From the "American-Italian" folder in my local history collection, this photo of many of Trenton's more prominent citizens from the Italian community enroute to New York City to witness Italian General Italo Balbo's 96 man "Air Armada."From: http://www.encyclopedia.com search "Balbo Air Armada"
"Italo Balbo." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008.
Italo Balbo* , 1896-1940, Italian Fascist leader and aviator. After serving in World War I, he joined the Fascist movement and in 1922 was one of the four top leaders of the March on Rome, which brought Mussolini to power. A general of the Fascist militia, he held several cabinet posts and was (1929-33) minister of aviation. He efficiently developed aviation in Italy and led mass flights, the most notable being Rome-Rio de Janeiro and Rome-Chicago (1933). As governor-general of Libya (1933-40) he attempted to gain Muslim support for Fascism. He was killed when his plane crashed at Tobruk, Libya, apparently shot down accidentally by Italian antiaircraft artillery.
Balbo wanted Italy to fight
ReplyDeleteon Britain's side in WW2 and opposed anti-jewish laws according to Wiki. I think in both of those
views he spoke for the TRUE heart
of Italy, not Musso.
I was 13 years old when this occured.My grandfather and grandmother were related to many of the folk shown. The Gervasonis were on my grandmother.s side and he was a Rev. recently at St. Joachim's.
ReplyDeleteRalph, You are thinking of Gervasio not Gervasoni in the picture. Msgr. Tom Gervasio was pastor of St. Joachim and is now pastor of Our lady of Sorrows-St Anthony Parish. Carlo :)
ReplyDeleteCarlo, you are right. Msgr. Tom Gervasio's mother's maiden name is DeCarlo. That was my grandmother's maiden name. I get the two last names mixed up although I knew them both. Sorry about that.
ReplyDelete