bellancapacemaker

Mussolini sent a congratulatory message to the fliers and said he hoped to see them for the Pentecost celebrations when they would be accorded a national welcome. The fliers received a huge welcome here, doing social rounds and meeting the de Valera led Cabinet. Up to 15 mechanics had to fashion parts from scrap metal to repair the under-carriage and it was two weeks before the plane took from Moy. Alas, they came down again, this time in Wales, when the engine failed. Another two weeks passed before the 'Mona Lisa' was repaired again. Commodore Pond, who was now at the end of his tether, made the sensational claim that their plane had been vandalised! It is now known if they got that national welcome promised by Mussolini. Incidentally, Lieut. Sabelli sported the Italian Facist badge. - D. O'Shaughnessy.

denisoshaughnessy How marvellous! And what a picture of not only early aviation, but Thirties politics... Thank you!

Very interresting!

I found a picture of the aircraft at Floyd Bennett Field, New York (near the present JFK Airport) and it can be seen that it is a substantial enough machine. It is a Bellanca J-300 and this photo was taken by Rudy Arnold, an aviation photographer from the 1920s to the 1950s. sirismm.si.edu/nasmtop/NASM/7a/NASM-7A03451~A.jpg

Irish251 Gorgeous to see the full machine, as the ditch in our photo, while adding to the drama, obscures so much of the plane...

Type is Bellanca Pacemaker.

Thanks!