The four fighter jets join the Predators and the KC-767 aerial refuelling aircraft already deployed by the Italian Air Force. The four fighter jets took off this morning from the permanent base at Ghedi, home to the Italian Air Force’s 6th Wing. The Tornado mission complements the operations Italy has already launched using Predator unmanned aerial vehicles and the KC-767 in-flight refuelling aircraft, to strengthen the nation’s ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) capabilities, Surveillance and Intelligence – all of which are essential and highly strategic contributions within the context of the Coalition. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Pasquale Preziosa, speaking on the sidelines of the recent presentation of the Air Force Calendar, reiterated that the Tornados “will only carry out surveillance and reconnaissance tasks, as determined by the political authorities, and emphasised that, within the Coalition fighting ISIS terrorists, it is currently necessary to monitor everything that moves on the ground. On 4 November, during the ceremony held in Rome at the Altare della Patria, the 6th Wing was awarded the honour of Knight of the Military Order of Italy by the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, for its constant commitment in various international crisis theatres. The courage, valour and extraordinary sense of responsibility and sacrifice shown by the crews, underpinned by the professionalism and generous dedication of all the Wing’s personnel, have been effectively and honourably demonstrated by the level of excellence achieved in the operations carried out. The 6th Wing was established at Campoformido (UD) on 15 January 1936. Disbanded in 1943 following the armistice, it was re-established in Treviso on 1 January 1951 with the P-51s of the 155th Group. Later becoming the 6th Air Brigade, the unit moved to Ghedi, incorporating the 154th and subsequently the 156th (1953). From 1957 to 1959, flying F-84F aircraft, it formed the ’Red Devils’ Aerobatic Team, hailed in 1958 by the international press as ’THE FIRST AEROBATIC TEAM IN THE WESTERN WORLD“. In 1963, the year in which cooperation began with the USAF unit permanently stationed at Ghedi, the unit was equipped with the F-104G. On 28 August 1982, the Italian Air Force’s first ”Tornado“ was delivered to Ghedi; Italy used these aircraft to take part in the First Gulf War in 1990. From 1993, the 102nd Group, transferred from the 5th Wing in Rimini, was incorporated into the 6th Wing, which had in the meantime lost the 155th and 156th Groups. Following the Gulf War, the 6th Wing returned to action in the skies over the Balkans between 1995 and 1999. On 3 November 1999, following the closure of the T.T.T.E. (Tornado Trinational Training Establishment) at Cottesmore, it became the Tornado ”training centre“ for Italy. On 1 July 2008, the 156th Flight Group was transferred from the 36th Wing at Gioia del Colle. From November 2008 to December 2009, the Task Group Devil unit was deployed in the Afghan theatre of operations, based at Mazar-e-Sharif, carrying out support tasks for ground forces in accordance with the role assigned by the ISAF command and control structure. From late February to October 2011, the Wing was deployed with a detachment stationed at the 37th Wing in Trapani Birgi, where it initially operated as part of Operation ”Odyssey Dawn“ and subsequently, from 5 April, in Operation ”Unified Protector“ in accordance with UN Resolutions 1970 and 1973, aimed at defending the Libyan people against Colonel Gaddafi’s repression. The Wing’s assets have taken part in the following operations from 1990 to the present day: . Desert Storm; . Sharp Guard; . Deny Flight; . Decisive Endeavour; . Deliberate Guard; . Determined Force; . Deliberate Force; . Allied Force; . ISAF; . Odyssey Dawn; . Unified Protector; . Air Defence Support Mission.
