Historical donation for the “Red Devils” of the 6th Squadron. The exhibition area is enhanced
Department dedicated to the ace of the First World War, Lieutenant Luigi Olivari
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at the’Military airport of Ghedi, At the headquarters of the 6th Air Wing, in the presence of the Commander of the “Red Devils”, Colonel Giacomo Lacaita, A ceremony was held on the occasion of the handing over of precious relics of rare historical value, belonging to the decorated pilot with military valor Luigi Olivari, aviation ace during the First World War. Lieutenant Olivari, dubbed “ace” because he was the first Italian pilot to achieve five air-to-air victories, was assigned to the 91st Fighter Squadron, the “Ace Squadron” commanded by Major Francesco Baracca.
The memorabilia, from Olivari's birthplace in San Maurizio Canavese, in Turin, were donated by an aviation enthusiast and consist of two items. Wood-plywood aircraft propellersThe first belonged to the single-seater biplane fighter aircraft “SPAD S.VII” with which the pilot was killed in a crash shortly after takeoff at the airfield of Santa Caterina di Pasian di Prato; the second belonged to an “ALBATROS D.I” aircraft used by the German air forces and shot down by Olivari during an aerial battle in the skies of Voissizza, Slovenia.
Commander Lacaita, at the end of the ceremony, expressed his appreciation for the invaluable legacy left to the Air Force: ”The donation of these rare artifacts steeped in aeronautical history to the 6th Squadron, named in memory of Luigi Olivari on June 29, 1921, an ace of the First World War, significantly enriches the exhibition area of the Reparto, benefiting all aviators of yesterday and today, enthusiasts and historians, in a sign of absolute respect and profound devotion to his indelible memory.”.
It 6th Wing “Alfredo Fusco” is tasked with acquiring and maintaining the capability to perform attack, reconnaissance, and support operations for surface forces, electronic reconnaissance, and support for attack forces against enemy and potential enemy targets.
Guarantee the operational conversion and standardization of the flight crews assigned to the Tornado IDS/ECR line for their subsequent insertion into the Operational Directorates.
Command of Combat Forces (CFC), based in Milan, is hierarchically subordinate to the Air Squadrons Command (CSA), based in Palazzo Aeronautica in Rome.
