The Decennial Air Cruise was a mass transatlantic flight from Orbetello, Italy, to the Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. The expedition, organized by the Italian Regia Aeronautica, began on July 1, 1933, and ended on August 12 of the same year. It consisted of 25 Savoia-Marchetti S.55X seaplanes crossing the Atlantic Ocean in formation, forming the greatest mass flight in aviation history. The Italian squadrons, led by General Italo Balbo, were welcomed enthusiastically in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Canada, and particularly in the United States of America, where they became known as the Italian Air Armada. A publicity success for Fascist Italy, Balbo further viewed the expedition as a pioneering step towards commercial flights across the Atlantic.
Route of the Italian Air Armada during the Decennial Air Cruise
Monument to the "Heroes of Transatlantic Flight" Francesco De Pinedo and Carlo Del Prete to commemorate their flight across the Southern Atlantic during the "Four Continents" flight in 1927. São Paulo, Brazil
Italian building at the Century of Progress fair, Chicago
La Patrie of Montréal, featuring the Italian Air Armada on the front page (Saturday 15 July 1933)
The Royal Italian Air Force (RAI) was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished and the Kingdom of Italy became the Italian Republic, whereupon the name of the air force changed to Aeronautica Militare.
A Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 during a bombing raid in the Spanish Civil War (1936–39).
Destruction of Muslim graveyard and the Istiklal Mosque by Italian bombers during the bombing of Haifa, September 1940.
An early Macchi C.202 (note lack of radio mast) of 81ª Squadriglia, 6° Gruppo, 1° Stormo CT; this photo appears to have been taken in Libya.
Bombing of Malta.
