On 23 June 2025, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squadron General Antonio Conserva visited the 36th Fighter Wing accompanied by the President of Non-Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers and Troopers, 1st Lieutenant Mario Bonaventura. To welcome the highest authority was the Wing Commander, Colonel Pilot Antonino Massara. For the occasion, which also included the Air Force General Francesco Vestito, Commander of the Schools Command/3ª Bari Air Region, A monument has been unveiled to commemorate the glorious deeds performed by the aviators belonging to the 36th Torpedo Bomber Wing during the Second World War.
These marble steles, originating from the 2nd AVES “Orione” Regiment of Borgo Panigale (BO) and dating back to the thirtieth anniversary of the Battle of Pantelleria (12-16 June 1942), today represent a tangible symbol of historical continuity, renewing the bond between past and present and honouring the sacrifice of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and specialists of the torpedo bomber units..
The ceremony continued with the awarding of military honours to personnel who distinguished themselves through dedication, commitment, and spirit of sacrifice, enabling the 36th Fighter Wing to continuously ensure its pre-eminent institutional task of defending national and NATO airspace, as well as supporting the community.
In his speech, the Colonel Massara has highlighted the concept of “teamwork” in the service of the country, stating that “The 36th Fighter Wing is an efficient, cohesive, and motivated operational reality thanks to the daily commitment of every man and woman who is part of it. This is primarily thanks to the professional seriousness and team spirit that pulsate through the human fabric of one of the Armed Forces” leading Departments.”
Following this, the General Store he took the floor, addressing those present: “It is an honour to be here today, to greet the Wing that I had the pleasure of commanding, and to greet it at the moment we are reclaiming a fundamental piece of the history of the 36th Wing of the Air Force. [...] I believe that by remembering in this ceremony the heroism of those who preceded us – he continued – ”it is an important sign that corroborates our commitment in the current theatres of operation“ where ”our presence has an especially deterrent function. Deterrence, which is a fundamental concept for maintaining peace and for which the Air Force places its readiness, the capability of its men and women as an inexhaustible bulwark of the Italian Armed Forces."
At the end of the flag-raising ceremony, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force met with the Commanders of the units, the representatives of the Military Trade Unions and the Unitary Trade Union Representation of the Wing, before attending briefings on the readiness status of the Department from both a logistical and operational point of view. The visit concluded with the traditional exchange of crests and the signing of the Honour Book, to which Air Force General Antonio Conserva entrusted his personal appreciation: “I congratulate the Commander and all personnel on the brilliant results and the operational readiness you ensure in every context. I wish you the very best of fortunes, certain that you will be able to face and overcome the challenges of the coming years.”
It 36th Fighter Wing, Gioia del Colle (Bari) It is subordinate to the Command of Combat Forces (CFC) in Milan, whose assigned mission is to acquire and maintain the operational readiness of all air defence, attack, and reconnaissance units, ensuring the operational efficiency of weapon systems, equipment, and materiel, as well as personnel training and the constant updating and optimisation of operational procedures, in compliance with the guidelines of the Higher Commands. The CFC is subordinate to the Air Squadron Command – 1st Air Region, which exercises its powers regarding the training, preparation, and operational readiness of its Departments, so that they acquire and maintain the required levels of operational readiness. The 36th Fighter Wing is one of the 5 Wings of the Italian Air Force that ensure national Air Defence and the service of Quick Reaction Alert of NATO.
