Vigna di Valle: the ancient water aerodrome celebrates 100 years since its dedication to Luigi Bourlot

On Sunday, June 12, at the old water aerodrome in Vigna di Valle, headquarters of the CSSAM (Historical and Sports Centre of the Italian Air Force), the Centenary of the’naming the base after Captain Aviator Luigi Bourlot.

For the occasion, Tuesday, June 14, At the square in front of the Command building, during a flag-raising ceremony, the Commander of the CSSAM, Lieutenant Colonel Luigi Barbagallo, recalled the figure of Luigi Bourlot, Reading the biography and an excerpt of the funeral eulogy written by Felice Porro, his comrade-in-arms, delivered on the day the base was dedicated in his memory.

Luigi Bourlot he was a multi-decorated pilot 1st World War, chosen by Gabriele D’Annunzio which pilot of his Ansaldo SVA Biposto to accomplish the legendary feat Flight to Vienna, It 9 August 1918. On July 6 of that year, D’Annunzio wrote a parting note to Bourlot that read:“To the valiant captain Bourlot who will be my companion until the Graben. Donec ad metam”. 

Unfortunately, fate had other plans: the following day, less than a month after the feat, Bourlot lost his life during a test flight and had to be quickly replaced by another pilot. He was therefore chosen Natale Palli, who later went down in history as the pilot of the Vate in the historic undertaking.

I12 June 1922 A new chapter of Vigna di Valle's long history opened up: What was the first Experimental Airship Yard in Italy, It was founded in 1906 by Major of the Art of War Maurizio Mario Moris to experiment with airships and air balloons, in the context of the general reorganization of the newly formed Royal Air Force. It was restoredconverted in the water aerodrome. 

Concurrently, on the occasion of a touching celebration, the base was dedicated to the memory of Captain Pilot Luigi Bourlot. The mother of the aviator, Mrs. Giuseppina Bianco, was also present at the event; during the funeral eulogy, Captain Felice Porro, his comrade, expressed the following:“…But fate did not grant him the joy of being Gabriele D’Annunzio’s companion to the Graben. Another Hero took his place and carried the Poet and the whole squadron to Vienna; that Hero was Fu Fu Palli. But the spirit of Luigi Bourlot was at the head of the squadron; it was in the hearts of the pilots of the very daring team throughout the time that the very daring flight lasted[…]. In his heroism, in his high ability there was no hint of arrogance; he gave more than the duty required, more than was necessary, so simply, modestly, almost apologizing for not giving even more […]. The Celebration Today is not a funeral commemoration but a baptism. And that is a symbol. The field that receives the baptism in His Name today feels all the pride, all the honor, all the glory of the act that is being performed..”