A United Air Lines DC-8-11, N8013U, collided with the Super Connie over Staten Island. The Connie broke in three sections and crashed at Miller Field. The DC-8 crashed in Brooklyn. All 128 occupants of the two aircraft and six people on the ground were killed. Photo by: George Silk / Life

A replacement S.55 has been shipped from Italy for Francesco de Pinedo, see other photo. Confirmation is sought that this airframe, c/n 10016, is s/n MM40208. Miller Field on Staten Island closed in 1970. The seaplane hangars still stand. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The S.55 Santa Maria (I), MM45043 (c/n 10015) flew across the Atlantic to Brazil in February 1927 captained by Francesco de Pinedo. He then headed north but the aircraft burnt at the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, Arizona on 6 April. A replacement aircraft, Santa Maria (II) was shipped to New York and is seen here after assembly at Miller Field on Staten Island. An M1917 tank seems to be in use as a tractor. With this aircraft De Pinedo flew back to Rome. Wearing c/n 10016, it is probably MM40208, which became I-SAAT in the search for the airship Italia, but confirmation is sought. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum