The Chief of the Air Staff of the RAF has presented certificates of appreciation to Colonel Gabetta and Colonel Balestri, Commanders of the 37th and 36th Wing during the operation in Libya. During the ceremony, attended by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Squad General Giuseppe Bernardis, ACM Sir Stephen Dalton presented a formal certificate of recognition to Colonel Mauro Gabetta, Commander of the 37th Wing during the operation in Libya. Colonel Giovanni Balestri, Commander of the 36th Wing of Gioia Del Colle, was unable to attend the ceremony due to priority institutional commitments; the certificate was collected on his behalf by Lieutenant Colonel Costantino Russo of the General Office of the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force. During Operation “Unified Protector” in the skies over Libya, the Italian Air Force, in addition to directly participating in operations conducted by NATO, ensured technical and logistical support for the aircraft assets of other participating countries deployed on national territory, including those of the Royal Air Force. The personnel and assets of the Armed Force were continuously engaged in providing a series of services and activities, including ground technical assistance, refuelling, air traffic control, meteorological services, firefighting services and healthcare, as well as, obviously, the accommodation of personnel deployed at Italian bases.
