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During World War I, Aviano Air Base transformed into a vital military hub as the airplane evolved into a tactical weapon. It became the deployment site for squadrons of the Caproni Ca.3, Italy's first true bomber. The famous poet Gabriele D'Annunzio arrived at the base, forming a close bond with pilots Maurizio Pagliano and Luigi Gori. The two (along with their Mission Commander, Aurelio Barbarisi) became national heroes after their daring May 1917 raid on an enemy naval base at Pula. The two pilots were killed in action that December. D'Annunzio successfully campaigned to have the base officially named "Pagliano e Gori" in their honor in 1920.
The base was also where the famous Flight over Vienna was secretly planned and tested by D'Annunzio and his comrades. Following the defeat at Caporetto in October 1917, Italian forces were forced to retreat, destroying their own aircraft to prevent capture. The base was then occupied by Austro-Hungarian troops, and the Italians subsequently bombed their own former base to weaken the enemy.
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.06.2026 07:38 |
| Category: | Recording |
| Audio ID: | 91120 |
| Filename: | 2604/DOD_111612198.mp3 |
| Length: | 00:01:12 |
| Location: | IT |
| Web Views: | 5 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
| High-Res. Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Italian Air Force History Museum - English: Banner 2 - The Great War and the Myth – The Era of Giants and the Bard, by 2nd Lt. Hannah Malone, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
