It took place on the 30th of July, at the Airport “Luigi Olivari” In Ghedi, the change of command ceremony for 6th Wing of the Italian Air Force between the Colonel Luca Giuseppe Vitaliti, outgoing Commander, and the Colonel Gianmarco Di Loreto, Incoming Commander.
At the event, chaired by Air Division General Marco Lant, The Commander of the Combat Forces stationed in Milan, the highest civil, military, and religious officials of the province of Brescia took part, including the Prefect of the City of Brescia, H.E. Dr. Andrea Polichetti.
They were present in the’Hangar 1, as a testament to the deep bond between the Wing's personnel and the local community, the Standard of the City of Brescia, decorated with the Silver Medal for Military Valour, the Province of Brescia, and the Municipality of Ghedi, together with the Banner of the Blue Ribbon and the banners of the War Veterans and Service Associations.
I “Red Devils” Arrayed in formation, they framed what was the central moment of the ceremony, namely the passing of the War Flag of the 6th Wing, decorated twice with the honour of Knight of the Military Order of Italy, from the hands of Colonel Vitaliti to those of Colonel Di Loreto. A gesture of great symbolic value that represents the continuity of Command and the transfer from one Commander to another of the founding values that drive the Department.
In his farewell speech, the Colonel Vitaliti – after thanking the numerous participants in the ceremony, with due regard for the civil and military authorities present, the Ex-“Diavolo1” - among whom was also present the Commander of Air Squad Command/1a Air Region, Air Force General Silvano Frigerio – foreign delegations, citizens, always warmly close to the Wing, families, and having honoured the War Flag of the 6th Wing and the fallen of the Wing, expressed deep gratitude for the trust and support afforded to him by the hierarchy and the Air Force, by local institutions and the territory, which have enabled the expression of the exceptional potential of the 6th Wing, always “National and international centre of excellence for the defence of the State and within the framework of alliances, an instrument of inestimable value for asserting peace and security in accordance with the norms of international law”.
Continuing, with these words he offered heartfelt thanks to the deployed staff: “I feel at peace for having given my all, without holding back, and, most importantly, what most gratifies a Commander, for having admired the Red Devils giving their all. Otherwise, we could not have lived up to the mission assigned to us: to ensure full operational capability, seamlessly, to support the pivotal moment of the 6th Wing's transition from a Tornado base to a reference international F-35 Main Operating Base, while simultaneously expressing the capabilities of both fleets with an unchanged overall staffing, also acquiring new all-role and air defence capabilities, as the base profoundly transformed its logistic, organisational and command structures, while also demonstrating that we could express all the valuable operational capabilities entrusted to us in real operations, in Italy and abroad. Finally, the outgoing Commander also wanted to point out how “the 6th Wing has represented and continues to represent a solid institutional benchmark and a compass of values for confidently, with national pride and success, facing the complex challenges that lie ahead.". The Department, in fact, is always at the forefront, in the air, to fulfil its fundamental assigned mission, and on the ground, alongside institutions and local authorities, citizens and those in need, always ready to support meritorious and solidarity initiatives, always diligently and with gratitude for the warmth, affection and support that the region gives the “Red Devils” every day.
It Colonel Di Loreto, After offering a deferential salute to the War Flag of the 6th Wing, vowing to honour it with commitment and to safeguard its values and traditions with the utmost loyalty and moral integrity, he turned his deep thoughts to the fallen of the Wing and their loved ones for having gifted the nation their most precious possession. In his speech, he highlighted how his operational life began on the Tornado aircraft just over 20 years ago in Ghedi, where he has today returned with immense honour and satisfaction, leading the men and women of the 6th Wing. He then expressed his gratitude to the former Commanders who preceded him and, addressing the personnel, reminded them: “To us, the men and women of the 6th Wing, and especially to you, young servants of this country, I extend my sincere good luck! Important milestones await us in the near future. These will be months marked by continuous deadlines and complex objectives to achieve. It will be my duty to identify, together with you, the optimal path to reach them, motivating the reasons in order to work with genuine conviction and not out of simple institutional obligation.”Continuing, he then added “We will work under the guidance of the highest principles: passion for the Armed Forces and for this country, but also merit and transparency in decision-making processes. Together we will find the best balance between family and work..In conclusion, he highlighted the need to maintain and ensure standard high operating levels: “It is only by using absolute common sense and capitalising on the invaluable training that sets us apart as military personnel that we will be able to ensure an effective, always ready, credible and absolutely efficient tool.”.
To conclude the interventions was the General Lant, who, after offering a heartfelt thank you to the Prefect of the City of Brescia, local authorities and institutional representatives, addressed a message to the “Diavoli Rossi”You are the meeting point between our rich tradition and technological vanguard. Here, history has merged with the future, and your ability to integrate assets such as the F-35 and the formidable and stainless Tornado makes you a unique hub of operational capability, an indispensable resource for our country's defence. Referring then to the last operational period that concerned the Wing, he added: “Over the last two years, the 6th Wing has demonstrated unparalleled operational readiness and professionalism. I'm thinking of the complex and delicate deployment phase in Kuwait, where the Unit was designated “Lead Wing” of the Air Task Force for Operation “Inherent Resolve,” masterfully managing the handover between the Eurofighter and Tornado lines, presumably the latter's last out-of-area operation. Similarly, noteworthy was the management of multiple deployments to Germany for the “Polygone” and “F2T NATO” exercises, or the participation in “Red Flag” in Alaska, and again “Iniochos” in Greece, “Mare Aperto,” “Typhon Flag,” “Steadfast Noon,” and many others. The vast range of events, exercises, and operations demonstrates the extensive operational footprint and projection capability of the 6th Wing. He then turned to the outgoing Commander. “Luca, your command action has been a beacon for the entire Department, your leadership has been undisputed, firm and brilliant. Your ability to understand the mechanics of the Wing and to delve into complex dynamics indicates a highly adaptive and resilient command style. Finally, welcoming the incoming Commander with trust and high regard, he concluded: “Gianmarco, we've known each other for a long time, and I know and appreciate your dedication, your preparation, and your passion. I'm certain that the valuable and varied wealth of experience you bring with you will be key to successfully facing the new challenges that await you at the helm of the “Red Devils”. You'll find yourself in a familiar environment, but with a new look, and I'm convinced you'll be able to make the most of your skills to lead the Department towards even more ambitious goals.
It 6th Wing “Alfredo Fusco” It has the task of acquiring and maintaining the ability to carry out attack, reconnaissance, and support operations for surface forces, electronic reconnaissance, and support for attack forces against enemy forces and capabilities. It ensures air defence of the area of national interest, contributing to the control, from peacetime, of the relevant airspace. It carries out air defence operations in the assigned areas as part of participation in international operations across the entire spectrum of conflict and/or crisis. It ensures the operational conversion and standardisation activities of flight crews assigned to the Tornado IDS/ECR line. It operates with PA-200 aircraft. “Tornado” e F-35A “Lightning II. Collaborate with civil authorities for public order, in cases of emergency and/or natural disaster. Reports hierarchically to the Combat Forces Command which, in turn, dependent on Air Squadron Command/1a Air Region Staying in Milan.
