Last July 2, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, home of the 56th Fighter Wing USAF and the Italian Air Force Representation (RAMI), training base on the JSF/F35 Lightning II aircraft, the reactivation ceremony of the 156th flight group took place with the simultaneous renaming of the representation.
In the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squadron General Luca Goretti, the Commander of the Air Squadron, Air Squadron General Alberto Biavati, the Commander of the 1st Air Region and the Command Combat Forces, air team general Luigi Del Bene and the deputy commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, with the. Matthew R. Johnston, the symbolic passing of the banner of the "Linci" took place between Colonel Gianfranco Liccardo, the last group commander when, in September 2016, the 156th was placed in a "square" position, and Major Daniele Cantori, former head of RAMI Luke and new commander of the 156th flight group.
“I thank the leadership of the Air Force and the US representatives at this event, whose participation attests to the strong partnership between the two Armed Forces”, said the col. Liccardo in his speech. Then turning to Major Cantori: “Daniele, I am fully aware of your value and I am sure that you will be an example for everyone. As 'Lynx 1' be ready to employ available resources, observe the context, listen to personnel and, when necessary, act as a commander”.
“I thank my chain of command for their trust in entrusting me with a role which for me is a dream and an opportunity for personal and professional growth”, said Major. Singers. “Reactivating the 156th Flight Group in this environment presents us with a clear challenge: honor the patch we wear, build an ever-stronger partnership, train the best F-35 pilots in the world”. He then concluded by addressing his staff: “I place full and unconditional trust in you, confident that you will be able to repay it with constant and consistent dedication”.
General Goretti, the oldest serving officer and former member (and commander) of the 156th flight group, closing the speeches, underlined: “You and the colleagues who will follow you represent the future backbone of the Air Force, a cutting-edge and leading Armed Force in Europe, also looked at with respect by the USAF as well as by the other NATO Partner Countries and the F-35 community. I ask you to always keep the bar high, to continue to do well and to improve to fulfill the obligations we have towards Italy and NATO. You will have the opportunity and the honor of operating in an Air Force that is becoming the protagonist of a unanimously appreciated, fully evolving capacity development that relies on you and the values that you pass on and express. Good luck, we will always be by your side to support you".
The ceremony ended with the traditional signing of the Roll of Honour.
Luke's RAMI/156th flight group, which since 12 February 2024 has been placed under the command of Combat Forces, ensures the management of the personnel who will contribute to the flight training of the pilots passing the machine on the F-35 aircraft at Luke AFB, home of the pilot training center (PTC) and the connection with the national authorities and the commanders of the American bases in which the Italian personnel and vehicles operate. "Le Linci" were established as the 156th autonomous fighter group
Terrestrial on 20 January 1941 on the Comiso base, as part of the 23rd land fighter unit. Equipped with CR-42 aircraft, they were used in the central Mediterranean until 8 April, the date on which they were disbanded.
After the post-war closures, on 1 February 1953 the group was reconstituted with F-84F aircraft as an all-weather conventional fighter-bomber group at the Ghedi base. Having moved to the Gioia del Colle base on 1 June 1966, he formed, in concert with the XII interceptor group, the 36th fighter wing. After operating on F-104S aircraft from 1970 to 1984, it continued to carry out its tasks of conventional bombing, support for naval operations and, subsequently, support for ground troops and reconnaissance with aircraft Tornado IDS until 2016, first within the 36th wing and then, in the footsteps of its history, returning to Ghedi on 1 July 2008.
“The Linci” were used in all the main operational theaters of those years, including the “Locust” operations in the Persian Gulf, “Sharp Guard”, “Deliberate Guard” and “Deliberate Force” in the former Yugoslavia, “Allied Force ” in Serbia and Kosovo, “ISAF” in Afghanistan under the command of the JAFT (Joint Air Task Force) of Herat, “Odyssey Dawn” and “Unified Protector” in the skies of Libya and “Inherent Resolve” in Kuwait. Temporarily placed in a central position starting from 14 September 2016, the 156th group was officially reactivated on 2 July 2024 as an operational conversion group on F-35A aircraft at the pilot training center by Luke AFB (AZ – USA).
