Famous as a poet, playwright, dramatist, novelist, adventurer, and a Casanova who saw women as objects of conquest, Gabriela D'Annunzio was also a would-be warrior and a one-eyed pilot engaged in defending his country. He came up with the plan in which he led eight other pilots, in eight monoplanes and one biplane, on a daring non-stop 621 mile secret night on from Italy to the capital city of Vienna, Austria antl back to deliver his simple manifesto:

"People of Vienna: you are fated to know the Italians. We are flying over Vienna and could drop tons of bombs; on the contrary, we leave a salutation and the flag with its colors of liberty..."

'People of Vienna: think of your dear ones; awake!"

'Long live liberty, Italy..."

The entire message was carried by!! Progresso Italo-Americano a. The New York Times, on August 11, 1618.