Presso il 16° Stormo di Martina Franca (TA) si è tenuta un’attività esercitativa di Personnel Recovery a favore del personale navigante frequentatore del corso Lead In to Fighter Training (LIFT) E’ terminata, dopo cinque giorni di complesse attività addestrative condotte dal Gruppo Addestramento Survive To Operate/Force Protection (S.T.O./F.P.) del 16° Stormo dell’Aeronautica Militare, l’esercitazione “War Path 01-2019”. In questo periodo il personale pilota frequentatore del corso LIFT, in svolgimento presso il 61° Stormo di Galatina (LE), si è addestrato ad operare in ambiente non permissivo. The 16th Wing is the Air Riflemen’s Unit. Since 2004, it has been based at Martina Franca. The 16th Wing descends from the 6th Aeroplanes Group, which distinguished itself in the Battle of Istrana in 1917. Today, it is a combat unit of the Air Squad Command, under the Support and Special Forces Command, with Force Protection tasks. Since 2004, it has operated in 37 different international missions, in 18 operational theatres worldwide, accumulating over 36,000 flight hours, of which 25,000 were for the security of Air Force aircraft and those on board. From August 2005 to December 2014, the Air Riflemen were present in Afghanistan to ensure the protection of Herat Base. On 5 April 2015, the War Flag of the 16th Wing “Force Protection” was decorated with a Silver Medal of Aeronautical Valour by the President of the Republic.
