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10. Sunny Italy: Naval Aviation in the Mediterranean
- University Press of Florida
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10 Sunny Italy Naval Aviation in the Mediterranean In November 1917 the Italian government, communicating through its naval attaché in Washington, requested the United States to furnish personnel for aerial bases to be established along the Adriatic coast, with the objective of attacking Austrian forces at Pola. The Italians offered to instruct and equip 50 American flyers for this initiative. The proposal followed by a few weeks the catastrophic defeat at Caporetto. The Department informed Sims of the proposal on November 21. Chief of Naval Operations Benson believed the program would engender both moral and military support, saying, “We desire to give every aid possible.” Sims referred the matter to Hutch Cone, who then ordered John Callan to visit Italy and investigate. Callan, at that time commanding the new NAS Ile Tudy, hurried to Rome and met with Cdr. Charles Train, naval attaché there. Callan seemed eminently suited for the assignment having spent much time in Italy as a Curtiss agent and having flown for the Italian navy as an instructor and patrol pilot.1 The Cohoes, New York, native had a long and intimate association with Italian aeronautics. While employed by Curtiss he met Capt. Ludovici De Filippi, who later played a critical role in the Navy’s Mediterranean operations. Following the outbreak of war in Europe Callan sailed to Italy as a Curtiss sales representative. In January 1915 authorities there requested “Signor” Callan oversee establishment of their first naval aeronautics school at Taranto. Curtiss granted permission and in February “Lanny” became chief instructor and assistant to the commandant of the school. After extensive military service in Italy, he returned to the United States and joined the Navy. Callan reached Rome on December 19, 1917, and initiated discussions with Capitano de Vascello De Filippi, now head of Italian naval aviation. In fact, Callan knew virtually all Italian naval aviation officers and enjoyed excellent relations with them. Throughout the following year De Filippi remained the Americans’ chief contact. He impressed Callan as a “very active, energetic, 286 Stalking the U-Boat well informed officer, much overworked due to lack of proper staff.”2 Callan and De Filippi soon discovered, however, that a serious misunderstanding existed. Local military authorities had requested 50 trained pilots to help alleviate a shortage of flying officers, but the message reached the United States as an offer to train 50 pilots. The Navy also assumed that those men might then be used in France or elsewhere. In contrast, the Italians believed they would receive the services of any pilots they instructed. So anxious were they to secure American involvement in the Mediterranean theater, however, that after learning of the mix-up they decided to proceed anyway, even before the Navy officially accepted the overall proposal. De Filippi informed Callan that a training facility would be constructed at Lake Bolsena, 60 miles north of Rome. At Bolsena, gentle hills surrounded a large, circular lake approximately eight miles across. Local people were said to be very loyal, of the poorer farming class, with “no socialism fostered in this district.” De Filippi described Bolsena as a town of 1,500–2,000 residents with some aviation school buildings already under construction, including 12 small wooden barracks, while a large apartment in town would accommodate a mess and club. For training, the government promised to furnish airplanes, gas, oil, barracks, and officers’ quarters, while the Navy supplied the mess, to be run by a local caterer. Americans should bring luxuries like coffee, chocolate, jam, and sugar, however, as they were virtually unavailable in Bolsena. According to De Filippi, seven runways and hangar floors already existed. Lieutenant Mario Calderara, who would head the proposed instruction center, inspected the site and claimed the physical plant would be available by early February. He had previously organized/commanded other schools and was an experienced aviator, having participated in glider experiments as early as 1902 and become the Wrights’ first local student in 1909. The Americans received assurances that Calderara spoke perfect English and that other English-speaking officers would be present . The Italian complement included 100 sailors, 30 soldiers, and 60 workers, with 4 instructors expected soon. American students would first study FBA flying boats and then graduate to the Macchi L-3 patrol plane; the best pilots would advance to Macchi fighter seaplanes.3 In ongoing discussions, De Filippi outlined Italy’s ambitious aviation plans for 1918, including 30 seaplane stations, 20 dirigible stations, 4 airplane bases, 2 combined hydro/land bases, and...