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A priest came forward, prayed over the men, sprinkled holy water toward the seaplanes, and invoked the blessing of the Virgin of Loreto.* "O God, . . . who hast destined all the elements of this world for the use of the human race, bless us, we beseech Thee, this aircraft . . . that those who flying in it put themselves under the care of the Blessed Virgin, may speedily arrive at their destination and may return home unharmed. . . ." After last farewells, the visitors were herded out, the gates were locked—with General Balbo inside, and the pilots impatiently awaited the order: "Decollare!" (take-off). But ice around Labrador delayed that order.
The Flight to A Century of Progress is known to Italians as Crodera del Decennale (Cruise of the Decennial) celebrating the tenth birthday of Fascism. It was conceived two years ago by General Balbo when he completed his squadron flight of ten seaplanes (out of 14 starters) across the South Atlantic to Brazil. At first he proposed to take his squadron completely around the world, but abandoned that scheme as too pretentious, if not too risky. Even the flight to the U. S. and back, a magnificent military gesture costing upward of $500,000, was not approved by all Italians, who feel acutely the pinch of hard times. At one time the Italian Government even denied that it was contemplated. However, for the past year and a half at Orbetello, and more recently along the route to Chicago, flight preparations have been intense.
The route from Orbetello lies northwest to Amsterdam (870 mi.), to Londonderry, Ireland (630 mi.), to Reykjavik, Iceland (930 mi.), southwest to Cartwright, Labrador (1,500 mi.), to Shediac, N. B. (800 mi.), to Montreal (500 mi.), to Chicago (870 mi.). Following'a three-day fete at the World's Fair the squadron will hop east to Port Washington, N. Y. on Long Island Sound. Unlike the South Atlantic flight, on which General Balbo left his planes with the Brazilian Government in barter for coffee, he will lead this squadron home again through the sky. The route, undetermined, may lie via the Azores.
Besides the 100 men in the planes, some 300 men on land and water are engaged in helping the squadron to cross and recross the ocean. Every scheduled stopping point and an emergency station at Greenland will be manned by crews of meteorologists, radiomen, mechanics. About 15 cruisers and trawlers and even two submarines (good at snaking through drift ice) patrol the course. Last link in the preparations which held up the take-off last week was establishment of the base at Labrador. The supply ship Alicia had not yet crashed the late icejam from the Strait of Belle Isle to Cartwright.
Flesh & Steel The Italians fly in a cavalcade of seven compact triads and one quartet. Leading them all is Balbo 's plane, identified by a large black star on the fuselage. Each plane, with a crew of two pilots, a radioman & mechanic, is equipped with a pneumatic lifeboat. Each man has a sort of light diving suit in which he can live for half an hour under water. Taboo as provisions are liquor and chicken. To Italian airmen fowl is a jinx.