ITALIAN FLIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 263, 4 October 1933, Page 5

ITALIAN FLIGHT.

A ROMAN TRIUMPH. AIR MARSHAL BALBO’S PROMOTION. Amid the booming of guns from the cruiser Dia.z, the shrieking of sirens, and the shouts of thousands upon thousands of people who lined both hanks of the Tiber, General Balho and his squadron ended on August 12 the long flight which, begun at Orbetello in the early hours ot July 1, had carried the Italian colours across the Alps, farther north even than the Ultima Thule of the a.ncients, across yet more distant lands and seas unknown to the Roman eagles, and then back again to the Eternal City. For the successful accomplishment of so great an enterprise the honour of a “Roman Triumph” was decreed to be the fitting guerdon, and when on Sunday morning, August 13, amid the acclamations of the public, General Balbo and his men passed along the laurel-strewn roads of Rome, through the Arch of Constantine and up to the Palatine Hill, where Signor Mussolini was awaiting them amid the ruins of the Palaces of the Caesars, they were hailed as having won for Rome fresh titles of glory not unworthy to be set beside the proudest conquests of her consuls of 20 centuries ago. At the close of his address to the airmen, Signor Mussolini read a Roy r al decree whereby General Balbo was promoted to be Air Marshal, and he himself placed the Marshal’s hat upon General Balbo’s head and pinned a gold eagle upon his breast. It was also announced that all those who had not taken part in the previous Atlantic flight .would be promoted one step and that gold or ' silver medals would be given to those who had made that flight. The Italian flying-boat squadron returned from the United States by Newfoundland, tho Azores, Lisbon and Rome. The departure from the Azores was marred by an accident to the fly-ing-boat I-Rani, belonging to the seventh flight and piloted by FlightLieutenant Ranieri. I-Rani took off at Pontn Delgada, and was just clear of tho water when it suddenly dropped again and capsized. Motor boats hastened to the spot and picked up the crew, who were taken ashore to hospital. Flying Officer Squaglia, one of the four occupants, afterwards died in hospital from his injuries. Flight Lieutenant Ranieri suffered from shock.