An item referred to notes of a naval officer of board of a British cruiser active in the Adriatic between August 1916-October 1917. He wrote that the Italian naval air service possessed in the beginning at Valona the Europe (1) as depot ship. This was a former merchant ship fitted out with wooden roofs fore and aft able to store 8 flying boats. In the first half of 1917 was a Bessonneau (2) tent handed over by the army, placed on the eastern shore near a shelving beach able to store 4 flying boats. The station was in September 1917 increased with a large shed including slipways, officers stores, workshop and personnel accommodation and a store capacity of 20 flying boats. Still the Europa was not decommissioned while her additional stowage, accommodation and workshops was till of great value. This extra capacity was of value when aircraft from Brindisi after attacking Durazzo, Albania stayed during the night at Valona.
Notes
1. Launched by Charles Connell and Company, Glasgow, Scotland as the Manila for account of the Spanish company Pinillis, Izquierdo&Cia. with yard number 222 on 4 August 1895, renamed Salacia in 1898, owned by German and Italian shipping companies between 1912-1913, renamed Quarto in 1914, acquired on 6 February 1915, converted into a seaplane carrier commissioned on 6 October 1916, stricken and sold to be broken up in 1920. Two hangars and cranes for lowering and lifting the seaplanes.
2. Besonneau-tents were large tents manufactured for storing aircraft by Les Etablissements Bessonneau.
