Jacket of Milan Rastislav Štefánik

The tragic death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik (1880 - 1919) still raises many speculations. From 14 November 1918 Štefánik was the minister of war in the government of Karel Kramář. Foreign legions belonged to his responsibility. General Štefánik's flight was on May 4, 1919, from Udine, Italy, to Vajnor near Bratislava (now part of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia). General Pietro Badoglio allowed Štefánik to use a three-engine bombering biplane Caproni Ca.33 with the number 11495 for the flight home. The crew consisted of two Italian airmen - Lieutenant Giotto Mancinelli-Scotti and Sergeant Umberto Merlini - and mechanic Gabrielle Aggiusti. The return of M. R. Štefánik to his homeland was finished by the downturn fall of the machine near Bratislava.