ITALIAN AIR FLEET.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20178, 5 March 1931, Page 15

ITALIAN AIR FLEET.

FLIGHT MARRED BY ACCIDENTS. REPORT TO SIGNOR MUSSOLINI. / (rBOM OUR CWW CORBJSSPONDBNT.) LONDON, January 29. A graphic account of j the flight of the Italian air fleet across the Southern Atlantic on Tuesday, and of the fatal accidents that marred the feat, has been received by Signor Mussolini from General Balbo, the Italian Air Minister, who directed the undertaking. General Balbo says tfiat the load for taking off was fixed at 4600 kilos (19 tons 7cwt), which exceeded by almost one-third the maximum load carried by seaplanes of 1000 horse-power on pre-, vious trans-Atlantic flights in equatorial zones. At the last moment he allowed the commanders of - the two repair seaplanes, Captain Donadelli and Lieutenant Teucci, to take part in the flight. The take-off was made in four flights of three machines. The machine of General Yalle, in the seeond flight, : had difficulty in taking off and had to return to unload. General Valle-took off again an hour later, and his machine darted forward in pursuit in brilliant fashion, rejoining the others near the Brazilian coaat. Just before 7.30 a.m., after six hours' flying, the light of a leaden dawn streaked the sea. The machines were then flying in perfect formation. General Balbo communicated? with the. other machines, who answered his signals, and it was only later that he learned that two machines had remained at Bolama. Burst Into Flames. The seaplane commanded by Captain Beccano suddenly lost speed, and had to come down in the sea. It * >st a float, which caught lire. Boats rescued the crew with the exception of the mechanic, who is missing. A second machine, commanded by Captain Boer and by the second pilot, Lieutenant Barbicinti, had for some unknown cause to come down in the sea a few minutes after taking off. It burst into flames and was destroyed ia a few seconds.

The four airmen on board perished. General Balbo believes that the accident was due to a short circuit. He recalls that Allowances had been made before the flight for the possible loss of three "machines out of the twelve. After nine hours' flying the general received an S.O.S. from Captain Baistrocchl, who had been . forced down into the sea. The message was passed on to a naval division, which sent a unit to take the seaplane in tow. The machine commanded by Captain Donadelli suffered similar damage and had to come down 370 miles from the island of Fernando Noronha. This was also taken in tow. - After 15 hours' flying the airmen sighted Fernando Noronha, and after 18 hours the Brazilian coast came into view. '