Review article
https://doi.org/10.32728/h2025.03
Operations of the Poreč Seaplane Station during the First World War and Its Impact on Civilian Life
Gianpaolo Gergeta
Abstract
Due to its proximity to Venice, the principal base of the Italian Navy in the northern
Adriatic, construction of a naval aviation outpost began in Poreč nine months after
Italy entered the war. Initially, it was used by seaplanes that were unable to return
to Pula, and it also served as a temporary base for aircraft tasked with monitoring
and defending the maritime area from Vrsar to Cape Savudrija. In August 1916, the
outpost was upgraded to a Naval Aviation Station with a permanent complement of
aircraft. By that time, Poreč-based seaplanes were already participating in attacks
on Venice and other targets on the Italian front alongside those from Trieste and
Pula. They also carried out independent reconnaissance missions and attacks. As
Poreč lay along the routes used by Italian seaplanes and bombers in attacks on
Pula, the town experienced more than forty air raids and three naval attacks, which
required its seaplanes to defend both the town and the surrounding coastline. In
May 1918, due to changes on the battlefield and the establishment of a seaplane
base in Grado, the Poreč station was downgraded once again to a Naval Aviation
Outpost, and by September, it no longer held any aircraft.
During its period of operation, the Poreč seaplane station lost five aircraft
(two in attacks, one in defence, and two in accidents). These losses resulted in the
deaths of two pilots and two observers, while two additional pilots were wounded.
One pilot was killed in Pula during a test flight of a G 5 seaplane. In addition to this,
one soldier died during enemy attacks on Poreč, three others were injured, and one
soldier was left missing (captured by the Italian destroyer Zeffiro). The number of
civilian casualties was higher: eleven killed (three women, one girl, and seven men),
while two people were seriously wounded and two were lightly wounded. A boy
who was accidentally killed during the disposal of an unexploded bomb may be
added to this list.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
349940
URI
Publication date:
29.7.2026.
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