It was the suggestive Terrace of the Pincio in Rome that framed the solemn celebration of Centenary of the Air Force, officially born as an autonomous and independent armed force on 28 March 1923. The ceremony, with a high symbolic and institutional value, took place in the presence of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and was sealed by an aerial overflight of various formations of aircraft from the 'Aeronautica Militare concluded with the passage of Frecce Tricolori.
Among those present at the event: the president of the senate Ignazio La Russa, the president of the council of ministers the Hon. Giorgia Meloni, the vice-president of the chamber of deputies on. Fabio Rampelli, the delegate of the president of the constitutional court, professor Giulio Prosperetti, the defense minister, the Hon. Guido Crosetto together with the undersecretaries of state for defence, the president of the council of the Lazio region dott. Francesco Rocca, the mayor of Rome dr. Roberto Gualtieri, the Chief of Defense Staff Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, as well as civil authorities as well as top authorities of the other Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense.
Today's is a special anniversary which marks the achievement of a unique stage, full of heroic deeds and historical roots that from the past touch a rapidly evolving present with a strong technological identity. A century of history of tricolor flight that brings with it the patrimony of values, passion and professionalism of the Armed Forces, today more than ever essential to contribute, together with the other civil and military institutions, to the security of the country and its citizens.
During the morning, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, after presiding over a solemn flag-raising ceremony in Piazzale Tre Archi of Palazzo Aeronautica, went to the Altare della Patria. Here, accompanied by the leaders of the Armed Forces and by the presidents of the combatant and weapon associations AM, he laid a wreath at the Shrine of the Unknown Soldier, inserted in the Vittoriano complex and symbol of all the fallen of the wars in which Italy has participated and of their heroic sacrifice.
The ceremony was sealed by the overflight of the aircraft of the Armed Forces, among these a special formation of "fighter" aircraft drew the number "100" in flight over the Pincio Terrace. Following a series of air passages have honored this important anniversary until its climax when the National Acrobatic Patrol, an essential part of the aeronautical tradition and a fundamental piece of the large mosaic represented by the operational realities, has colored the capital's skies green, white and red.
After a dutiful greeting to the President of the Republic, to the authorities present and to all the illustrious guests, the Chief of General Staff of the air force Luca Goretti, made a deferential bow to the War Flag, “keeper of the memory of those who preceded us”, and a heartfelt tribute to all the War and Armed Forces Institute Flags that they are “a continuous source of inspiration for all women and men in blue”. The general then expressed words of deep emotion for the recent tragic accidents that occurred in Guidonia, last March 7, to Colonel Giuseppe Cipriano and Lieutenant Colonel Marco Meneghello, and last December 13 in Trapani in which Major Fabio Altruda lost his life , "to share the immense pain of their families and reaffirm the example of courage, passion and dedication provided until their last moment, together with all those who have left us prematurely".
“Today we are in this beautiful setting of the Pincio to celebrate, one hundred years later, this fundamental moment in the history of the Armed Forces. Regardless of the beauty of the place, the choice of location was not made by chance. We overlook Piazza del Popolo, one of the most famous and famous squares in Rome, to underline the close bond that unites us to the entire Italian, European and world population. This reinforces our vocation, that of being 'with the people, among the people, for the people'. We are at the service of the citizens and of the entire Italian people.”
He added: “Since 1923 our strength has been to look ahead and to dare, to never stop! I am firmly convinced that this is the best result we could have achieved and to be handed over to the new generations who will follow us in order to maintain the necessary innovative drive in the wake of our glorious tradition.”
During the intervention, the delivery of the saber between the longest-lived aviator, Marshal Luigi Pasqui, born in 1918, and the youngest aviator in the Armed Forces, student pilot Giorgio Strata, born in 2004, was particularly significant. The gesture represented a symbolic passing of the baton, a sign of generational continuity among all the members of the great blue team.
