Air Force: 100th Anniversary Celebrated Today

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"The world has changed profoundly over the past hundred years, but the best qualities of the Air Force have not changed: courage and the ability to put yourselves at the service of a greater adventure, the future of our nation".

Thus Defence Minister Guido Crosetto today on the centenary of the Air Force.

The celebration took place this morning on the Terrazza del Pincio, in Rome, in the presence of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and was attended by the President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa, the President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni, the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies Fabio Rampelli, Constitutional Judge Prof. Giulio Prosperetti, Chief of Defence Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Luca Goretti, civil, military and religious authorities.

"One hundred years lived with freshness, ambition, and the bravery that is typical of those who fly high to challenge the sky," added Minister Crosetto, whose words outlined some of the most recent challenges the Air Force has faced.

From the airlift from Afghanistan to the timely aid brought to Türkiye　andSyria, in an extraordinary operational and humanitarian collective effort, from the defence of Italian and NATO airspace with the relevant and persistent commitment to protect the eastern and northern flanks of the Alliance - which have taken on greater centrality following the Russian aggression against Ukraine - to the continuous presence in all operational theatres to interventions in case of natural disasters, emergencies, and whenever lives must be saved, in Italy and abroad.

"And yet that is not all because over these 100 years you have been able to conquer something beyond professional achievements: the affection of Italians, their respect," said Minister Crosetto, who called the Air Force "a diamond that has many facets," highlighting its "drive towards the future that enables Italy to be present in aerospace, with our skills, our technologies, our astronauts: excellence that is widely recognized internationally."

"I am sure that in 100 years, in a world now difficult to imagine, the Air Force will still be here, committed to defending the skies and guarding infinite space. Italians count on that, I count on that. For this, we thank you." Minister Crosetto concluded.

During the event, the President of the Republic presented the honour of Knight of the Military Order of Italy to the War Flag of the Air Force, exceptionally deployed, for the occasion, with the War and Institute Flags of all the Units of the service.

At the end of the ceremony, the passage of a large formation of Air Force aircraft culminated with the overflight of the Frecce tricolori (Tricolor Arrows).

To celebrate the 100^th anniversary of its establishment, dated 28March 1923, the Air Force set up the "Air Force Experience" aviation village in Piazza del Popolo.