Lieutenant Colonel Amendola succeeds Lieutenant Colonel Rivera
The ceremony, held in the presence of the 41st Wing Commander, Colonel Pilot Dario Missaglia, took place at the Madonna di Loreto square, attended by the Unit's personnel and their families.
In his farewell speech, Lieutenant Colonel Rivera wished to thank all the men of the 88th Group for their loyalty and spirit of service, which have allowed for the achievement of flattering results and the completion of countless missions for the Air Force and for the country. Lieutenant Colonel Rivera will shortly be attending the master's degree in strategic studies in Rome at the Joint Staff College.
In his address, Lieutenant Colonel Amendola assured his utmost commitment to leading the 88th in a spirit of continuity, to confirm that cohesion of personnel indispensable for achieving prestigious goals.
In his speech, Colonel Missaglia wished to highlight the excellent leadership shown by Lieutenant Colonel Rivera, expressing his certainty, at the same time, that Lieutenant Colonel Amendola, despite this particular period of transition due to the change in the weapon system, will be able to lead the men of this historic unit towards new and promising achievements. Lieutenant-Colonel Amendola, born in Naples on 24 November 1971, attended the “Marte IV” course at the Air Force Academy. Assigned to the 41st Wing in 1996, he immediately obtained his rating on the Breguet BR-1150 Atlantic aircraft. He is also qualified to fly the SF260AM, TW-A, T-37, T-38 and MB339 aircraft, with over 4,200 flying hours to his credit. The 88th Autonomous Maritime Fighter Group was established at Vigna di Valle Airport on 10 May 1930 and comprised the 161st, 162nd, the 164th and the 166th Squadrons, equipped with M.41bis aircraft. After various vicissitudes, the Group continued its operations until 1 May, when it was disbanded. On 13 April 1942, the 88th B.T. was reconstituted at Presso Airfield, comprising the 264th and 265th Squadrons, equipped with BR20 aircraft. On 1 May 1942, the Group moved to Mellis and from there to Villacidro, operating against enemy targets in North Africa. In June 1943, part of the Group moved to Perugia and one squadron was split between Alghero and Decimomannu, before reuniting, following the armistice of 8 September 1943, at Decimomannu and shortly afterwards at Lecce, where, on 20 December 1943, it was placed on reserve status. Reactivated on 18 January 1944, it became a transport group and was equipped with CantZ1007bis/ter aircraft. Transferred to Guidonia in 1952, the Group continued to operate SM82 aircraft and, on 1 June 1952, was once again placed on standby. On 1 March 1960, it was reactivated in the anti-submarine role at Fontanarossa with S-2F Tracker aircraft. In 1965, it joined the ranks of the 41st Wing and, in 1971, was transferred to Sigonella. From January 1972, the Group began training in France on the new Breguet BR-1150 Atlantic aircraft, on which it still operates today with the three squadrons of which it is composed: the 161st, the 166th and the 167th.
The 41st Wing is equipped with Breguet 1150 Atlantic aircraft, with which it carries out its primary mission consisting of countering underwater and naval threats and providing long-range maritime search and rescue services. In addition to these activities, it also monitors merchant shipping in the Mediterranean as part of “post-9/11” operations against international terrorism. The Atlantics are, in fact, capable of conducting systematic searches autonomously throughout the Mediterranean area.
The 41st Wing is also responsible for air traffic control within Catania's Control Zone, which, in addition to Sigonella military airport, includes Catania Fontanarossa civilian airport, which during the summer season exceeds 200 movements per day.
