Fascist Art Deco Italo Balbo Table Medal

[Fabio]

a portable non portable medal

This medal was not an official portable honour.
But the pilot who's own it wanted probably to wear it any way: tha's why he put the ring and the hook that are of different material, maybe a different or newer quality of silver.
The Mussolini sentence, Quest'ala non sarà più infranta means <<Nobody will break this wings again>>.
We all know what happened later to our wings ....

[Fabio]

original pic 1

Last but not least 2 originals pic of Air Marshall Balbo landed at the Capua airport in 1933.
These pics came from the private archive of the grand son of an important General of the Aeronautica Militare who served like a pilot in ww2 and who's father was a pilot trainer in the new formed Accademia Aeronautica of Caserta (the italian West Point for airforce officers) in the twenties.

[Fabio]

original pic 2

The other focus on the air marshall.
I think that he's wearing a special flying combo but our friend Frank Savage, the Italian Aeronautic Master will surely tell us the truth, correcting all my technical mistakes.
Well, guys, even today I did my part to help this Forum growin up.
Good night mates
Fabio

[Ralph P]

Hello all - Thanks for the educational and interesting thread...

[Fabio]

Thanks to you Ralph

Hello all - Thanks for the educational and interesting thread...

Many and sincere thanks to you Ralph for believing in this Forum and for givin your availability to lead this Forum with us, italian members.
Will give you the honorary italian citizenship soon, mate

[Raffaello Carola]

Hello all - Thanks for this interesting thread, very nice medals!
Italo Balbo is an hero of the italian aereonautica is the starter
idea of the first paratrooper italian corp (libyan troops)
I have in the past (ex collection) today make part of another
friend collection, many years ago the very rare diplom of an aviator
groups of Balbo only 326 medals awarded for the medal of
Rome-Chicago-New York ,(the medal was lost) and the rare
pin badge of GIL (gold type) of pre airforce young fascist
camp dedicate to the memory of Italo Balbo.
cheers, Raffaello

[Raffaello Carola]

pin badge of the Italo Balbo GIL camp pre airforce young fascist

[Raffaello Carola]

reverse Picchiani e Barlacchi production

[Dennis S]

Hello all - Thanks for this interesting thread, very nice medals!
Italo Balbo is an hero of the italian aereonautica is the starter
idea of the first paratrooper italian corp (libyan troops)
I have in the past (ex collection) today make part of another
friend collection, many years ago the very rare diplom of an aviator
groups of Balbo only 326 medals awarded for the medal of
Rome-Chicago-New York ,(the medal was lost) and the rare
pin badge of GIL (gold type) of pre airforce young fascist
camp dedicate to the memory of Italo Balbo.
cheers, Raffaello

Rafaello, Is your Dipoma for my medal ? If not which one.

Regards Dennis

[Raffaello Carola]

Rafaello, Is your Dipoma for my medal ? If not which one.

Regards Dennis

Dear Dennis,

the diplom is for the rare medal of the aviators group staff
of Balbo to make part of trasvolata only 326 awarded (two at
the memory) of the aviatosr group death in the Azzorre crash.
Your medal is the commemorative table medal exist in gold/silver/bronze
the same medal exist in size 31mm portable with the same design.
cheers, Raffaello

[Fabio]

Nice stuff

Hello all - Thanks for this interesting thread, very nice medals!
Italo Balbo is an hero of the italian aereonautica is the starter
idea of the first paratrooper italian corp (libyan troops)
I have in the past (ex collection) today make part of another
friend collection, many years ago the very rare diplom of an aviator
groups of Balbo only 326 medals awarded for the medal of
Rome-Chicago-New York ,(the medal was lost) and the rare
pin badge of GIL (gold type) of pre airforce young fascist
camp dedicate to the memory of Italo Balbo.
cheers, Raffaello

Hello old bull
Really cool stuff.

Where did you hide it, in the backyard?

Thanks for sharin, Lello

Hello there. waf members: no more Balbo stuff to share with us in the Waf?
Anything related with Balbo is welcome ....

[frank savage]

The other focus on the air marshall.
I think that he's wearing a special flying combo but our friend Frank Savage, the Italian Aeronautic Master will surely tell us the truth, correcting all my technical mistakes.
Well, guys, even today I did my part to help this Forum growin up.
Good night mates
Fabio

Hi there!
Many thanks to my friend fabio, every time so nice and full of kindness!!!

The suit that Balbo wear in the #18 pic is a model 30 'Marus' suit, called after the first and prominent builder of this type of garnment. Its design born in the early 30s, treasured the experience of the 'Atlantic suit' wore by the guys that flown with balbo across the ocean. Before that time (as the G.U.R.A. - Gazzetta Ufficiale Regia Aeronautica [official Regia Aeronautica leaflet], stated) the fellows that run over the wild blue yonder wore another suit, made in heavy rough cotton distribuited in 1928. It was with almost the same cut: slash buttoned front closure, shoulder straps but unlined. Lots of other flying garment was used, but most of all privete made purchasing, with every kind of design and cut. In 1930 the cut was standarized and saw the light one of the Regia Aeronautica's most famous suit. This suit was wear through the WWII, even when the two piece flying suite was standardized and distribuited in the 1940.
The suit was made in heavyweight brown wool, and its colour should be more lighter or darkness due the dye bath. The cuffs are made in creamy wool, to keep the wind and the cold outside the apparate. A slash zip run over the front, from the lower left side through the upper right shoulder. Another little zip closure is mean to let the owner left all its 'bad thoughts', keeping the main zip closed. Two other zip colsure are on both lower legs. As the german counetrpart it carried a big map pocket on the left breast. Two straps are on both of the shoulder ,without any specificated use, because they don't bore any insigna or rank. A lining made in soft wool could be tight in the suit and detachable if the wether is too hot, bring the fur collar with. Two big pocket are sewned on both upper legs, without any closure. The only rank insigna bored by the suit, was carried on both sleeve, few centimetres over the sewn that keep the wool cuffs. During the war was used, almost every time, the same rank of the blue dress jacket, even the Regia Aeronautica draw special ranks for the flight suit, with the same design of the others, but made in yellow cotton backed on the same blue-gray wool.

Hope this help.

Cheers, frank

[frank savage]

Hi again!

I have forget the helmet that Balbos wearing.
Its the more common Regia Aeronautica helmet every built. It was made in soft brown leather, but its not difficult found in dark brown leather to almost black one. A beautifull helmet, made in red leather was used in a 'hydro-run' contest in the '20s, and its treasured in Vigna di Valle aeronautical museum near the Lago di Bracciano, not far from Rome. It was lined by the same color 'creamy' wooI of the suit and made (almost ever) by 'giusti' company, that worked in Rome. It have a strap on right chick, buckled on the other side, to keep the helmet on. Another little buckled strap is back on the neck to keep the goggle elastic band. Two shell shape pockets are on both side to carried the avionic, even there's no lots wartime pics that showed the helmet with the earphones. Unlukely, our crewmwmbers fought most of the war a hopeless battle, fight with old planes, fit in old garment. This 'gap' was partially fill in at the end of the WWII, when we was able to built good planes (with licenziated german engine) and wearing good gear, lots of that cames from the factory of our northen allied!

Frank

[Fabio]

Hi there!
Many thanks to my friend fabio, every time so nice and full of kindness!!!

Hi Frank.
Punctual and complete technical analysis, as usual btw.

What you think about the previous medals and docs?

Any technical observation?

And, in the end, don't you have any contribution from your own collection for us?
Also a simple postacard would be welcome.

We wait ....with trust!
Ciao nè
Fabio