GIUSEPPE MARINI BIOGRAPHY 1897 - 1974

Lt. Giuseppe Marini Italian Naval Officer - 1915 Photo & Legend from Domenico Marini, 1-21-06

Lt. Giuseppe Marini Pilot Training, WW I - 1918 Photo & Legend from Domenico Marini, 1-21-06

BIOGRAPHICAL BRIEF from his nephew, Domenico Marini, 1-24-2006      Giuseppe Marini was born in Torre Annunziata, Italy on May 31, 1897. He graduated as a ship commander and participated in World War from 1915 to 1918 as a seaplane observer for the Italian navy, distinguishing himself in numerous war missions and reconnaissance flights. He earned his pilot's license in 1918 . In 1924, he was promoted to Commander of a seaplane Squadron.

 

Route of West Flight - 1928 Photo & Legend from Domenico Marini, 1-25-06

In 1928, under the command of ace aviator Francesco De Pinedo, he participated in the first west Mediterranean flight in a squadron of S-59 bis seaplanes.

 

Route of East Flight - 1929 Photo & Legend from Domenico Marini, 1-25-06

In 1929, under the command of S.E. Italo Balbo and General Francesco De Pinedo, he served as a second pilot of an I-SAAQ seaplane during the east Mediterranean flight of 35 Savoia Marchetti (S-55) from Orbetello to Atene-Istanbul-Odessa and then back to Istanbul in a flight formation of 6 squadron for a total distance of 4,667 kilometers.

 

Lt. Comm. Giuseppe Marini Italy to Brazil Flight - 1930 Photo & Legend from Domenico Marini, 1-21-06

In 1930-1931, under the command of General Italo Balbo and aviation ace Umberto Maddalena, he served as Red Squadron Commander and pilot of S-55 I-MARI on the first attempt to succesfully cross the South Atlantic ocean. The journey was composed of a mass flight of 14 Savoia Marchetti S-55's. The flight proceeded in 7 long stages for a total of 10.400 kilometers from Orbetello Italy to Rio De Janeiro Brazil.

 

Orbetello-Chicago-New York-Rome - 1933 Photo & Legend from Domenico Marini, 1-27-06

In 1933, under the command of Italo Balbo, he served as commander and pilot observer on board the whale-boat Daily Chronicle, to follow and lead the course of 25 Savoia Marchetti S-55X, on the first attempt to cross the North Atlantic ocean, making a round trip of 19.900 kilometers in 12 long stages from Orbetello Italy to Chicago, New York and back to Rome, Italy. They crossed the ocean twice, for a total of 96 hours in flight in a formation of 8 squadrons of 3 S-55 seaplanes each.      In 1936, he was promoted to Vice Commander in Chief 4° ZAT. In 1937, he was the Commander of Aviation for the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea, and in 1941, during WW II, he was promoted to be Commander in Chief for the 4° ZAT reconnaissance flight mission headquarters.

 

Giuseppe Marini Medal of Silver - 1941 for Military Valour Photo & Legend from Domenico Marini, 1-25-06

His decorations included, in 1953, one gold medal for the long aeronautical navigation, two silver medals for military valor in 1918 and in 1941.He was the winner of the De Pinedo cup in 1929. He received the Cross of War, Commenda of the Militay Order of Savoia, the Commenda of the Italian Republic and several acknowledgements from the governments of the Republics of Austria, Germany, Ireland and Spain.

General B.A. Giuseppe Marini During WW II - 1942 Photo & Legend from Domenico Marini, 1-21-06

He was promoted to Lieutenant Major in 1930, Lieutenant Colonel in 1936, General B.A in 1941 and General S.A in 1953. He died in 1974 and his body was buried in the Memorial Cemetary, dedicated to the Atlantic Aviators, at the Orbetello air base. It was from that base, in peace and in war, that they took off with their commander Italo Balbo for their first and last glorious flights.

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RECOMMENDED READING

STORMI IN VOLO SULL'OCEANO   Italo Balbo   Product Details Paper: 258 pages Publisher: A. Mondadori Editore

Description: Courtesy of Domenico Marini, 2-3-06 14 chapters with 258 pages, 110 pictures and 3 maps describing preparation and flight during raid Italy-Brazil 1930-1931.

 

Lotte e vittorie sul mare e nel cielo   Umberto Maddalena   Product Details Paper: 218 pages Publisher: A. Mondadori Editore

Description: Courtesy of Domenico Marini, 2-3-06 20 chapters with 218 pages, 33 picture and maps describing the life the flights and all records of the writer aviator

 

S 55   Aldo Alonge   Product Details Paper: 224 pages Publisher: Giorgio Apostolo Editore S.r.l. Milano

Description: Courtesy of Domenico Marini, 2-3-06 The most uptodate book describing in 224 pages the machine and the pilots who were flying the S.55

 

Cantiere mio   Sergio Piccioli   Product Details Cloth: 215 pages Publisher: Edizioni ETS Pisa

Description: Courtesy of Domenico Marini, 2-3-06 28 chapters with 199 pages describing all models of airplanes built by C.M.S.A. in Marina di Pisa

 

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