Italo Balbo trans-oceanic flight 1933

Italo Balbo trans-oceanic flight. Italian seaplane in New York 1933, original size of the photo: 5680×4200, photographer: unknown,rights: © Stephan Bleek / zb Media.

Italo Balbo, an Italian aviator and prominent politician during the Fascist era in Italy, is known for his significant achievements in aviation, especially his transoceanic flights. One of his most notable achievements was leading a squadron of flying boats on a transatlantic flight in 1933.

The 1933 flight took place during the World’s Fair in Chicago, which celebrated the city’s centenary.
Balbo led a fleet of 24 Savoia-Marchetti S.55X seaplanes.
The journey covered a distance of around 6,100 miles (9,800 km) and included stopovers in Amsterdam, Reykjavik and Montreal before reaching Chicago.

The flight was a demonstration of Italian aeronautical engineering and earned international acclaim.