Natal

Registered I-DONA, the Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA was taking part to a huge international rally organized by the Italian General Italo Balbo on a trip from Italy (Orbetello) to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). A total of 14 Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA were involved in this rally. The group departed Orbetello on 17DEC1930, arrived in Kenitra on 21DEC1930, Villa Cisneros on 23DEC1930 and finally Bolama (Guinea Bissau, ex Portuguese Guinea) on Christmas Day. Due to poor weather conditions, it was not possible to continue so all crews observed a rest time on Bolama Island till 06JAN1931. This day, crew left Bolama without problems and continued along the route to Natal, some 3,000 km in total. At a distance of approximately 1,000 km off the Brazilian coast, crew encountered technical problems and attempted to make an emergency landing into the ocean. Several ships of the Italian Navy were cruising along the route, so all four crew were quickly rescued while the aircraft sunk and was lost. It was registered I-DONA, referring to the name of its captain Renato Donadelli.

Registered I-RECA, the Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA was taking part to a huge international rally organized by the Italian General Italo Balbo on a trip from Italy (Orbetello) to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). A total of 14 Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA were involved in this rally. The group departed Orbetello on 17DEC1930, arrived in Kenitra on 21DEC1930, Villa Cisneros on 23DEC1930 and finally Bolama (Guinea Bissau, ex Portuguese Guinea) on Christmas Day. Due to poor weather conditions, it was not possible to continue so all crews observed a rest time on Bolama Island till 06JAN1931. After takeoff from the harbor of Bolama, during initial climb, the float plane encountered problems, stalled and hit the water surface before coming to rest. Three crew members were injured while the fourth was killed. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was registered I-RECA, referring to the name of its captain Silvio Recagno. Sergeant-Major Luigi Fois was killed.

Registered I-BOER, the Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA was taking part to a huge international rally organized by the Italian General Italo Balbo on a trip from Italy (Orbetello) to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). A total of 14 Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA were involved in this rally. The group departed Orbetello on 17DEC1930, arrived in Kenitra on 21DEC1930, Villa Cisneros on 23DEC1930 and finally Bolama (Guinea Bissau, ex Portuguese Guinea) on Christmas Day. Due to poor weather conditions, it was not possible to continue so all crews observed a rest time on Bolama Island till 06JAN1931. After takeoff from the harbor of Bolama, while climbing, the float plane lost height and crashed into the sea, killing all four crew members. Their bodies were never recovered. It was registered I-BOER, referring to the name of its captain Luigi Boer.

On the 13 of May 1930, the crew completed a non stop flight from Saint Louis (Senegal) to Natal in 21 hours and 10 minutes, establishing a new record. Between the 8 of June and the 8 of July, the crew tried 52 times to fly back to Senegal, without success. Each time, a technical failure forced the crew to return. On the 8 of July, the aircraft completed the flight from Natal to Saint Louis. While approaching the African coast, the engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft some 900 metres offshore. All three crew members were rescued by the crew of ship named 'Phocée' while the aircraft named 'Comte De La Vaux' sank.
Crew:
Jean Mermoz, pilot,
Jean Dabry, mechanic,
Léopold Gimié, radio navigator.

The crew was performing demo flights in South America to promote the sale of the Junkers F.13 to potential local operators. Shortly after takeoff from the Rio Jaguaribe, in Aracati, while in initial climb, the seaplane stalled and crashed, killing both crew members, the pilot Hermann Müller and the mechanic Werner Junkers. Named 'Birkhahn', the aircraft suffered an engine failure just after takeoff.