September teh 23th, 1913, Roland Garros makes an historical feat by crossing the Mediterranean sea with his 80HP engined Morane Saulnier. After having taken off from Frégus in the south east of France, he loses a piece of his engine flying along Corsica (the background of the painting). He lands at Bizerte, in Tunesia after an 8 hours long flight with only 5 liters petrol left in his tank !