Last June 1st, the 4th Fighter Wing in Grosseto, one of the most ancient Departments of the Armed Force, has reached the prestigious milestone of 95 years since its establishment.
The anniversary was celebrated in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force Corps General Antonio Conserva, with an event held at the Grosseto base. An occasion to bring together, along with their families, former Wing Commanders and personnel who have served in the Department.
A long journey began in Campoformido (UD) in 1931 and continued through generations of pilots, specialists, and personnel who have helped make the 4th Wing a symbol of excellence for the Italian Air Force and to make the historic emblem of the Prancing Horse known throughout the world.
To celebrate this important milestone, the Department has promoted a series of initiatives dedicated to the history and values that have shaped its identity over time, as well as to the deep connection with the territory and the city of Grosseto, which has hosted the Wing since the early sixties.
Among these, the publication of the volume “Lives, Flights and Faces of the 4th Fighter Wing”, an initiative that, through anecdotes and testimonies, recounts the men, missions, and moments that have marked the life of the Department, contributing to making it what it is today. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the Air Force's “A Gift from Heaven” project, a solidarity initiative aimed at supporting three Italian centres of paediatric excellence – the Buzzi Foundation in Milan, the San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Rome, and the Giovanni XXIII Paediatric Hospital in Bari – through the purchase of essential medical equipment and instruments for the paediatric departments of the three facilities.
Within the celebrations, the restoration of an aircraft also takes on particular importance. DH.100 Vampire, a historic jet fighter in service with the 4th Wing from 1949 to 1956, symbolising a crucial phase in the Italian Air Force's technological transition into the jet age.
For the occasion, it was also realised Eurofighter “Special Colour”, a celebratory livery that aims to pay homage to the extraordinary history of the Department and to the figure of Duke Amedeo of Aosta, to whom the 4th Wing is named. A tribute to the values of courage, spirit of service, and sense of belonging that still today animate the personnel operating under the historic emblem of the Prancing Horse.
«Celebrating the 95th anniversary of the 4th Wing means paying homage to the generations of men and women who, with dedication, professionalism and a sense of duty, have written the history of the Prancing Horse and continue every day to ensure the security of Italian skies. This anniversary represents not only a moment of pride for our Unit, but also an opportunity to look to the future with the same spirit of service, the same passion and the same capacity for innovation that have always distinguished the 4th Wing,» declared the Wing Commander., Colonel Davide Dentamaro.
The 95th anniversary celebrations represent not only a moment of remembrance and pride, but also an opportunity to reaffirm the deep bond between the 4th Wing, the Grosseto territory, and the Country, marked by continuity, innovation, and service to the community.
It 4th Fighter Wing The 4th Wing is dependent on the Air Force Command and the 1st Air Region of Milan, via the Combat Forces Command. Its mission is to ensure the air defence of areas of national interest, contributing to airspace control from peacetime. It also carries out air defence operations in assigned areas, as part of participation in international crisis prevention and management operations. Specifically, the Wing is engaged, on rotation with other air defence Wings, in the Quick Reaction Alert Service, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, through the deployment of the Eurofighter aircraft. The 4th Wing also ensures the operational conversion of Air Force pilots destined for the Eurofighter F-2000 frontline.
