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

The 'Italian Air Armada', General Balbo's squadron of 24 S.55X flying boats which flew from Orbetello to the Chicago World's Fair and back in July and August 1933. The nearest aircraft has serial (MM)45175 painted at the base of the tailfin. They also had civilian registrations allocated which were chosen for the pilots' names, for example I-BALB for Balbo's MM45174, but the tie-ups are not all known. Photo from: Dan Shumaker collection

This is believed to be the prototype of the S.55P airliner variant of the S.55, wearing military test serial (MM)97. It joined SAM in June 1928 for use on its Rome - Ostia to Cagliari (Sardinia) line, but is seen here taking off from Lake Maggiore, judging by a similar photo. Photo from: Dan Shumaker collection

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

The smashed remains of NC20K wrecked in a storm as it rode at anchor in Lena Cove in October 1937. Photo supplied by Bob Mosher. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

A fascinating aircraft type, the S.55 twin-hulled flying boat appears much larger at first than it really was. It was seaworthy and reliable however and made many transatlantic flights promoting the Fascist regime in Italy. Airvia Transportation Co tried the type on the Boston-New York route but this venture was short-lived. Photo by: Leslie Jones / Boston Public Library

These are the only genuine S.55 parts remaining in Italy of some 240 of these impressive double hull flying boats. A formation of 24 S.55X completed an 18600 km Atlantic round-trip to the USA in 1933, after 14 S.55TA flew to Brazil in 1930-1931. On display are the central part of the left hull, a tail rudder and an engine. The hull still shows partial markings of the 199a Squadriglia, 94° Gruppo, based at Orbetello.