General Goretti then addressed a certificate of sincere gratitude to all the personnel in blue of yesterday and today, to the crews, to the specialists, to all our soldiers and civilians, who have never backed down, have never done and never will.
The Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, in his speech underlined how the Air Force is an extraordinary institution, an integral part of the history of Italy and that everyone looks at with admiration, respect and feelings of deep gratitude and gratitude for what the men and women of the blue team have done and are doing every day for our country and for its safety. He then continued "Italy, thanks to the Air Force, demonstrates every day that it moves with full mastery in this extraordinary ecosystem, thanks to the availability of cutting-edge means and technologies, but above all of highly specialized, motivated and qualified personnel".
The admiral then concluded: "The Air Force, the pride of our Armed Forces, is a fundamentally important element of 'Technological Deterrence' which we must strengthen - without delay and quickly - to defend our country from serious threats to its security and our democratic values"
The Minister of Defence, Hon. Guido Crosetto: "Today is the birthday of the Arma Azzurra, one hundred years lived with the freshness, ambition and also the bravado typical of those who fly high to challenge the sky". The minister then went on to remark that: "In the last hundred years the world has changed profoundly but the best qualities of the Air Force have not changed: the courage, the ability to put you at the service of a greater adventure, the future of the nation".
OMI award to the AM War Flag
At the end of the speech by air force general Luca Goretti, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, in the presence of Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, awarded the War Flag of the Air Force with the decoration of "Knight of the Military Order of Italy" with the following motivation:
"In its 100-year history, the Air Force has operated to protect oppressed populations, to maintain international peace and stability, intervening with its own departments, often under heavy threat, facing with courage, a sense of responsibility and extraordinary valor all missions assigned, always and everywhere and also in support of the land and naval components, fighting with valor, spirit of self-sacrifice and generosity. For the audacity of the crews in theaters of operations around the world, supported by the expertise and generous commitment of the personnel in blue, it distinguished itself in air defense operations, neutralization of hostile military targets, patrolling, electronic warfare, aerial refueling, reconnaissance , special operations, transport and urgent evacuation of Italian and foreign citizens in danger. Furthermore, the Air Force, on the occasion of the many natural disasters and health emergencies, thanks to a commendable logistic structure of adherence, contributed, with its own means and thousands of flight missions, to bring generous aid to the civilian population in Italy and in every part of the world, showing a very rare example of dedication to the homeland and to the highest ideals of civilization. Bright heritage of values, high professionalism, altruism and sense of duty that all Air Force personnel have always honored, deserving the admiration, respect, applause and unanimous recognition of the Italian and international community. Skies of Italy and of the world, 1923 – 2023”.
On March 28, 1923, Italy decided to acquire an autonomous Air Force from the other Armed Forces. Italian aviators finally saw their aspirations for independence realized, developing that environmental competence that arose in the skies of the Great War and strengthened by the visions of the first theorists of air power. The Regia Aeronautica, this is its initial denomination, joins the Army and the Navy, and has among its distinctive features that drive towards modernity and that myth of speed which are typical of the first decades of the XNUMXth century and which inevitably project it to the flip. In those years, the men in blue accomplished memorable feats aboard vehicles that today would give concern to even the most experienced pilot. Among these, the transoceanic flights assumed particular importance, which for the first time gave Italy the opportunity to express its propensity for modernity and the importance of training and teamwork outside national borders. The young Air Force was forged in the difficulties of the Second World War, developing its identity as a complex organization, a team that works to achieve ambitious goals.
In 1946, after the war, the Arma Azzurra assumed its current name, Aeronautica Militare, and reorganized itself to defend the peace of the newly established Italian Republic. The past was therefore a century studded with epic feats, made by exceptional men and women, who piloted ever more performing aircraft with ever more advanced technological characteristics. An exciting journey made of sacrifice and silent abnegation, that of the Air Force personnel who carry out their duty every day inspired by the same founding values that guided the first pioneers of the air.
