Francesco De Pinedo of the Italian Royal Air Force (1890-1933) gained the 
distinction of being the first foreign pilot to land a foreign aircraft on USA soil, at 
New Orleans on March 29, 1927, almost two months before the famed Lindbergh 
crossing.

Aviation "giant", De Pinedo's monumental achievement was "rediscovered" 75+ 
years later, and is now in the process of being commemorated in the US. First 
in Chicago, now in St.Louis, next in Milwaukee, Kansas City and other cities 
after that.

British Magazine "Flight"in an article from the 23 June, 1927 issue attests:  
"Although establishing no recognized world's records, the flight just 
completed by the Marquis of Pinedo is in many ways ONE OF THE MOST 
REMARKABLE IN THE HISTORY OF AVIATION. While recently several 
land aeroplanes have covered great distances over the sea, Pinedo has covered 
greater over land in a seaplane...

Colonel De Pinedo's the "Santa Maria" was a Savoia Marchetti SM 55 "Flying 
Boat" (Sea Plane), that on its tour touched on 4 Continents, made 44 stops, 
and covered 27,250 miles (the Circumference of the Earth at the Equator!)

The tour included the following places (Incomplete and subject to 
correction). Starting in Sardinia; Azenmour, French Morocco; Villa Cisneros, 
Spanish Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; Cape Verde Islands; Natal, Brazil; Rio De 
Janeiro, Brazil; Montevideo, Uraguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina; 
Guajara-Caceres, Paraguay; Guajara Mirim, Bolivia; Manus, Brazil; Para, 
Surinam; Georgetown, Guyana; Curacao, Antilles; Havana, Cuba; New Orleans 
USA; [Memphis Tennessee was an alternate to St.Louis, when bad weather 
prevented a landing] Chicago; New York; Azores; Lisbon, Portugal; Italy.

A West Coast tour was interrupted, and canceled, due to catastrophic 
circumstances. You MUST read about this entire trip. Truth is stranger than 
Fiction!! 

============================================
Franco Giannotti, Owner of the Italy in St. Louis Web Site sends the 
following Update, and the Text Contents of the Poster 
----------------------------------------------------------------------  
If you live in the St. Louis metro area, we highly recommend that you visit 
the Francesco De Pinedo exhibit at the Museum of Transportation per attached 
flyer.  If you live elsewhere in the Midwest stay tuned.

This traveling exhibit will open next in Milwaukee, Kansas City and other
cities after that.  We will send you notices as we confirm the exhibit dates
and locations.

Colonel Francesco De Pinedo of the Italian Royal Air Force is undeservingly
one of the lesser known heroes of world aviation and you can find his life
history as well as related links in our portal under "Eroi dell'aria".

[RAA Note: there is a "cornucopia" of information on this Site, Thanks to Don 
Fiore, including a fascinating Daily Report of the Trip, and De Pinedo's 
amazing Biography among a host of other delightful insights.]    

Italy at St. Louis Index Page
http://www.italystl.com/ 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"LET POSTERITY KNOW...
.........AND IN KNOWING BE ASTONISHED..."

Experience a little known piece of world history and view 53 beautiful 
original photographs of the flight of the two Americas by the headline 
winning transatlantic flyer who rivaled Charles Lindbergh in fame and 
achievement.

This exclusive showing about the Royal Italian Air Force Commander, Colonel 
Francesco De Pinedo is currently at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation in 
Kirkwood, until Sunday July 14, 2002. 

The exhibit portrays some of the details of one of the longest and most 
daring air travel achievements of the era, by Francesco De Pinedo and his 
crew of two people traveling 27,250 miles in 4 continents with 44 stops, on 
board the "Santa Maria", a SM55 "flying boat" by Savoia Marchetti of Italy.

Francesco De Pinedo gained the distinction of being the first foreign pilot 
to land a foreign aircraft on U.S.A. soil, at New Orleans on March 29, 1927, 
almost two months before the famed Lindbergh crossing.  

The Museum of Transportation is located at 3015 Barrett Station Road, just 
West of I-270 and South of Dougherty Ferry Rd.  Exhibit hours are 9:00 am to 
5:00 pm, seven (7) days a week. Admission prices are $4.00 for Adults, $1.50 
for Seniors and Children.  View the exhibit on your own or join us for a 
private showing and a small reception at no charge (bring this flyer) on 
Sunday, July 14, 2002 at 4:30 p.m.   During the reception a narrated tour of 
the exhibit will be provided by Franco Giannotti, a local aviation expert.  
Private tours for 20 or more people can be arranged, call the Museum at 
314-965-8007.

The exhibit is organized by the CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY in collaboration 
with the FIAO and the MUSEUM OF TRANPORTATION of St. Louis.  This exhibit is 
made possible by concession of the Supreme Command of the Italian Air Force 
and a grant from AEREA s.p.a., Italy.

DON'T MISS THIS UNIQUE SHOWING, BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
AND VIEW THE MANY OTHER ATTRACTIONS AT THE MUSEUM