The four fighters took off yesterday morning from the base station of Ghedi, home of the 6 ° Stormo of the Air Force. The Tornado's mission is added to what Italy has already started with the Predator piloted aircraft and the KC 767 refueling aircraft, to strengthen the national ISR recognition capacity expressed in terms of Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Intelligence , all essential and highly strategic contributions in the context of the coalition.
The head of the Air Force, air force general Pasquale Preziosa, speaking on the sidelines of the recent presentation of the aeronautical calendar, reiterated that the Tornado will have only surveillance and reconnaissance tasks, as established by the political authority and has underlined how currently, in the coalition that fights the ISIS terrorists, the surveillance of everything that moves on the ground is currently serving.
Last November 4, during the ceremony held in Rome, at the Altar of the Fatherland, the 6 ° Stormo was awarded by the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, the honor of Knight of the Military Order of Italy, for the constant commitment in the various theaters of international crisis. The courage, the value and the extraordinary sense of responsibility and sacrifice of the crews, supported by the professionalism and generous commitment of all the staff of the Department, have been represented with effectiveness and honor by the level of excellence achieved in the operations performed.
The 6 ° Stormo was formed at Campoformido (UD) on 15 January 1936.
The 43 ° January 1 was dissolved in the 1951 following the armistice with the X-NXX of the 51 Group in Treviso. Later became 155 ^ Aerobrigata, the department moved to Ghedi incorporating the 6 ° and then the 154 ° (156).
From '57 to' 59, with the F 84F aircraft, constitutes the "Red Devils" Aerobatic Team, proclaimed in the 1958 by the international press "THE FIRST ACROBATIC WORLD OF THE WESTERN WORLD".
In the 1963, the year from which cooperation with the USAF component begins, permanently illuminated on Ghedi, it receives the F-104 G aircraft.
The 28 August 1982 is delivered to Ghedi the first "Tornado" of the Italian Air Force, with which Italy participates in the 1990 at the 1 Gulf War.
From the 1993 in the 6 ° Stormo, which in the meantime has lost the 155 ° and the 156 ° Group, the 102 ° Gruppo, from the 5 ° Stormo of Rimini, is framed.
After the Gulf War, the 6 ° Stormo returns to action in the Balkan skies in the 1995 and 1999 period.
The 3 November 1999, with the closing of the TTTE (Tornado Trinational Training Establishment) of Cottesmore, becomes the "Tornado school" for Italy.
From 1 July 2008 is reassigned, coming from the 36 ° Stormo of Gioia del Colle, the 156 ° Flight Group.
From November 2008 to December 2009 the Task Group Devil cell is engaged in the Afghan operational theater, at the base of Mazar and Sharif, with support tasks to the ground forces, in relation to the role assigned by the ISAF command and control structure.
From the end of February to October 2011 the Stormo is engaged with a cell risk at the 37 ° Stormo of Trapani Birgi, where it initially operates in the operation "Odyssey Dawn" and subsequently, starting from 5 April, in the operation "Unified Protector" in compliance with the UN resolutions 1970 and 1973, aimed at defending the Libyan populations against the repression of Colonel Gaddafi.
The assets of the Wing from the 90 to today have taken part in the following operations:
. Desert Storm;
. Sharp Guard;
. Deny Flight;
. Decisive Endeavor;
. Deliberate Guard;
. Determined Force;
. Deliberate Force;
. Allied Force,
. ISAF;
. Odyssey Dawn;
. Unified Protector;
. Competition in support of the Air Defense.
Read also the article "The unarmed war of Italy"
Source: AM General Office for Communication - Public Information Office
