On Friday 4 April, in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, and numerous civil, military and religious authorities, the handover ceremony of the Air Force took place at the Centocelle Military Airport (RM). Air Force Command Rome between the outgoing Air Force General Giandomenico Taricco and the incoming Air Force General Achille Cazzaniga.
To give greater lustre and solemnity to the event, the presence of the War Flags of the experimental flight department and of the 17th Incursori Wing, the Institute Flag of the 60th Wing, the Gonfalon of Rome Capital, decorated with the Gold Medal for Military Valor, the Gonfalon of the metropolitan city of Rome Capital in addition to the Banners of the Combatant and Armed Forces Associations.
In his speech, General Taricco first thanked the Chief of Staff, the authorities and the guests for their presence and bowed before the war and institute flags present for the occasion. He then wanted to underline the indissoluble bond that ties Centocelle Airport to the Armed Forces, recalling that this is where the Wright brothers made their first flights in Italy and where, on 4 November 1923, the battle flag was delivered to the Royal Air Force, as an independent Armed Force. Today that same site hosts important top Defense structures and the Air Force, through the COMAER structures, ensures them all the necessary support. As an example, he cited the recent takeover of the management of Palazzo Guidoni as an example of synergic action between Defense apparatuses. Then, addressing the staff of COMAER and all the dependent entities, he thanked them for what they have done in these years and for what their daily work has been able to achieve, highlighting their ability to operate silently, away from the spotlight and in an absolutely resilient way. Finally, he urged them to continue on this path, ensuring the new commander the maximum support and the best possible collaboration.
General Cazzaniga in his speech thanked the top of the Armed Forces for the trust placed in him and asked the COMAER personnel to continue to operate with the same determination, committing themselves to directing their command action along the path traced by their predecessors, for the good of the Armed Forces and the Nation. He then continued by saying: "It is an honor for me to be able to join such a capable team. To all of you, I assure unconditional commitment. To the heads of the Defense branches that operate here in Centocelle I guarantee full collaboration".
The ceremony was closed by the speech of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, who, after greeting the civil and military authorities and paying homage to the War Flags and the Institute Flag, the Gonfalon of Rome Capital, the Gonfalon of the metropolitan city of Rome Capital in addition to the Banners of the Combatant and Weapon Associations, wanted to underline the importance of the moment and how and to what extent the COMAER is crucial for the Armed Forces, as it represents our business card. A complex Command that requires a Commander with great qualities of wisdom, diplomacy and common sense as well as evident flexibility of employment. Also capable of relating to the top levels of Defense, understanding their needs and ensuring the best possible support, in compliance with their respective roles. General Goretti concluded his speech by wishing both speakers good work; to Gen. Taricco for the new challenging assignment at the GCAP Agency and to General Cazzaniga for how he will interpret the responsibility he has just assumed.
The “Comando Aeronautica Militare Roma” (COMAER) was established on March 1999, XNUMX, a date that also marks the transition from a “territorial” to a “functional” structure for the Air Force. COMAER ensures technical-logistical and administrative support to the Air Force and inter-force bodies located in the Palazzo Aeronautica complex, on the grounds of Centocelle Airport, including the General Secretariat of Defense and the operational command of interforce forces (COVI), and the Vigna di Valle airport command/AM historical and sports center. It guarantees territorial functions and liaison with the institutions and administrations present in the capital area and performs the aeronautical garrison functions provided for by the sector regulations.
