Air Force Centenary: 28 March 2023 Open Day at the 17th Wing

(To 17 flock)
29/03/23

Yesterday, 28 March 2023, the celebrations were held on the occasion of the Centenary of the Air Force, an occasion not only with a commemorative connotation, but which constitutes the possibility to spread aeronautical values ​​and culture in the territory and further bring the citizens to the Armed Forces. The Air Force has extraordinarily opened its doors to the public: the main flocks throughout Italy have organized Open Day, with the aim of making known an institution that operates silently and humbly, with a sense of duty and professionalism in respect of its founding values, its history, and the work done daily by women and men in Azzurro in favor of the country and of the community.

The numerous guests who flocked to the Furbara airport, home of the 17th stormo Incursori and the 1st air brigade for special operations (1st BAOS), were able to take part in the touching flag-raising ceremony, where in a single choir they sang the 'Anthem of Italy while the Tricolor was raised.

The commander, Colonel Livio Albano read to everyone the words of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti: “The skills acquired over a century allow us today to fulfill the primary mission of defending the skies of the nation, and of the Atlantic Alliance, with the highest and recognized professionalism wherever we are called to intervene. Strengthened by an invaluable human and technological heritage, the Air Force is rightly considered among the most advanced and best trained to carry out the entire spectrum of air missions, with niches of absolute excellence, always careful to make the best use of the resources placed at our disposal. provision in order to guarantee the country an essential strategic resource. But if the Air Force is at the forefront, appreciated in international fora, able to express fundamental capabilities to operate in the current scenarios, integrated in the joint field, we owe it to the foresight and generosity of those who preceded us, to the thousands of airmen who in every part of the world, in peace as in war, have worked with concreteness and value. The most solemn recognition goes to those who, from 28 March 1923 until the most recent tragic events in Guidonia and Trapani, with the highest spirit of service have fulfilled their oath up to the extreme sacrifice, showing us the way of honour".

The head of SMA then continued by stating that the value that distinguished the Armed Forces in the first hundred years of history was that of keeping up with and anticipating the progress of knowledge and the development of means and technologies, making even bold choices, but which led to the design of 6th generation aircraft while those of the 5th have just become operational. He highlighted how the domains of Cyber ​​and Space will increasingly involve the Air Force, which is called to play a leadership role therein as they are the vertical extension of the domain of the air. And finally “However, no objective can be achieved without the value of the personnel. 100 years of history and successes are the result of the commitment and skills of our women and men, who with dedication and professionalism, far from their loved ones and often in critical conditions, work with passion to safeguard national security . Professionals who daily, in silence, carry out their duty supporting each other, serving with discipline what we usually call 'Air Force Mom' with great affection".

The day continued with a static display of the main capabilities of the 17th wing: the guests came into contact with the training and operational realities of the operating group, which has the Raiders in force, of the CBRN component, therefore everything concerning the chemical and bacteriological threat, of the component Explosive Ordnance Recognition/Disposal (EOD/EOR) as regards the recognition and defusing of explosive devices, the Infirmary, which demonstrated the main first aid techniques, and the Aeronautical Weapons Association, which with the kindest and usual collaboration attended the day, describing the past history of the department and of the Air Force. Numerous tactical vehicles on display: from the "Lince" VTLM, to the LTATV, a tactical assault vehicle, to the quads supplied to the operational detachments, to move on to the VM90 Ambulance, a vehicle supplied exclusively to the Air Force and capable of intervening on any type of terrain.

The event was attended by the mayor of the city of Cerveteri, Dr. Elena Gubetti and the councilor Francesca Badini, the president of the municipal council of Ladispoli, Mr. Carmelo Augello, and the mayor of Santa Marinella, Dr. Pietro Tidei, accompanied by the councilor Emanuele Minghella, who together with the commander inaugurated the beginning of the static exhibition, as well as military authorities of other Armed Forces and State bodies, to seal the moments of encounter between institutions and communities.

The climax of the event were the capacity demonstrations: the students of the Comprehensive Institutes “Cena” and “E. Mattei”, of Cerveteri, of the Agricultural Institute “G. Garibaldi”, in Rome, and the “Solidarietà” Cooperativa Sociale Association were able to assist and see up close simulations of the deactivation of an improvised device, the rescue of an injured person from a plane crash by the Fire Prevention Unit and the 'infirmary and finally to a parachute airdrop. The four paratroopers brought the banner of the 17th wing, of the 1st BAOS and the national flag to the ground on the notes of "Moments of glory", while the most significant dates that wrote the history of the Air Force were announced.

During the event, in line with a Centenary celebrated in the sign of solidarity, the initiative "A Gift from Heaven" was promoted: this project will include donations on a voluntary basis by the military and civilian personnel of the AOS, donations of individuals and associations, for the whole of 2023. The charitable initiative will serve to finance the purchase of sophisticated technological equipment, necessary for the research of treatments against cancer, in favor of IFOM - Foundation Institute of Molecular Oncology - of AIRC.