On Tuesday, March 27th, a ceremony was held at the “Luigi Olivari” Military Airport in Ghedi to celebrate the 101st anniversary of the establishment of the Italian Air Force. The event was attended by top civilian, military, and religious authorities from the province of Brescia, including the Prefect, Maria Rosaria Laganà.
The military ceremony took place in the “All Squadrons” hangar of the 6th Wing and was presided over by Colonel Luca Giuseppe Vitaliti, Commander of the “Diavoli Rossi” (Red Devils). After welcoming the guests, Colonel Vitaliti highlighted the key moments in the history of the Air Force: “On March 28th, 1923, less than twenty years after the Wright brothers’ first flight, and following the crucial role played by aviation during World War I in observation and interdiction actions, and after the exploits of the Fighter Aces, the Italian Air Force was established. From the very beginning, it was considered the Air Force of the Future, with a rapid acceleration in the production of aircraft and the development of innovative doctrines. The Air Force was born from the full awareness that the use of aircraft represents an unparalleled tool for implementing the most advanced strategies of deterrence, defense, and security. It is only in the third dimension that we can project ourselves beyond any physical obstacle, ensuring promptness, speed, and agility of intervention in any location, with the ability to avoid and confront threats from a distance and far from our borders, with a perspective from above for a full awareness of the operational scenario.”
In the afternoon, from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm, to celebrate this prestigious anniversary with the local community, the 6th Wing opened its doors to guests and friends who were able to spend an intense afternoon with the military personnel. The thousands of visitors had the opportunity to retrace the steps of the centenary history of the Air Force, from its establishment to the present day, rediscovering the memorable achievements that still amaze and fascinate. The highlight of the day, after the flight demonstration of the aircraft in service with the Wing, was a presentation on national aerospace activities supported by the Air Force. The event was moderated by Colonel Luca Giuseppe Vitaliti and featured military personnel from the Space Situational Awareness Center of the Aerospace Operations Command and the General Space Office of the Air Force General Staff. The conference extensively addressed the results achieved by the Armed Force in this sector, where the Air Force has played a leading role, promoting national programs and initiatives and supporting the start of international collaborations. The interesting conference was attended by a large audience, including representatives from the space industry, specialized press, universities, research institutions, as well as analysts and disseminators.
At the end of the celebratory day for the 101st anniversary of the establishment of the Air Force, Colonel Vitaliti added: “In 101 years, the Air Force has unconditionally served the country, ensuring the security and defense of the skies and achieving astonishing feats. It projected Italy into space with the first Italian satellite launch as part of the San Marco Project, coordinated by General Luigi Broglio, on December 15th, 1964, making Italy one of the first three countries in the world, after the USA and the USSR, to achieve this. Leveraging this milestone and the expertise gained through the Air Force’s activities in space, Italy is among the leading space powers and is projected towards new horizons. This is the heritage of which we aviators are emblematic expressions and heirs, and the reference in terms of values, traditions, perspectives, and experiences that allows us to face our unique and peculiar tasks with confidence and serenity, in increasingly dynamic, unpredictable, complex, and threatening scenarios. The Air Force represents Defense and Security in Space and Aerospace, with rapid intervention capabilities, projection, coverage, and support ‘anytime’ and ‘anywhere,’ air traffic control, orbit and space phenomena control, flight and air navigation assistance, telecommunications, and meteorological services. All of this, every day, in the service of Italy.”
The memorable day concluded with thanks to all those who actively participated in fundraising for charity, particularly in support of the National Association for the Children of Aviators (ONFA), an institution that provides assistance to the orphans of Air Force personnel.
