Change of command at the 3rd Squadron: Colonel Luongo hands over the baton to Colonel Tamburro
On Tuesday 6 September, after two intense years of command, marked not only by the actions taken to combat the spread of Covid-19 but also and above all by operational commitments to support the maintenance of international security, Colonel Giovanni Luongo left the command of 3rd Wing to Colonel Paolo Tamburro.
The ceremony took place in the “operational area’ of the airport, was presided over by the Chief of the Support Services of the Logistics Command, Brigadier General Pietro Spagnoli, in the presence of civil, military and religious authorities from the Scaligera province, together with the War Flag of the 3rd Squadron, decorated with two Silver Medals for Military Valor. As is tradition, representatives of Combatant and Armed Associations, the Gonfaloniers of the Province of Verona, the City of Villafranca and the Municipality of Sommacampagna, as well as the War Flag of the City of Verona, decorated with a Gold Medal for Military Valor, also intervened.
Great emotion in the intervention of Colonel Luongo which addressed words of gratitude to the women and men of the 3rd Squadron, “Everything that has been done in this intense two-year period is still conditioned by the Covid-19 pandemic – from the Drive Through Tamponi vaccination center to the vaccination point, from the advanced medical facility in Legnago to the vaccination center – is above all your merit, splendid and passionate team of the 3rd Stormo. I will never be able to thank you enough for what you have accomplished during this period that saw us continue to be protagonists of projection logistics, tools to extend the operational arm of the Italian Air Force from Kuwait to Romania, from Poland to Mali, and in all the countless national and international contexts where “the usual four cats”, as we like to call ourselves, have accomplished what was necessary and have always kept their promises.“.
The crucial moment of the ceremony was the passing of the War Flag from the hands of Colonel Luongo to those of General Spagnoli, who in turn handed it over to Colonel Tamburro, so that he would guard it during his period of command, thus honoring an ancient ritual of military tradition.
Sincere words of gratitude were then addressed by Colonel Tamburro in his speech to the Superior Authorities for being appointed as the new Commander: “today asIt is my honor to preserve and transmit the glorious history of the 3rd Squadron; in this regard, I would like to remind you that there is not much time left until March 28, 2023, the day when the Centenary of the Foundation of the Italian Air Force will be celebrated; a moment when, starting from our history and our values, we must fly towards the future. I welcome a team where harmony and a desire to do well reign. A team ready to take the field with grit and determination.
Respecting the usual ritual of the ceremony, in taking the floor, the Head of the Support Service, General Spagnoli, he expressed great satisfaction with the work done during the period of command by Colonel Luongo, “By opening our gates to the community and putting our expertise at the service of the common good through the establishment of an efficient and highly appreciated vaccine hub, an indicator that illustrates the magnitude of the work carried out is that whenever the Air Force has been deployed in operations and exercises both at home and abroad, there has always been the involvement of personnel and assets from the 3rd Squadron…” Following this, emphasizing the delicate nature of the role of Commander, General Spagnoli, taking up the words of the philosopher Seneca, continued:“Commanding does not mean dominating but fulfilling a duty And you, Giovanni, exercised the command function without sparing any effort, best utilizing the personnel and operational capabilities of the Department during the delicate period of the pandemic emergency.“Addressing the new Commander, Colonel Tamburro, General Spagnoli assured his support: “I am certain that your undeniable qualities as a man, of which you have already amply demonstrated, are a guarantee that you will be able to face the tasks entrusted to you with the right serenity, efficiency and determination, even in this complex historical moment.“.
Placed under the control of Support Service of the Logistics Command of the Air Force, The 3rd Squadron is the Armed Forces branch that expresses “Logistic capabilities for projection”Through technologies and means that can be used for both military purposes and for civilian needs, useful for the national community, in the event of major events and calamities. It is also responsible for the deployment of all personnel of the Armed Forces who are about to be deployed in operational theaters outside national borders, and for the specialization of personnel in the various sectors of operational logistics. It ensures the functioning of the military Air Terminal at the Verona airport.”.
