Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 30, 2013 15:52:45 GMT -5
Holy Name Cathedral ... is in Downtown Chicago Address: 735 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60610. Above is the reference to the Roman Catholic Cathedral, which is the Church in the shot.
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 30, 2013 16:00:16 GMT -5
better matched shot from Google. The full width steps were a later addition. stephen.
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 30, 2013 16:17:07 GMT -5
The Italian Air Marshall of the time, Italo Balbo became famous for organizing a squadron of S.55s for Atlantic crossings, culminating in his 1933 flight with 24 aircraft to Chicago's Century of Progress International Exposition. On 1 July 1933, General Balbo commanded a flight of S-55s from Orbetello, Italy, completing the flight in just over 48 hours, maintaining a tight "V" formation. The above is related to the Italia Exhibit Hall in one of the shots,the Italian Airforce organised a special Atlantic flight to Chicago from Italy one of the first mass crossings of the Atlantic at the time, casing a masssive sensation upon arrival. The front design of the Exhibition hall was designed to match the Savoia-Marchetti Aircraft's wings profile. They were unique twin hulled flying boats, achieving the flight by landing on the sea for re-fuelling from Tankers for the enormous distances involved for those far off Transatlantic Flying days. (out of copyright image) Stephen.
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 30, 2013 16:30:45 GMT -5
Also I should add that previously in 1927, three months before Lindburgh's flight across the Atlantic the Italian's had crossed the Atlantic to Brazil with these amazing Flying Boats, one of about 30 previous flights before Lindburgh's Transatlantic flight to Paris....... Stephen.
|
|
|
Post by genazzano on Mar 30, 2013 16:39:50 GMT -5
My grandfather who was from Rome idolized Balbo. He complained about the injustice but he did go to Paris to be there when Lindbergh landed and told the stories until he died at 96.
Thanks for solving that problem of the church. Complimenti signore, really. David
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 30, 2013 16:53:50 GMT -5
www.criticalpast.com/video/65675022450_Savoia-Marchetti-SM-55_flight-from-Italy-to-Chicago_radiogram_wireless-reportThe above reference is for free previews of several newsreels related to the Italian flying boats crossing of the Atlantic, which caused a sensation at Chicago in 1933. I had seen these films many years ago, but they are a bit forgotten perhaps due to the direct involvement of Mussolini in the project. The other forgotten plane from Italy was the Caproni pre-war Jet, yes Jet, before the British or German jets. It was very unusual, using a piston engine to power the compressors for the jet thrust, giving appalling fuel consumption, but it worked!. Stephen.
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 30, 2013 16:58:03 GMT -5
and all of this from a few negatives in an old camera............... Finally the buses used at the Fair, specially built GMC Greyhound articulated coaches, some are in the first shot outside the General Motors Exhibit Hall. Stephen.
|
|
|
Post by olroy2044 on Mar 30, 2013 23:10:08 GMT -5
Wow! I've read about that aircraft, but that's the first photo I've seen! Thanks for posting it!
Roy
|
|
|
Post by genazzano on Mar 31, 2013 6:06:27 GMT -5
My wife is a teacher in Guidonia where the military airbase is located. I think they have a museum there. I must check. I would hope that some of these wonderful aircraft would be there perhaps. I grew up with aircraft mechanics after dad got out of the Army Air Corps. An interesting bunch I recall. I learned to break down engines by the time I was 12.
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 31, 2013 6:57:17 GMT -5
The Caproni is at the Aeronautical Museum of Vigna di Valle near Rome and the ground testbed is at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. Another was taken to The Farnborough Aircraft research establishment in the UK after the war, but does not survive. It was considered too far behind pure jets to be of practical use.
|
|
|
Post by genazzano on Mar 31, 2013 12:35:34 GMT -5
Thanks. We know Lago di Bracciano well but I didn't know the museum was there. So thanks very much and this week my wife and I will drive over there to see those airplanes. I'll load my freshly cla'd Karat 36 and have fun. David
Genazzano, Roma 00030 Italia
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 31, 2013 13:23:11 GMT -5
The last remaining S.55 Twin hulled Flying boat example is preserved in Brazil, at the TAM "Asas de um sonho" Museum, at São Carlos, São Paulo. The aircraft, registered I-BAUQ, was the S.55 used by Cmdr. João Ribeiro de Barros in his crossing of the South Atlantic in 1927. The Brazilian's bought a small fleet of the aircraft at the time, some remaining active till the 1950's. The Italian's tried to sell the design to the US military after the Chicago Exposition displays, but the US had more advanced types in production or design from Boeing and others. They were also demonstrated to the British, but again Short Brothers had far more advance flying boats in production or design stages, leading to the C class classic flying boats, and the war time Sunderland.
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Mar 31, 2013 13:31:17 GMT -5
In Brazil on display, you can clearly see the same wing shape used for the design of the portal of the Italia Exhibition hall at the Chicago Show.
|
|
|
Post by genazzano on Apr 1, 2013 2:49:41 GMT -5
Stephen, what beautiful airplanes! I had spent time in Brazil in 1978 (after spending some time as a "guest" of the junta in Argentina - another thread). I wish I had known about the museum, if it existed back then. The wing does clearly look like the design of the Italian exhibit in the found film.
We will be going to Lago di Bracciano - looking forward to this.
|
|
Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
|
Post by Stephen on Apr 1, 2013 15:15:03 GMT -5
On cameras again, there were at least two special cameras issued for the Chicago Century of Progress exhibition, an Ansco Box camera and a Kodak Brownie Box, both with art deco metal front plates referencing the Exhibition. There are some pictures on the net, but copyright. The pair were sold at the show in 33/34, and are a bit uncommon. Stephen.
|
|