Arturo Ferrarin
Arturo Ferrarin (13 February 1895 – 18 July 1941) was an Italian pioneer aviator. His exploits included winning the "Rome-Tokyo Raid" air race in 1920 and a non-stop flight from Italy to Brazil in 1928 with fellow aviator Carlo Del Prete. The latter flight set the world distance record for a non-stop flight. Ferrarin, who was born in Thiene and was a decorated veteran of the Italian Royal Air Force during World War I, died in a plane crash at Guidonia Montecelio in 1941. Early life Ferrarin was born in Thiene in the Province of Vicenza to Maria (née Ciscato) and Antonio Ferrarin, a textiles industrialist. He initially studied classics at the Liceo Foscarini in Venice, but his preference for technical subjects led him to withdraw from the liceo and finish his studies at the in Vicenza. After completing his course there in 1915, he served as a machine-gunner in the Italian Military Air Corps and qualified as a pilot in 1916. He was subsequently stationed at San Pietro in Gu. During World War I, he made numerous flights with the 82nd Squadron and was decorated with the Silver Medal of Military Valor and twice with the War Cross for Military Valor. Aviation exploits After World War I ended, Ferrarin devoted himself to aviation contests and exhibitions. It was his flight in a race from Rome to Tokyo, known as the "Rome-Tokyo Raid", which brought him international fame. Ferrarin and Guido Masiero completed the trip of 8000 km in 109 hours of flight in an Ansaldo SVA bi-plane. The flight was done in multiple stages which included stops in Greece, Syria, India, Burma, Thailand, French Indochina (now Viet Nam), China, and Korea. The last leg of the flight, Osaka to Tokyo, was completed on 30 May 1920. Their plane was donated to the Japanese Imperial War Museum where it was on exhibit until the museum was destroyed during World War II. Ferrarin participated twice in the Schneider Cup, flying a Macchi M.39 in 1926 and a Macchi M.52 in 1927. On both occasions he had to withdraw before the end of the race due to engine trouble. In July 1928 he and fellow aviator Carlo Del Prete, aboard a single-engine land aircraft Savoia-Marchetti S.64 flew from Guidonia Montecelio near Rome to Touros, a coastal city in northeast Brazil. The flight set the world distance record for a non-stop flight—7188 km in 49 hours 19 minutes. In May of that year, they had set a world distance over a closed circuit, making 51 round trips between Torre Flavia near Ladispoli and Anzio, covering 7,666 km and staying aloft for 58 hours 34 minutes. Later career and death On his return to Italy from Brazil in 1928 Ferrarin was awarded the Gold Medal of Aeronautic Valor. However, the Italy-Brazil flight proved to be Ferrarin's last major aviation exploit. In 1929 Italo Balbo, a powerful member of Mussolini's Fascist government, had become the Minister of the Italian Air Force. He was opposed to