Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo (1896–1940) was an Italian Air Marshal and leading figure in Italian Fascism, serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) and later as Governor-General of Italian Libya. Balbo was one of the most prominent aviators of the interwar period, known for leading mass formation flights across the Atlantic and pioneering long-distance aviation. He was among the quadrumviri (four leaders) who organized Mussolini's 1922 March on Rome.
| Role | Italian Air Marshal |
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Role in RS-33
As Air Marshal and head of Italy's air forces, Balbo was a natural member of the top-secret RS-33 (Gabinetto RS 33) group established by Benito Mussolini in June 1933 to examine the unknown craft recovered near Magenta, Italy. The RS-33 consisted of the highest political and military leadership: Mussolini himself as prime minister, Galeazzo Ciano as foreign minister, and Balbo representing the air force, with scientific support from astronomer Gino Cecchini and possibly radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi.
Given the craft's aerial nature and Balbo's expertise in aviation technology, his involvement would have been critical to assessing whether the object represented advanced terrestrial aircraft development by foreign powers (as Mussolini initially believed) or something beyond known capabilities.
Death
Balbo died in June 1940 when his aircraft was shot down by Italian anti-aircraft fire over Tobruk, Libya — an incident attributed to friendly fire, though some historians have raised questions about whether it may have been deliberate due to Balbo's growing friction with Mussolini over Italy's alliance with Nazi Germany.