On March 28, 1923, the Regia Aeronautica was born, which gave way in 1946 to the Air Force. 97 years of history that the Armed Force celebrates today, in consideration of the emergency in progress, without any military ceremony and official event, but honoring the Flag and joining forces to concretely offer its contribution to the country in this moment of serious difficulty.
"Today, in a particularly difficult moment in our history", stated the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, air squad general Alberto Rosso in his video message posted on the page YouTube of the Armed Force, "the best way to celebrate our 97th anniversary is simply do our duty with service and responsibility. Service and responsibility I think are the two words that must distinguish the work of all the men and women of the Armed Force, but also the two values that each citizen must have in mind to face this moment of difficulty ".
A commitment that also wanted to underline the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in the greeting message sent to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squad General Alberto Rosso, with these words: "On behalf of Italy and my staff, I express applause and deep gratitude for the contribution provided by the Air Force in the crisis situation caused by Covid-19. The armed force, with its usual generosity and great professionalism - merit also of the skills acquired in high-bio-containment air transport which he had already demonstrated in the recent past - he replied promptly to the request to return to his homeland of compatriots abroad who were in uncertainty and in conditions of isolation ".
A contribution, that for theCoronavirus emergency, which has been involved in the Air Force for several weeks and on different fronts, from the repatriation of compatriots from China and Japan to the transport of patients in bio-containment, with aircraft and crews ready to leave in a very short time to support hospitals in the North Italy, which is most involved at the moment, in the transport of medical equipment and materials at the request of the Civil Protection, in addition to the use of military medical personnel and team specialized in logistics. This is only the most visible part, the one in the front line, of the contribution that the Armed Force is making available to the country, within the broader framework, strongly desired by the Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini for the ongoing emergency. Behind each of these activities and capabilities there is an operational and logistical structure that guarantees the necessary support, at the same time as the constant action aimed at ensuring the essential services and institutional tasks assigned to the Armed Force.
"I would like to thank the doctors and nurses, employed on the front line, as well as all the staff of the Departments who, on the ground or in flight, are guaranteeing emergency medical transport or in bio-containment of people in danger of life, staff and materials at home and abroad, ensuring the management of all emergency-related activities ", General Rosso underlined, addressing in particular to Air Force personnel engaged in the front line in emergency support activities, highlighting the exceptional work that these departments are doing to contain Coronavirus, together with all the other public, private, military and civilian realities in the country.
A thank you ideally extended to all the staff who are operating both in Italy and outside national borders, who continue to carry out a fundamental service of contribution to peace and security in the world. "Today we are the protagonists of an unhappy page in our history", concluded the Air Force chief of staff, "let's live it with a sense of responsibility, with a spirit of service, with seriousness and with the availability to work together. In this way we honor our flag, our history, our country and, when the epidemic is over, we can be proud to have overcome it together".
A 2020 characterized by important historical events, first of all the centenary of the proclamation of the Madonna Di Loreto as "Patroness of Aeronauts". Exactly one hundred years ago, on March 24, 1920, Pope Benedict XV signed the Papal Bull with which the Blessed Virgin of Loreto became Patron Saint, thus welcoming the wishes of the pilots of the First World War. As a sign of solidarity, the charity initiative "A gift from heaven" is underway throughout the year in support of the pediatric hospitals Gaslini in Genoa, Santobono Pausilipon in Naples and Bambino Gesù in Rome with pediatric equipment.
Another important centenary, in this 2020, is that of the extraordinary aviation enterprise of Masiero and Ferrarin: on February 14, 1920, with the take-off of the two SVA9 biplanes from the Centocelle field, what will be remembered over the years as the Raid Rome - Tokyo, a record that will be achieved with the arrival in the Japanese capital on May 31, 1920 after a journey of over 18.000 km in 112 flight hours.
In the same year in which the Italian Air Force celebrates its 97th anniversary, the twentieth anniversary of the entry of women into the Armed Forces and the 60th acrobatic season of the Frecce Tricolori, an undisputed symbol of the ability to make a team of the entire Italian Air Force, occur; recurrences - these too - with a strong symbolic value, testifying to a commitment and evolution that have never stopped over the years. An Armed Force naturally devoted to technological innovation but at the same time strongly linked to the traditions and values of passion, dedication, spirit of sacrifice that daily guide the work of men and women who are part of it. 97 years of history that have seen the men and women of the Air Force engaged throughout the national territory for the defense and security of the country, but also a lot in distant countries to safeguard international security. Among the most significant commitments of the Armed Force, we recall the recent participation of the F-35 to the operation of Air Policing in Iceland, the first carried out to safeguard the airspace of the Alliance with 5th generation aircraft, the return to Antarctica of the Air Force aircraft and crews to support the 35th Italian scientific expedition, and certainly the mission Beyond, recently concluded, which saw the pilot colonel Luke Parmitano become the first Italian commander of the International Space Station.
Yesterday as today, the personnel and aircraft of the Air Force are busy, day and night, to carry out the main task of the Armed Force, that is to defend the Italian airspace, ensuring constant surveillance and protection of the national skies, but at the same time guaranteeing a variety of other services in favor of the community including air search and rescue, meteorological service and air traffic control. These are just some of the other multiple operational capabilities that the Armed Forces deploy at home and abroad every day.
Click here to watch the full video message of the Air Force Chief of Staff
