A silver medal honoring the tenth anniversary of Italo Balbo's 1933 transatlantic flight to the Chicago World's Fair. Silver (marked .800), 60 mm, 100 gm. The front depicts an Art Deco-style head and reads, "Crociera Aerea Decennale, Roma-Chicago-New York-Roma." The reverse symbolically depicts the flight between the Roman Colosseum and an American city, with a formation of Savoia-Marchetti SM.55X flying boats, and reads, "Redit Italia Pet Aethera Mussolini Duce Balbo Ductore." In fine condition, with light wear. Known as the Italian Formation Flight of 1933, Mussolini’s Minister of Air Italo Balbo planned and executed a display of Italian air strength that impressed the world. Twenty-five specially equipped twin-hulled Savoia-Marchetti SM.55X flying boats were built and flown in formation across Europe and to the United States, to the Chicago World’s Fair, then back to Rome, July 1-August 12, 1933.
