[alexmehtidis]

Hello,

the Italian Navy had 14 sea-planes ( Borel, Curtiss, Albatross,
Farman-Guidoni ) in the Naval School ( Venice ), the La Spezia
Squadriglia and aboard various vessels in August 1914.

and

Naval Aviation May 24th, 1915 ( mobilisation ) :

-7 - 6 ? - seaplanes ( Borel, Curtiss, Albatross, Farman-Guidoni ) at Venezia ( S. Andrea and Sabbioni ), of which only 3 operational.
-4 Borel at Porto Corsini
-2 Curtiss Flying Boat at Pesaro ( being assembled )
-Two Curtiss at Pesaro
-Two Curtiss at Brindisi
-2 - 3 ? - Curtiss aboard R.N. ' Elba '
-15 Curtiss at the Scuola di Aviazione ( Taranto )

Would anyone know what type were the Borel, Curtiss, Albatross &
Farman-Guidoni seaplanes / floatplanes and where I cane get some info about them ( basic specifications )? I know it's difficult to
give a type with certainty at such an early time for aviation ( Curtiss
Fs are often confused with Curtis Es for example ).

On a short article ( a webpage ) about John Lansing Callan ( the
foreign representative of the Curtiss Co. in Italy and England ) by Merrill
Stickler Curtiss planes bought by the Italian Navy are mentioned as
' 3 Curtiss Model F Flying Boats and a few old Curtiss Hydroaeroplanes '.
Parts of this webpage follow at the end. Is that so ? And would anyone
know how many more were built and by who ?

The Albatros is mentioned as a WDD - Alegi, Gregory, Italian
national markings ( Windshock Mini Datafile 17 ), Berkhamsted :
Albatros Productions Ltd., 2001 -.

And what about the Borel and the Farman-Guidoni, any ideas ?

Davilla, Dr. James J. & Soltan, Arthur M., French aircraft of the
First World War, Stratford ( Connecticut ) : Flying Machines Press,
1997 doesn't mention anything about the Borel and could the Farman-Guidoni
be the H. Farman H.F.22 floatplane that was license-built by Savoia ?

Extract for Callan referred to above :

" Callan's skill, personality and knowledge of his field, soon brought him a post as a foreign representative of the Curtiss Co. in Italy and England. In October of 1914, he went to Italy for the Curtiss Co. to set up and demonstrate three Curtiss Model F Flying Boats. These boats were built to carry two passengers and were equipped with the Curtiss OX motor. The boats were assembled at Tranto, Italy and were demonstrated for the officers of the Italian Navy, which purchased all three boats. These, and a few old Curtiss Hydroaeroplanes, sometimes called 'Robinsons', after Hugh Robinson, who had demonstrated and sold them years earlier, constituted almost the entire Italian Naval Air Force. There were no regularly established schools or factories to aleviate the problem when Italy found herself involved in the war.
Signor Enca Bossi was the Italian representative of the Curtiss Co. and had arranged with the Zari Bros. of Bovisia, Italy, to build the Curtiss type boat from plans sent from Hammondsport. On September 22, 1914, Lanny made a demonstration flight in the first Italian built flying boat on Lake Como before naval officials. The boat was purchased and an order placed for several more. The Italians were convinced that naval aviation was an excellent way to patrol their long and exposed coastlines.
In January, 1915, "Signor" Callan was requested by the Italian Naval authorities to oversee the establishment of their first naval aeronautics school at Taranto. Permission was granted by the Curtiss Co., and in February, Lanny became Chief pilot instructor and assistant to the commandant of the school, to advise in all matters pertaining to the course of instruction of both officers and enlisted personnel. Callan was joined by William E. Doherty, Dave McCullough and Charles Fay, all of whom were Curtiss trained pilots.
Many of their pupils had the opportunity to test their flying experience in actual warfare, and many who learned to fly the boats at Taranto distinguished themselves. Among others were Garrasini, Roberti, Bologue, Caffaratti, Che, and Pellegrini..."

Thanks, Alexis Mehtidis