36th Strategic Interdictor Air Brigade "Jupiter"

The volume written by Antonio Mariani, starting from the political and strategic analyses that led to the installation of nuclear ballistic missiles in Italy, tells the story of the 36th Strategic Interdiction Air Brigade “Jupiter”. An important, though little-known, chapter of this long period, which characterised, for better or worse, the history of the world after the Second World War, is told in this volume by Antonio Mariani. The author, as a direct witness, with great detail and particulars from declassified and accessible secret military documents, has written the history of the 36th Strategic Interdiction Air Brigade “Jupiter”, starting from the political and strategic analyses that led to the installation of medium-range (IRBM) nuclear ballistic missiles on Italian territory. To install the missiles, the south-eastern part of the peninsula was chosen for its proximity to the “enemy”. The headquarters, in particular, was established at Gioia del Colle airport (BA), where the 36th Air Brigade was officially formed on 1st May 1960, and on 11th July, American Colonel Erlenbusch entrusted Italian Air Force Colonel Edoardo Medaglia with the management of the operational site. In addition to Gioia del Colle, the ’Jupiter“ missiles were deployed at nine other locations in the Murgia region: Spinazzola, Gravina, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Altamura (two locations), Irsina, Matera, Laterza, Mottola. The missiles used a kerosene-like fuel (RP-1) and Lox as oxidiser and each was equipped with a nuclear warhead of 1.45 to 4 megatons (the bomb on Hiroshima was less than 20 kilotons).
The history of the 36th Air Brigade and its “Jupiters” ends with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962: agreements between Kennedy and Khrushchev stipulated that Soviet missiles bound for Cuba would be returned, and the United States committed to withdrawing both the “Jupiters” of the 36th Air Brigade and those installed in Turkey. As fast and secretively as they had arrived, the missiles of the 36th Air Brigade were dismantled during the spring of 1963: on 10th July 1963, the 36th Air Brigade was placed in “reduced strength” status. With order sheet no. 22 of 1st August 1966, the glorious 36th Wing was reconstituted at Gioia del Colle Air Base.
A volume that cannot be missing from the shelves of all aviation and military history enthusiasts. To reserve the volume: write to editoriastorica@aeronautica.difesa.it or telephone number 06-49864636. Terms and conditions available online: http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it