The ceremony took place on 2 July in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General S.A. Luca Goretti
On 2nd July, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, home to the 56th Fighter Wing USAF and the Italian Military Aviation Representation (RAMI), a training base for the JSF/F35 Lightning II aircraft, the ceremony for the reactivation of the 156th Flying Group took place, with the simultaneous renaming of the Representation.
In the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, Commander of the Air Squad, Air Force General Alberto Biavati, Commander of the 1st Air Region and Combat Forces Command, Air Force General Luigi Del Bene, and the Deputy Commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, Col. Matthew R. Johnston, the symbolic handover of the “Linci” (Lynx) standard took place between Colonel Gianfranco Liccardo, the last Group Commander when, in September 2016, the 156th was placed in “frame” position, and Major Daniele Cantori, former Head of RAMI Luke and new Commander of the 156th Flying Group.
“I thank the leadership of the Air Force and the US representatives at this event, whose participation attests to the strong partnership between the two Armed Forces.”, said Col. Liccardo in his speech. Then, addressing Major Cantori: “Daniele, I am fully aware of your worth and I am sure you will be an example to everyone. As “Lynx 1”, be ready to employ available resources, observe the context, listen to personnel and, when necessary, act as Commander.”.
“I thank my chain of command for the trust in entrusting me with a role that for me is a dream and an opportunity for personal and professional growth.”, stated Major Cantori. “Re-establishing the 156th Flying Group in this environment presents us with a clear challenge: to honour the patch we wear, build an ever stronger partnership, and train the world's best F-35 pilots.”He then concluded by addressing his staff: “I place my full and unconditional trust in you, confident that you will repay it with constant and consistent dedication.”.
General Goretti, the senior serving officer, formerly of (and Commander of) the 156th Flying Group, concluding his remarks, emphasised: “You and the colleagues who will follow you represent the future backbone of the Air Force, a cutting-edge Armed Force and leader in Europe, regarded with respect by the USAF as well as other NATO Partner countries and the F-35 community. I ask you to always keep expectations high, to continue doing well, and to improve yourselves to fulfil our obligations to Italy and NATO”.
The ceremony concluded with the traditional signing of the Guestbook.
The 156th Flight Group of the RAMI, which has been under the command of the Combat Forces since 12 February 2024, ensures the personnel management for the flight training of pilots transitioning to the F-35 aircraft at Luke AFB, the home of the Pilot Training Center (PTC), and the liaison with Italian National Authorities and the commanders of the US bases where Italian personnel and assets operate. “Le Linci” were established as the 156th Independent Fighter Group.
Ground-based on 20 January 1941, based at Comiso, as part of the 23rd Ground Fighter Unit. Equipped with CR-42 aircraft, they were deployed in the central Mediterranean until 8 April, the date on which they were disbanded.
After the post-war closures, on 1 February 1953 the Group was reconstituted with F-84F aircraft as an All-Weather Conventional Fighter Bomber Group at Ghedi air base. Moving to Gioia del Colle air base on 1 June 1966, it formed, together with the XII Interceptor Group, the 36th Fighter Wing. After operating F-104S aircraft from 1970 to 1984, it continued to carry out its duties of conventional bombing, support for naval operations and, subsequently, support for ground troops and reconnaissance with Tornado IDS aircraft until 2016, initially as part of the 36th Wing and then, following its own history, returning to Ghedi on 1 July 2008.
“Le Linci” were deployed in all the major Theatres of Operations of those years, including operations “Locusta” in the Persian Gulf, “Sharp Guard”, “Deliberate Guard” and “Deliberate Force” in the former Yugoslavia, “Allied Force” in Serbia and Kosovo, “ISAF” in Afghanistan under the command of the JAFT (Joint Air Task Force) of Herat, “Odyssey Dawn” and “Unified Protector” in the skies over Libya, and “Inherent Resolve” in Kuwait. Temporarily placed in cadre status from 14 September 2016, the 156th Squadron was officially reactivated on 2 July 2024 as an Operational Conversion Squadron on F-35A aircraft at the Pilot Training Center at Luke AFB (AZ – USA).
