History In 1926 Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons, Adriano, Marcello, and Bruno, founded Società Scientifica Radiobrevetti Ducati (SSR Ducati) in Bologna to produce vacuum tubes, capacitors, and other radio components. In 1935 they had become successful enough to enable construction of a new factory in the Borgo Panigale area of the city. Production was maintained during World War II, despite the Ducati factory being a repeated target of Allied bombing. It was finally destroyed by around 40 Consolidated B-24 Liberators on 12 October 1944 as part of the United States Army Air Forces's Operation Pancake, which involved some 700 aircraft flying from airfields in the Province of Foggia.Ducati and the TT, Pullen, Greg page 45 thumb|left|Ducati Factory left|thumb|Ducati "Cucciolo", 1950 Nonetheless, it maintained production. Meanwhile, at the small Turinese firm SIATA (Società Italiana per Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie), Aldo Farinelli began developing a small pushrod engine for mounting on bicycles. Barely a month after the official liberation of Italy in 1944, SIATA announced its intention to sell this engine, called the "Cucciolo" (Italian for "puppy," in reference to the distinctive exhaust sound) to the public. The first Cucciolos were available alone, to be mounted on standard bicycles, by the buyer; however, businessmen soon bought the little engines in quantity, and offered complete motorized-bicycle units for sale.
History In 1926 Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons Adriano Marcello and Bruno founded Società Scientifica Radiobrevetti Ducati (SSR Ducati) in Bologna to produce vacuum tubes capacitors and other radio components In 1935 they had become successful enough to enable construction of a new factory in the Borgo Panigale area of the city Production was maintained during World War II despite the Ducati factory being a repeated target of Allied bombing It was finally destroyed by around 40 Consolidated B-24 Liberators on 12 October 1944 as part of the United States Army Air Forces's Operation Pancake which involved some 700 aircraft flying from airfields in the Province of FoggiaDucati and the TT Pullen Greg page 45 thumb|left|Ducati Factory left|thumb|Ducati "Cucciolo" 1950 Nonetheless it maintained production Meanwhile at the small Turinese firm SIATA (Società Italiana per Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie) Aldo Farinelli began developing a small pushrod engine for mounting on bicycles Barely a month after the official liberation of Italy in 1944 SIATA announced its intention to sell this engine called the "Cucciolo" (Italian for "puppy" in reference to the distinctive exhaust sound) to the public The first Cucciolos were available alone to be mounted on standard bicycles by the buyer; however businessmen soon bought the little engines in quantity and offered complete motorized-bicycle units for sale