A poor but interesting photo of the Santa Maria (I), which was flown from Italy to the USA via Brazil by Francesco de Pinedo and crew. He had enough confidence in the S.55 flying boat to plan to 'puddle jump' from Texas to San Diego, and from Seattle to Chicago! Medina Lake, Texas, and Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico, were the first stops. He then landed here at the Theodore Roosevelt Dam in Arizona but the aircraft caught fire while refuelling and burnt. De Pinedo immediately cabled Benito Mussolini to request a replacement aircraft - c/n 10016, believed to be MM40208. Photo from: Arizona Historical Society