Fascist Eagle Italy's Air Marshal Italo Balbo

As the father of the modern Italian Air Force, the Aeronautica, during the years 1926 33, Balbo attained the rank of Duce s Air Marshal and secured a place in aviation history as the initiator of four spectacular flights of Savoia flying boats two across the Mediterranean, and another two across the Atlantic. Unique in their day, they have never been repeated, nor are they likely to be.