Alessandro Guidoni Alessandro Guidoni ( 1880 – 1928 ) served as a general in the " Regia Aeronautica " ( Italian Royal Air Force ) . Guidonia Montecelio , the small town and " comune " where he died while testing a new parachute , was named after him in 1937 . Life . Guidoni was born in Turin , Italy , on 15 July 1880 . He obtained his degree in engineering at the Turin Polytechnic in 1903 and in 1905 , while serving in the Navy Engineering Corps , took his second degree in naval engineering . In 1909 he developed a keen interest in the newborn " Corpo Aeronautico Militare " ( " Military Aviation Corps " ) of the " Regio Esercito " ( Italian Royal Army ) , joining many aviation pioneers . Guidoni served in the Italo - Turkish War of 1911 - 1912 as a pilot trainee , soon achieving a full certification and flying " hydroplanes " ( seaplane s ) . He then started studying weaponry and developed a new gyroscope - guided bomb to be delivered by planes against distant targets . In 1912 , as a captain , he experimented with the air - launching of torpedo es by dropping weights from a Farman biplane . He also drew the plans of the seaplane carrier " Europa " , which entered service with the " Regia Marina " ( Italian Royal Navy ) in 1915 . In 1920 , Guidoni joined the Italian Embassy in London as military attaché with the rank of colonel . When the " Corpo Aeronautico Militare " separated from the army in 1923 to become an independent service , the " Regia Aeronautica " , he became a member of the new service , and achieved the rank of general . On the morning of 27 April 1928 , being dissatisfied with its design , Guidoni tested personally a new model of parachute at the " Regia Aeronautica " airfield at Montecelio , Italy , and was fatally injured when it failed . Commemoration and legacy . Guidoni posthumously received the " Medaglia d ’ Oro al Valore aeronautico " ( " Gold Medal for Aeronautic Valor " ) . The third Dornier Do X flying boat built , the X2 , registered as I - ABBN , was named " Alessandro Guidoni " in Guidonis honor , and entered service in August 1931 . A private airline , " Società Anonima di Navigazione Aerea " ( SANA ) flew it initially ; the " Regia Aeronautica " later operated it . In the 1930s a town was built around the airfield at Montecelio to house military personnel . Benito Mussolini , the Italian " Duce " , laid the towns founding stone on 27 April 1935 , the seventh anniversary of Guidonis death . In 1937 , Montecelio and the surrounding " comune " were renamed Guidonia Montecelio in Guidonis honor . Only a military airfield exists at Guidonia Montecelio today , but a memorial to Guidonia stands on the exact spot where he died in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church . Guidoni ’ s passion for flight was celebrated publicly by General Ermanno Aloia of the " Aeronautica Militare Italiana " ( Italian Air Force ) celebrated Guidonis passion for flight 26 April 2006 with these words : “ A perfect fusion of military engineer and scientist , General Guidoni ( ITAF ) represents more than anyone else in our country the passion of man to conquer space , reach other planets , and investigate stars . ” Decorations . Gold Medal for Aeronautic Valor