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An aeronautical industry on the Duce’s hometown

The Caproni Aeronautica Predappio’s exterior at Predappio, Forlì’s Province. Behind the flags one large frieze remind the first letter, M, of the Mussolini’s signature, over the building’s façade the words «Credere, Obbedire, Combattere» (Believe, Obey,Fight), a classic and famous Duce’s slogan. This aeronautical factory of the Caproni Group, was established as answer to a Benito Mussolini’s requirement: establish a series of modern industries on the territory of his hometown (just Predappio). The industrial aeronautic group of Gianni Caproni established the new factory over an area at a previous time occupied by a complex for the sulfur’s processing. The Caproni Aeronautica Predappio began the activity on 1935 with 600 workers for the production under license of the bombers Savoia-Marchetti S.81 and S.79 and, afterwards, of some single-engine biplanes Caproni as the training aircraft Ca.164. This planes were transported disassembled for flight test to Forlì airfield, 15 km away, where the company had a hangar. During the war the Caproni Aeronautica Predappio, which on 1942 had a workforce of 1,400 peoples plus other 200 workers at Forlì airfield, produce a little number of Reggiane Re.2001 fighter aircrafts (Reggiane was another company of th Caproni Group). The Caproni Aeronautica Predappio stopped the activity at the end of the war and today the building still existing are in a state of crumbling ruin. Victor Sierra