Above: Macchi M 7 from the Desenzano flying boat base at Lake Garda (Lago di Garda)
 

These interesting photos from Desenzano in northern Italy have been sent to me by Umberto Gatti. His father Antonio Gatti (1905 – 1987) was recruited for military service in 1925, first at Pola in the present Croatia and at later at the Italian aviation corp.’s Reparto Alta Velocita (RAV) at the Desenzano base. Desenzano is located the beautiful Lake Garda.

Antonio Gatti was responsible of the budgets for engines, avionics and mechanical equipment. He had mentioned that a decisive reason to join this noble aviation corps was the relationship with the ace Alessandro Vercelloni who in 1933 took part of the famous crossing of the Atlantic with flying boats, an expedition which was led by the well-known Air Marshall Italo Balbo.

© Lars Henriksson

Updated 2010-07-12