Italians.
The events of World War II were unsuccessful for Italy and its military
aviation, essentially because of the overwhelming superiority of the
Allied fleets in the central and final periods of the war. The MG 202,
205, the FIAT G55, and Italian fighters couldn't compare with the
performance of American and British aircraft.
At the end of the conflict, the Italian aviation industry no longer
existed. The period following WWII, though, can be considered the
Renaissance of Italian aviation. In commercial activities, Alitalia is
one of the most prestigious companies in the world. It started in 1947
with a very small fleet, and now its aircraft travel everywhere in the
world.
The following Italian Americans in Aviation follow in the footsteps of
Italians such as, Italo Balbo, Francesco De Pineda, Alessandro
Marchetti, Gianni Caproni, Giuseppe Cenni, Ferdinando D'Amico,Loris
Baldi,Nino Capetti, Adriano Visconti, Alfredo Balsamo, Luigi Gorrini,
Ugo Drago, Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia, Giuseppe Robetto...
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“ITALIAN
AMERICANS IN AVIATION”
October 9, 2003-New York,
Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, President of the Italian American Museum and Mr.
Lawrence Auriana, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation are
pleased to announce along with the “Wings of Italy: Italian Aviation
Posters 1910-1943” exhibition on view at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space
Museum from October 11th through November 2nd the notable achievements
of several Italian Americans will be highlighted:
Fiorello LaGuardia, a World War I aviator, former Mayor of New York
City
Giuseppe Bellanca, who designed, the Columbia (airplane) which set a
world record of 51 hours, 11 minutes and 25 seconds of continuous
flight.
The Columbia, on June 4, 1924 flew from New York to Germany and broke
Lindbergh’s distance record which was set just 2 weeks earlier. This
historic flight outdistanced Lindbergh by 301 miles with the
distinction of being the first Tran-Atlantic flight to carry a
passenger.
Also, featured is Dominic Gentile, World War II fighter pilot known as
the “Ace of Aces” for having a total of 30 enemy kills. General
Dwight D. Eisenhower called Gentile “a one man air force”.
Italian American contributions in aviations in the United States have
been extraordinary. The massive influx of Italian immigrants
during the late 19th and 20th centuries began the process whereby
Italians and their descendants would come to influence every facet of
American society.
The Italian American Museum is dedicated to exploring the rich
cultural heritage of Italy and Italian America by presenting the
individual and collective struggles and achievements of Italians and
their heirs to the American way of life.
By collecting, preserving and interpreting tangible objects and
reminiscences, the Italian American Museum displays notable
contributions of Italians and Italian Americans to American
culture.
The Italian American Museum is a cultural and educational institution
promoting constructive pluralism by educating Americans to the heritage
of Italian Americans and their European roots, values, language and
traditions.
The Italian American Museum sponsors exhibitions, festivals, lectures,
seminars, symposia and educational travel to Europe with a focus on
Italy and its contributions to the world; it also houses precious
collections of objects and memorabilia on the Italian American
experience.
The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing the
Columbus Day Parade since 1929, when the Columbus Citizens Committee
founded the Parade. The Foundation’s nearly 500 members are
active in supporting scholarship funds and other initiatives developed
by the Foundations Board of Directors.
Exhibition
Information:
Italian American in Aviation
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
Pier 86, 12th Avenue and 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
212.245.0072
www.intrepidmuseum.org
Dates: October 11 – November 2
Hours 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Weekdays
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Weekends
-30-
Italian American Museum
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Maria Fosco
P. 212.642.2020
C. 917.642.4922