Airship Italia was an airship used by Umberto Nobile in his quest to trans-navigate the North Pole. The expedition started on May 23, 1928, but May 25 the airship crashed, leaving the gondola on the ice; the gas bag portion of the ship was never found as it had sailed aloft with several crewman when it was relieved of the gondola weight. Akron in flight, 2 November 1931 An airship is a buoyant aircraft that can be steered and propelled through the air. ... Umberto Nobile (January 21, 1885 - July 30, 1978) was a Italian aeronautical engineer and Arctic explorer. ... The North Pole is the northernmost point on any planet. ... May 23 is the 143rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (144th in leap years). ... 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 25 is the 145th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (146th in leap years). ...

Italia explored Franz-Josef Land (May 15.-18.), then started to North Pole.

An international rescue effort followed, but it took more than a month before the crash survivors were retrieved. Roald Amundsen died flying to Spitsbergen to take part in the operation. Roald Amundsen Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen (July 16, 1872–June 18?, 1928) was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. ... Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, which is situated in the Arctic Ocean and administered by Norway. ...