The residents of Shoal Harbour became the centre of international attention when the largest armada of aircraft to ever make a transatlantic flight landed in Random Sound on July 26, 1933. The massive formation of 24 flying boats was led by General Italo Balbo of Italy’s Royal Air Armada. They were returning from the Chicago Century of Progress Exhibition. The pilots, who were greeted warmly by a large crowd of residents from Shoal Harbour and Clarenville, stayed at the local Odd Fellows Hall. While the pilots were still in town, two Italian submarines and a navy yacht also visited Shoal Harbour. Balbo’s flotilla left on August 8, along with 1,153 pieces of mail from St. John’s and 70 from Shoal Harbour bound for Rome. Residents of Shoal Harbour were so impressed by the Italian General’s visit, they named their main street Balbo Drive. Unbeknownst to them, though, his voyage was a mission of political propaganda to divert the world’s attention from the military oppression under Italy’s Fascist regime.   Submitted By: DH Editorial