On October 4 and 5, the Interregional Rally of the’Association of the Aeronautical Corps – Aviators of Italy. The members of the association’s sections present in the northern regions of Italy, including Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Friuli Venezia Giulia, gathered in the Lombard capital for the traditional interregional meeting.
The organized events, which are part of the program of celebrations for the centenary of the Air Force, saw the presence of various political, military, religious institutional authorities and representatives of Arms and Combatant Associations.
On Wednesday 4th, the first event scheduled, the meeting between the Mayor of the city of Milan, took place at Palazzo Marino. Dr. Giuseppe Sala, the Air Squad General Francesco Vestito, Commander of the 1st Air Region and the General S.A. (r) Giulio Mainini, National President of the Association of the Air Force – Aviators of Italy.
On this occasion, in addition to the traditional delivery of Crest, General Mainini symbolically handed over the Association’s Medallion with the Gold Awards for Aeronautic Valor to the Mayor of Milan, representing all the heroes and fallen who are the subject of the Associations’ Sections and Nuclei, as a sign of gratitude to the municipal administration for hosting the Interregional Meeting of the Association Arma Aeronautica – Aviatori d’Italia of northern Italy.
At the Victory Hall of the Command of the 1st Air Region, the conference on the book “The Axis Powers of the Second World War”held by Gen. S.A. (a) Giovanni Fantuzzi, President of CESMA (Center for Military Aeronautical Studies) and the Engineer Giovanni Massimello, The author of the book. The volume is to be considered a tribute to those pilots, over a hundred in number, who, during the Second World War, earned the title of “ace” for achieving at least five individual victories.
Thursday, 5th, was marked by the laying of a wreath at the monument dedicated to the fallen of the Italian Air Force in Piazza E. Novelli, the seat of the 1st Air Region; this was followed by the solemn flag-raising ceremony held in Piazza Duomo, attended by the highest territorial authorities, Gonfaloni of the municipality of Milan, the Metropolitan City and the Lombardy region, the medals and badges of the combatant and arms associations, the enlistment of the members of the Aeronautica Militare Association in the sections of northern Italy, and the Fanfare of the 1st R.A.
It Air Force General Francesco Vestito, Commander of the 1st Air Region, wanted to emphasize: “In the year of the Centenary of the Air Force, numerous events have been organized throughout the country to tell the Italians about the history and present of a great, dynamic team that serves the community and has a strong propensity for technological innovation. For the celebrations, we were able to rely on the members of the Arma Aeronautica Association – Aviatori d’Italia, who have supported and carried out numerous projects. Thank you, General Mainini, a heartfelt thanks to you and all the members of the association for the passion you put into preserving those traditions and those values that have characterized our past but that today more than ever guide our daily operations. If these values are alive and current, it is also due to your commendable work in passing them on to younger generations.”.
General Giulio Mainini expressed satisfaction: “Holding the interregional gathering in the city of Milan was a wonderful experience; the numerous events organized are an expression of the vitality of our association, which aims to reaffirm the closeness and affection of all members towards the Armed Forces, while at the same time highlighting the widespread presence on the national territory of numerous structures of the Association that work to safeguard the ideals and values of aviators.”.
The gathering ended in the evening with the concert of the Fanfara della 1a Regione Aerea in the splendid setting of the Testori auditorium at the headquarters of the Lombardy Region.
The’Association of the Aeronautical Corps – Aviators of Italy It was founded in Turin on February 29, 1952, thanks to the spirit of initiative of a group of Aviators, veterans of the skies of the Second World War, to protect and pass on the moral heritage, the tradition of glory and prestige of the entire Air Force, which, in peace and war, always, in good and adverse fortune, has kept high the name of Italy, the name of our Homeland.
Afterwards moving to Rome, its National Headquarters, the Association was established as a Moral Entity with D.P.R. n. 575 of May 13, 1955. Today it has a membership of approximately 30,000 members, divided into Sections and Nuclei, operating throughout Italy and abroad. The Association is an association open to all military and civilian personnel, of all ranks and roles, on leave and in active service, enthusiasts of aeronautical sports and the progress of flight, outside and above any political ideology and in respect of every religious conception.
