The event was chaired by the Air Force Chief of Staff, Air Squad General Pasquale Preziosa, accompanied for the occasion by the Air Squad Commander, Air Squad General Maurizio Lodovisi, and the Combat Force Commander, General of air division Nicola Lanza de Cristoforis. Also present at the event were the major religious, civil and military authorities of the "Marca Trevigiana" including the prefect of Treviso, Dr. Maria Augusta Marrosu, the mayor of Istrana, ing. Enzo Fiorin, and the mayor of Treviso, Dr. Paolo Manildo. During his speech, General Preziosa said he was particularly happy to be present in Istrana and to have had the good fortune of being the Air Force Chief of Staff on the day the 51st Stormo turned 75.
The head of SMA then retraced the recent years of the Stormo's life in which the 51st contributed with a "spirit of service, in silence and without clamor" both to the operations in Libya in 2011 and in those in Afghanistan, theater from which the AMX, after about 5 years of employment, have returned to their homeland with the awareness of having completed the task assigned to them in the best possible way. During his speech, General Preziosa then, paraphrasing the symbol of the 51st Wing, underlined how "there is always some green mouse to be caught to ensure the safety of the world and I know that when parliament asks us to operate again, you will you will be and with you all the military air force ". "Happy birthday Black Cats!" then concluded the head of SMA.Colonel Maurizio D'Andrea, commander of the 51st Wing, in turn highlighted how the department has always put operations before anything else, underlining how even on the day of an important birthday like that of 75 years, the staff are proudly participating in various exercises at home and abroad.For the occasion, at the end of the solemn ceremony of changing the cloth, a historical photographic exhibition has also been inaugurated that traces the history of the Flock from the beginnings to the present day.
Among the relics, in addition to historical uniforms, vehicles and details of aircraft supplied to the Stormo, there is also a faithful virtual reproduction of the historic battle of Strana which took place during the First World War and recognized as one of the most important air battles that took place on the Italian front . At the end of the events, the book, published for the occasion, entitled "75 years of 51" was presented, the copy of which number "01" was given to General Preziosa. As part of the celebrations that the 51st Stormo has promoted in the Treviso area it is also worth mentioning the preparation of a historical photographic exhibition from 18 to 25 September in co-organization with the municipality of Treviso in the prestigious "Dei Trecento" room, the setting up of an AMX aircraft on static display and the concert of the fanfare of the first aerial region in Piazza dei Signori in Treviso last September 26th.
Finally, the Wing promoted a collection of funds for the ADVAR to support the Casa dei Gelsi project, a well-known structure in the Treviso area that provides free support and care for terminally ill and advanced patients.
Read also the interview with col. D'Andrea
Source: 51 ° Stormo - Istrana - cap. Marco Barone
