WORLD WAR ONE VIENNA RAID
To go with the name, they
needed a symbol and the choice
was straightforward, the Leone
Marciano (winged lion) of the
Repubblica Serenissima, the animal
being painted on the sides of the
SVA fuselage. The stay at Ponte San
Pietro was brief, and the unit was
quickly deployed on February 21
to Ghedi, east of Milan, and placed
under the control of the XI Gruppo
as the Squadriglia Autonoma.
The 87th’s first operation took
place on March 30, when a few
SVAs performed a recce over the
city of Trento. Initial experiences
with the biplanes confirmed their
excellent characteristics, which built
confidence quickly.
On May 21, pilots Sottotenente
(sub lieutenant) Francesco Ferrarin
and Tenente (lieutenant) Antonio
Locatelli returned safely to base
following a recce of the Zeppelin
works at Friedrichshafen, on Lake
Constance. The SVAs flew more
than 466 miles (750km) in 4hrs
14mins without being molested by
Austrian aircraft.
In late May the unit transferred to
San Pelagio, not far from the city ofPadova (Padua). This airstrip was
to be the squadriglia’s main base
throughout the war. By early June
the unit comprised 15 officers and
102 troops and engineers.
In the early summer, the 87th was
tasked with a photographic survey
of the front along the Piave River,
extending as far as Zagabia, Fiume
and Pola. Light bombing attacks
were also conducted.
In July the unit prepared for
the mission that would bring it
great fame and glory; the raid
over Vienna.Tough for trimotors
The famous poet and writer
turned war hero, Maggiore (major)
Gabriele D’Annunzio had been
planning the mission to Vienna
for a year, but in place of bombs,
the ‘weapons’ to be dropped would
be tricolour propaganda leaflets.
D’Annunzio intended Caproni Ca.3
trimotor bombers to be used, but
the Comando Supremo Italiano
would not authorise their use. The
flight was considered too long and
dangerous, exposing many men to
significant danger.“The SVAs flew more than 466 miles
in 4hrs 14mins without being molested
by Austrian aircraft”
82 FLYPAST September 2018
Top left
An Ansaldo SVA 5 of
87° Squadriglia at
San Pelagio.Top right
The two-seater used
by D’Annunzio and
Palli. Today this
machine is displayed
at D’Annunzio’s
former home at
Gardone Riviera.Above
Trailing streamers,
an SVA overfl ies an
Austrian airfi eld on
the way to Vienna.Above right
Gabriele D’Annunzio
(front seat) and his
pilot for the raid,
Natale Palli.