Italo Balbo was an Italian aviator and politician who served as the Governor of Libya from 1928 to 1933. He was also known for leading the Italian air force during the 1930s, and was a pioneer in aviation. He was the first person to fly an airplane across the South Atlantic Ocean, and he also organized the first mass flight of twenty-four seaplanes from Rome to Chicago in 1933. He was a celebrated figure in Italy and was awarded the title of Marshal of the Air Force by Benito Mussolini.