With these numbers, symbolically celebrated with a low-altitude passage on “Camp Arena”, the last operational mission of the pilots and CH-47 helicopter specialists “Chinook” of the “Fenice” task force, the component ad rotary wing based on 7 ° aviation regiment of the "Vega" army of Rimini under the orders of pilot colonel Giuseppe Potenza.
It was November 2007 when the crews of the 1 regiment of the "Antares" army of Viterbo were redeployed in Herat, Afghanistan, with the task of supporting the troops of the regional command west, the multinational command and inter-forces with Italian leadership responsible for military operations in the western region of the country.
The CH-47 helicopter was an indispensable asset in the logistical support missions to the advanced operational bases, infiltration and exfiltration of coalition special forces and in emergency refueling activities at the checkpoints of the Afghan security forces conducted in the areas more remote and inaccessible than the country.
The use for such a long period and exceptional versatility in all climatic conditions have made the CH-47 the most "long-lived" army helicopter during the ISAF mission.
The four CH-47 "Chinook" present in the theater will soon be in Italy on board the "Antonov" transport aircraft.
Source: SMD
