Today, at the “Pisacane” barracks in Livorno, home of the 185th RAO regiment, the delivery ceremony of the standard belonging to the F. squadron took place.
In the presence of the President of the Senate, Hon. Ignazio La Russa, the Chief of Staff of the Army, General of the Army Corps Carmine Masiello and other civil and military authorities including the commander of the Army Special Forces Command, Gen. B. Marco Manzone, the historic flag of Squadron F was handed over to the commander of the 185th RRAO, Col. Marco Margutti. The flag, created by the men of the squadron, shows the locations where the paratroopers of Capt. Carlo Francesco Gay were protagonists during the Italian campaign from 1943 to 23 April 1945, the day on which Operation “Herring” in the Po Valley against the retreating Germans was successfully concluded.
The flag bears the honors obtained by Captain Gay's paratroopers. With the delivery of the banner, a further element is added to the symbolism of the 185th RRAO that seals the Objectives Acquisitors as the heirs of the values and traditions of the paratroopers of Squadron F.
From the post-war period to today, the labarum has been kept at the air force museum of skydiving training center (CAPAR) of Pisa. Col. Margutti, during his speech, highlighted that “the labarum has an inestimable value, because this flag exudes essential values of sacrifice, courage, loyalty, love of country, but above all it keeps our memory alive” finally he remembered the adjutant sergeant major Vincenzo Aiello, who passed away on October 23, 2024 during a training accident. At the end of the ceremony, the President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa signed the Roll of Honor and visited the “Sala Ricordi” of the 185th RRAO where, together with other relics, the newly received labarum will be kept.
A historical curiosity about the precious relic concerns the number of awards reported. The correct list is present in the Gay family archive, where a document was found that reports: 3 Gold Medals for Military Valor, 100 Silver Medals for Military Valor, 25 Bronze Medals for Military Valor, 66 War Crosses for Military Valor and 4 Promotions for War Merits. The three MOVM of the F squadron are: s.ten. Eldo Capanna, sergeant maj. Otello Boccherini and the paratrooper Amelio De Iuliis.