Air Force Hall
The Hall is entirely dedicated to the birth and development of the Aeronautical specialty of the Kingdom of Italy and aspects related to the whirlwind development of aviation between the two world wars.
There are four main themes offered in the Hall’s itinerary:
- Flight in the Great War
- The Golden Age of Italian Aeronautics
- The Second World War
- The bombed Vicenza area
The Hall’s narrative makes it possible to follow the events and aeronautical development through those of the individuals whose memorabilia are preserved, more than twenty aviators, almost all from Vicenza, some of them multi-decorated.
One of the peculiarities of this section is the display of the memorabilia of a girl, Elsa Dalle Ore, who turns out to be one of the first women with a pilot’s license in Europe.
Also numerous and interesting are large-scale models of different types of aircraft used in the first half of the last century.
Sections
Flight in the Great War
The first part displays the memorabilia of some of Vicenza’s pilots, all decorated with Military Valor Medals as well as an interesting large-scale model dedicated to the census of World War I military airfields made by the Il Fronte del Cielo Association.
The characters:
Lt. Aldo Anesini
From Arzignano, commander of the 71st Fighter Squadron and decorated with Bronze Medal of Military Valour. Died of war-related causes.
Captain Antonio Riva
Nanto native, commander of the 78th Fighter Squadron decorated with Silver Medal of Military Valour and Ace of the Great War. Executed in China in 1951 by the Maoist government on a false charge.
Lt. Ferruccio Marzari
From Brendola, scout decorated with three Silver Medals of Military Valour. Participant in the Rome-Tokyo Raid Died in plane crash in 1921.
Lieutenant Giuseppe Dalle Ore
From Valdagno, seaplane pilot decorated with Bronze Medal of Military Valour and brother of Elsa, first aviatrix of the Three Venetias.
Golden age of Italian aviation and the 1930s
This section refers to the great feats accomplished by Italian (and Vicenza) aviators in the 1920s and 1930s. From the incredible Rome-Tokyo raid to the Desenzano High Speed Department or the Ten-Year Air Cruise. It also intends to testify to the great aeronautical activism of the people of Vicenza and at the same time to remember the risk of the airplane medium.
Arturo and Francesco Ferrarin
Cousins, both from Thiene, linked to the Vienna Raid and the Rome-Tokyo Raid. Arturo Gold Medal for Aeronautical Valor and Silver Medal of Military Valour
Elsa Dalle Ore
From Valdagno, obtaining her flying license in 1932 she was the fifth woman in Italy to succeed in the feat and the 20th in Europe. Wife of R.A. officer Giovanni Buffa.
Colonel Giovanni Buffa
Of Trissino, Silver Medal of Military Valour, member of RAV High Speed Department, reconnaissance officer in the Mediterranean and commander of Milan Air Defense during World War II. Husband of aviatrix Elsa Dalle Ore. Silver Medal for Aeronautical Valor.
Lt. Francesco Agello
Lombardo, Author of the world speed record in 1934 that consecrated him “fastest man in the world.” Fell in flying accident in 1942. Gold Medal for Aeronautical Valor.
General Umberto Nannini
General and commander of the Red Star Squadron of the Decennial Air Cruise.
Marshal Carlo Carletti
First Montecchio citizen with flight license and military pilot instructor until World War II.
Arrigo and Gian Daniele Marchetti
Young pilots from Vicenza, Arrigo crashed in plane crash in 1935
Second lieutenant Baron Scola
Of Creazzo, second lieutenant pilot who fell in plane crash in 1935
World War II
This section is devoted to World War II air combat: especially the important Mediterranean Front where most of the pilots whose memorabilia is preserved were employed. The National Republican Air Force operating in northern Italy during the last stages of World War II is also remembered.
Renzo Puppo
From Savona, fighter pilot of the Red Devils Squadron and partisan after September 8th.
Lt. Francesco Lovato
Of Montebello Vicentino, Macchi fighter pilot, shot down over Patras in 1941.
Lt. Luigi Vicariotto
Of Montecchio Maggiore, multi-decorated (3 Silver Medals of Military Valour) crew chief of SM 79 bomber.
Gunner Emiliano Barban
Of Isola, machine gunner of a land bomber decorated with Bronze Medal of Military Valour.
Lelio Piovene Porto Godi
Multiple decorated captain pilot crew chief of land bomber on the Mediterranean Front.
The Vicenza area bombed
This section is devoted to Allied bombing missions over the Northeast and more specifically over the Vicenza Territory between 1944 and 1945. Among the pieces of interest are what remains of a P-47 Thunderbolt landing gear shot down in the Venice lagoon.
