On Friday 2 September, the handover ceremony between the outgoing Major Del Vecchio and the incoming Major Rubino took place in the presence of Colonel Vestito. The ceremony, presided over by Colonel Francesco Vestito, Commander of the 6th Wing, took place in the hangar of the 154th Flight Group in the presence of the unit’s military and civilian personnel, as well as family members and the ‘ex-devils’ – personnel who have served with the 154th Group over the years. In his farewell speech, after approximately one year as Group Commander, Major Del Vecchio expressed his personal thanks to the Wing Commander for the considerable autonomy granted to him in managing all the activities in which the Group had been involved, and his heartfelt appreciation to the men and women of the 154th Flight Group for the excellent work they had carried out. Major Del Vecchio will shortly be attending the 14th ISSMI (Joint Staff College) course at the Centre for Advanced Defence Studies in Rome. On taking up his new post, Major Rubino thanked the higher authorities and the Wing Commander for the trust placed in him in entrusting him with the leadership of the 154th Flight Group, assuring them of his unconditional commitment to fulfilling all the tasks the Group will have to undertake. Addressing the personnel of the 154th Group – the organisation’s greatest asset – he stated that “it is possible to aspire to any goal when we are united, sustained by a crystal-clear determination and boundless dedication”. At the end of the ceremony, Colonel Vestito thanked Major Del Vecchio for having worked with unceasing determination, expertise and in complete safety, dedicating constant commitment and enthusiasm to leading the Flight Group, and achieving brilliant results both nationally and internationally. He extended his best wishes to Major Rubino for the great challenge he is about to undertake, highlighting the potential, discretion and professionalism that have always characterised him. The formal handover was preceded by a symbolic in-flight change of command as part of a scheduled training exercise, during which Major Del Vecchio’s and Major Rubino’s aircraft swapped positions as the lead aircraft in a formation of five Tornados. —————————– Major Rubino, born in Bitonto (BA) in 1974, entered the Air Force Academy as part of the “Pegaso 4th” intake. He undertook a training period at the base in Pensacola (Florida) and subsequently at the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE) in Cottesmore, where he obtained his Tornado aircraft rating.
Assigned to the 6th Wing in November 1999 and qualified as “Combat Ready” from 2001, he has held various positions and participated in the operations “Joint Guardian”, “Allied Force”, “ISAF” and “Unified Protector”. Major Rubino is married and father of two daughters. —————————— The 154th Group was formed at Berat aerodrome in Albania on 25 October 1940; it then flew the FIAT G.50 “Freccia“ aircraft. From its formation until April 1941, when it was redeployed to Italy, the 154th Autonomous Ground Fighter Group operated with 27 FIAT G-50s under the Command of Aeronautics Albania from Devoli aerodrome (Albania). From May 1941 to May 1942, the Group operated over the southern Italian regions and the Mediterranean from the bases of Brindisi, Lecce and Crotone with FIAT G-50 ”Freccia“, CR-42 ”Falco“ and Macchi MC-200 ”Saetta’ aircraft. Like many other Italian Groups, the 154th was also disbanded following the armistice of 8 September 1943. Some of the Group's men and aircraft joined the Italian Social Republic to form the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. On 1 September 1952, the 154th Fighter Bomber Group was re-established as part of the 6th Wing at Ghedi base. The Group, dedicated to air-to-ground attack, has been equipped with DH.100 “Vampire”, F84G “Thunderjet”, F84F “Thunderstreak” (1956), F104G “Starfighter” (1963) aircraft and, from 1982 to the present day, with Tornados.
