The Ansaldo A.1 Balilla was an Italian fighter designed in 1917 and it didn't enter into service until July 1918.
In this post we are going to center in the Latin-American users of it.
- Argentina: The 350º Squadriglia was assigned to Argentina in order to try to sell many type of airplanes. From old Farmans to the newly Caproni bombers. That's why many aces flew some propaganda flights there. On 30th April 1919, two Italian pilots, Locatelli and Tenente Silvio Scaroni flew two Balillas from Buenos Aires to Rosario in a round-trip. Later, on 5th September the Tenente Edoardo Olivero made a round trip from Buenos Aires to Tandil and was followed on 27th September by another Buenos Aires-Tandil-Tres Arroyos flight which took three days in total. They couldn't sale any airplane to the government, however it's known that at least one was sold to the Centro de Aviación Civil (Civilian Aviation Center) in the city of Castelar. As we couldn't find any graphical evidence on this one, the colours should be considered as speculative.
- Costa Rica: It's reported that at least one Balilla was flown in Costa Rica in 1920. Again, there isn't any graphical evidence on this, so it's just an speculative drawing.
- Honduras: It's also reported that at least one was flown in Tegucigalpa in August 1920 plus another unspecified others in September, but not further details are known. As the previous ones, the colours are speculative due to the lack of graphical sources.
- Mexico: Mexico ordered the Ansaldos in January 1920 but they didn't arrive until December 1920. It was flight tested by Lievre, crashed and was rebuilt by the Talleres Nacionales de Construcciones Aeronauticas (National Aircraft Construction Workshops) TNCA and given the registration of 1-D-79. It was tested again in April 1921 piloted, most probably by the German pilot Fritz Bieler. The American pilot who was hired to reorganize the Mexican Fuerza Aerea (Mexican Air Force), Lt. Ralph O'Neil flew it on June 10th, August 1st and September 12th 1921. On May 1st 1923 it was assigned to the newly formed 1er Escuadrón de Caza (1st Fighter Squadron) but that unit barely saw any action and was centered in training duties. Unfortunately, the airplane spun while performing a low altitude barrel roll during a fund rising event at Balbuena Airfield, killing its' pilot, the Teniente Ramón Alcalá on 12th August 1923.
- Peru: Two Balillas were shipped to Peru, where, after a memorable demonstration flight from Lima to Trujillo performed by the Italian pilot Enrico Silvio Rolandi on 28th March 1921 were bought by the Peruvian Aviation Corps. However some sources claim that it was a SPAD S.VII the airplane that performed that flight. In any way, Rolandi made another flight from Lima to San Vicente de Cañete in order to carry a sum in behalf of the government. After that the Italian mission returned to Italy liquidating its' assets at cost. One Balilla is known to have crashed on 7th December 1922.
- Uruguay: The Italian mission in Argentina linked the capital cities of Argentina and Uruguay and, on June 20th 1919, the Tenente Giorgio Michetti and Sergente Nicola Bo flew from Buenos Aires to Montevideo and back, in order to extend the sales to that country. Some sources claim that at least one airplane was sold. As the graphical evidences of this one are lacking, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansaldo_A.1_Balilla
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters.
3. Windsock Datafile 88 - Ansaldo A.1 'Balilla'
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