They took place on 5 June 2026, in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Force Corps General Antonio Conserva, the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the presence of the 36th Stormo Caccia at the “Antonio Ramirez” military airport in Gioia del Colle (BA). On this occasion, the War Flag of the Unit was awarded the Silver Medal for Aeronautical Merit.
The decoration was presented during the formal flag-raising ceremony in the presence of the leadership of the Armed Forces, civil and military authorities, representatives of local institutions, combatants' and regimental associations, as well as numerous former personnel of the Wing.
In the citation for the award, the 36th Fighter Wing is recognised for its extraordinary flying skill and its ability to adapt effectively to the most complex operational contexts, making a decisive contribution to the security of national and NATO airspace. Amidst the solemnity of the ceremony, the Commander of the 36th Wing, Colonel Antonino Massara he wanted to pay tribute to the human and professional value of the Unit, stating that “this decoration belongs to every man and woman who has served, serves and will serve under this Flag. It is the symbol of who we are and of who we will continue to be.
“Celebrating sixty years of the 36th Wing's presence at Gioia del Colle – declared the General Store – rwe pay tribute to a history built on service, passion and extraordinary professional expertise. The Silver Medal of Aeronautical Merit awarded today to the Unit's War Flag – he continued – bears witness to the courage of the generations of personnel who have served under this banner, contributing to the security of the country and the Atlantic Alliance. Over these sixty years, the 36th Wing has built a solid and authentic relationship with the Apulian community, consolidating a presence that goes beyond the operational dimension and represents a shared heritage between the Italian Air Force and the local area.”
On the same day of 5 June, the “Antonio Ramirez” military airport opened its doors for a commemorative event which brought together serving personnel, officers, non-commissioned officers, enlisted ranks and civilian personnel who have served, over the course of their careers, under the Wing's colours, as well as numerous institutional guests. As part of the celebrations, the volume “60 anni di racconti”, publishing project dedicated to the historical memory of the 36th Fighter Wing through the accounts of the men and women who wrote its history.
The programme continued with the inauguration of a historical-documentary exhibition made up of memorabilia, equipment, photographs and period materials, as well as the activation of a special commemorative postmark dedicated to the anniversary. Particularly appreciated by the public was also the area dedicated to the historical reenactment of Italian military aviation, with the exhibition of Nieuport Bébé aircraft e the rebuilding of an airfield dating from the early twentieth century with the Caproni workshops, a symbolic link between the origins of military flight and the modern operational capabilities expressed today by the Unit.
At the end of the event, the flypast by the Eurofighter Typhoons of the 36th Fighter Wing ideally sealed the bond between past, present and future, offering the image of an organisation that continues to represent a solid pillar of national air defence.
The 36th Fighter Wing of Gioia del Colle (Bari) reports to the Combat Forces Command (CFC) of Milan, whose assigned mission is to acquire and maintain the operational readiness of all air defence, attack and reconnaissance bodies, ensuring the operational efficiency of weapon systems, equipment and materials, as well as personnel training and the constant updating and optimisation of operational procedures, in compliance with the guidelines of the higher authorities. The CFC reports to the Air Squad Command – 1st Air Region, which exercises powers regarding the training, preparation and operational readiness of its units so that they acquire and maintain the required levels of operational readiness. The 36th Fighter Wing is one of the 5 Italian Air Force wings that ensure national air defence and the NATO Quick Reaction Alert service. The unit recently won the Silver Tiger Trophy at the 2026 NATO Tiger Meet.
