Umberto Klinger

Saluzzo, 1900-Venice, 1971

World War II: Transport

An “Ardito” of the 52nd Alpine Assault Division in WWI, in the 1930’s he is called by Italo Balbo to lead SAM, a small airline company destined to become the Italian flag-carrier airline called ‘Ala Littoria’ (1934). At this time he gains status as entrepreneur and as civil pilot. After returning to Italy from eastern Africa in June 1940, he soon leaves his post with the General Staff of the Special Air Services (SAS) to join a fighting unit on board a SIAI S.82. At the end of the war, in 1947 he is appointed to run the ‘new’ Officine Aeronavali of Venice in order to help them recover from the post-war crisis.

Bibliographical references
Delisi, Bruno – Klinger, Maria Serena | 2010 Un eroe veneziano: Umberto Klinger e i suoi aeroplani. Milano: Apostolo Giorgio.