At 4^ BTS YES / AV di Borgo Piave and the 70th Wing of Latina opened the gates to the public on the occasion of the Centenary of the Italian Air Force
Tuesday 28 March, the flight ofAir force, started in 1923, has reached the prestigious milestone of 100 years. The 4th Telecommunications and DA Systems Brigade / AV di Borgo Piave and the 70th Wing of Latina kicked off the celebrations for the Centenary of the Italian Air Force honoring the fallen with the deposition of a laurel wreath at the Largo dell'Aviatore - Latina, in the presence of numerous civil and military authorities.
The celebrations of this first century of life, since the Regia Aeronautica was established as an autonomous armed force in the 1920s, continued with the evocative ceremony of the solemn flag-raising, held at Piazza del Popolo in Latina.
Civil and military authorities, Combatant and weapon associations and school groups from the province of Latina met to underline the synergy between the Air Force and citizens, an Armed Force that confidently projects itself towards the future with that yearning for modernity and propensity for innovation that has distinguished it since its birth.
The highest authority intervened, the Prefect of Latina, Doctor Maurizio Falco, took the opportunity to underline how much the Air Force is a national pride and to retrace the path of a century, “accomplished by so many champions of national sacrifice”. “The emotional and cultural bond that could be strengthened, among the soldiers who have recently come to the Pontine land from all parts of Italy, and indigenous peoples, it is a legacy that is worth reiterating with force, for the benefit of all, especially young people”, concluded the Prefect.
Following, as part of the celebrations of the Centenary of the Air Force, the 4th Telecommunications and DA/AV Systems Brigade and the 70th Wing opened the gates to the public from 9:00 to 19:00 to make its reality known to the citizens.
In particular, at the 4^ BTS ON/OFF it was possible to visit some Centres, Deposits and Laboratories, confirming how much the Base represents for the Armed Forces a unique in the telecommunications field since the early fifties, when the then D.A.T. (Territorial Air Defense), which ensured training in the telecommunications and air defense sectors and systems management and maintenance.
A visit to the redeployable field structures followed, result of the evolution of the Brigade also in Projectable Logistics Articulation, both in austere environments, both in the so-called Host Base (host bases), with the ability to insure, immediately, land-to-land and land-to-land communications and therefore a vital tool to allow the conduct of complex operations of the military components, both for exercises and for operational missions, and in the case of national civil emergencies.
The Commander of the 4th BTS DA/AV, Brigadier General Sandro SANASI, emphasized that "today's celebrations represent an opportunity to project ourselves towards the future, keeping an eye on the past. What we are today is the result of a long journey undertaken over time, not without pitfalls and difficulties, a work of sacrifice, competence, passion and humility, always conducted with strong motivation and in compliance with our values.”
“Our strength, from 1923, is to look forward, dare, without ever stopping”, General Sanasi then concluded.
At the same time, the Open Day was held at the 70° Stormo of Latin, a unique opportunity to continue to immerse yourself in the reality of the Air Force which, “FLYING TO THE FUTURE” – the slogan that accompanies the logo of his 100 years – will continue to insure, respecting its values and traditions, the full fulfillment of their institutional duties and to develop an increasingly suitable and effective response to future challenges.
On the merits, it was possible to get to know reality more closely, the mission accomplished, the activities and structures of the Pontine Flight School, that exactly from afar 28 March 1938, 85 years ago, ensures initial and basic training for frequent Air Force pilots, Marina, Army and in general for the armed bodies of the State, including foreign visitors included in the courses of the Aeronautical Academy.
It was possible to visit the area used for the Historical Exhibition and the Static Exhibition of the aircraft of the 70th Stormo and other Departments of the A.M., as well as witness the overflights of the SF260B aircraft in the Pontine skies.
The Commander of the 70th Stormo, Colonel Pilot Giuseppe BELLOMO, pointed out that “The Air Force is an integral part of our history, symbol of excellence and elegance, a wealth of our country for both technical and human skills and abilities, but also one of the most beautiful images of Italy, a heritage we can be proud of.” He then thanked all the men and women in blue, who choose to serve their country without hesitation and to honor the uniform they wear every day by keeping the oath sworn with an immense sense of duty. “If we have achieved these results it is only thanks to the full collaboration of the airmen, of the military, of technicians, working in the air and on the ground. Team example, of ethics, of unity of purpose and full cooperation in pursuing a common goal, example of the values of an Italy that wants and can evolve and grow”, thus concluded Colonel Bellomo.
Sources
Text: Cap A.A.r.a.n. Log. G.R.U. Assumption Fusco – Capo Sez. Institutional communication - 70° Stormo “G. C. Graziani” – Latina
Photo: Air force
