An Open Day different from the others at the "Girolamo Moscardini" Airport in Frosinone, headquarters of the 72nd Wing, because today, March 28, 2023, the Air Force celebrated its first 100 years of life, marking decisive milestones in history for what has now become a modern, versatile and technologically advanced armed force, considered among the best in Europe. As remarked by its Chief of Staff, General of the Air Squad, Luca Goretti, in the greeting message sent to all the components scattered in Italy and abroad, today the Italian Air Force is the third Armed Force in the world to have reached the enviable half of the century of life.
With a view to celebrating the important goal proudly achieved by the Armed Forces, the 72nd Stormo also organized an Open Day by opening its gates to the citizens, recording a record number of entries with over two thousand visitors.
The demonstration began with the solemn flag-raising ceremony and the celebration of Holy Mass at the Cappella dello Stormo, in the presence of civil, political and military authorities. During the morning, the Base welcomed over a thousand students of all levels and was then open to citizens from noon until late afternoon.
Particular involvement aroused the stands of the static exhibition, above all for the young students who were able to see up close, according to a pre-established route, all the aircraft used by the Wing. Particularly successful were the flight simulators, the meteorological service station and the historic department room. Visitors were also able to appreciate the 208th Flight Group, the Aircraft Efficiency Group and the classrooms of the Ground School. The helicopters in force at the Flight School continued their regular activity, giving guests truly exciting moments with continuous landings and take-offs from the runways overlooking the glorious 208th Flight Group. With the Open Day, the Wing also celebrated the 200 flight hours of its TH-500B helicopter, achieved in January 2023 by two of its instructor pilots, Lt. Col. Giovanni P. and Lt. Col. Giovanni S.
The local Associazione Arma Aeronautica accompanied visitors on a journey dedicated to celebrating the history of the department, hosting a fundraiser in its gazebo for the initiative "A gift from Heaven for AIRC", which also saw the participation of numerous volunteers from all over the province. To support the Wing also means and personnel of the Italian Red Cross.
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On March 28, 1923, Italy decided to acquire an autonomous Air Force from the other Armed Forces. Italian aviators finally saw their aspirations for independence realized, developing that environmental competence that arose in the skies of the Great War and strengthened by the visions of the first theorists of air power.
On this day we intend to remember, in a special way, all those who, even very young, sacrificed the supreme good of life for an ideal of homeland and attachment to duty: values unchanged over time, for the soldiers of the time and those of today .
An exciting journey made of sacrifice and silent abnegation, that of the Air Force personnel who carry out their duty every day inspired by the same founding values that guided the first pioneers of the air.
The growth of the Air Force has represented and still represents the evolution of the national defense instrument, whose constant updating allows Italy to defend democratic principles from possible violations of the peace and freedom guaranteed to all citizens.
The 72nd Stormo of Frosinone, the only school in the rotary wing sector in Italy, is the Department that trains helicopter pilots of the Air Force, of the other Armed Forces and Armed Forces of the State, as well as foreign visitors. The inter-force and interagency synergy, developed in the field of training at the Frosinone Helicopter School, is part of the perspective of continuous improvement of training and contextual optimization of resources.