865.3311/28
The Italian Ambassador (Martino) to the Secretary of State
The Italian Ambassador presents his compliments to His Excellency the Secretary of State and has the honor to inform him that plans are being made in Italy for an intercontinental raid by a Dornier hydroplane of the Royal Navy. This flight will have the character of a scientific experiment. The crew is to be composed of Col. Francesco De Pinedo, Pilot, Capt. Carlo del Prete, pilot, Signor Vitale Zacchetti, motorist, and eventually Signor Alessandro Orlando, mechanical engineer.
It is considered that the raid will include within the territory of the United States, the cities New York, Chicago, Seattle, Malta, San Diego, San Francisco, New Orleans, Hot Springs, Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico, Salt Lake City, Omaha, St. Louis, (August); Pago Pago, Samoa Islands, (November) and Manila, Philippine Islands, (December 1926).
The Royal Italian Government would be much obliged to the Government of the United States for kindly granting permission for the seaplane to fly over and land in the above indicated localities, and the Ambassador would be grateful to His Excellency the Secretary of State for communicating to him, as soon as possible, the decision reached.