The first Santa Maria, MM45043, flew from Italy to New Orleans via Brazil but burnt in Arizona. This replacement aircraft was shipped to New York and headed north to Boston on 8 May 1927. But this was merely a test flight or a gesture to the Italian community in Boston, for Francesco de Pinedo did not skip the stretch between New Orleans and New York. He flew back south along the coast to New Orleans, and then to Chicago via the Mississippi, rather than via the US west coast as originally planned. Then he flew back to Europe via Newfoundland and the Azores. Photo by: Leslie Jones / Boston Public Library

A poor but interesting photo of the Santa Maria (I), which was flown from Italy to the USA via Brazil by Francesco de Pinedo and crew. He had enough confidence in the S.55 flying boat to plan to 'puddle jump' from Texas to San Diego, and from Seattle to Chicago! Medina Lake, Texas, and Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico, were the first stops. He then landed here at the Theodore Roosevelt Dam in Arizona but the aircraft caught fire while refuelling and burnt. De Pinedo immediately cabled Benito Mussolini to request a replacement aircraft - c/n 10016, believed to be MM40208. Photo from: Arizona Historical Society

A replacement S.55 has been shipped from Italy for Francesco de Pinedo, see other photo. Confirmation is sought that this airframe, c/n 10016, is s/n MM40208. Miller Field on Staten Island closed in 1970. The seaplane hangars still stand. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The S.55 Santa Maria (I), MM45043 (c/n 10015) flew across the Atlantic to Brazil in February 1927 captained by Francesco de Pinedo. He then headed north but the aircraft burnt at the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, Arizona on 6 April. A replacement aircraft, Santa Maria (II) was shipped to New York and is seen here after assembly at Miller Field on Staten Island. An M1917 tank seems to be in use as a tractor. With this aircraft De Pinedo flew back to Rome. Wearing c/n 10016, it is probably MM40208, which became I-SAAT in the search for the airship Italia, but confirmation is sought. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

The aircraft which found the survivors of the crashed airship Italia on an Arctic ice floe, seen on its way up north one week earlier. The aircraft commander was noted pilot Umberto Maddalena. This photo appeared in Dutch newspapers. This aircraft also was military serial MM40208 and is assumed to be c/n 10016, previously used by Francesco de Pinedo as his Santa Maria (II). Photo from: Amsterdam City Archives