32nd Wing (Italy)
| 32nd Wing "Cap. Pil. Armando Boetto" | |
|---|---|
| 32° Stormo "Cap. Pil. Armando Boetto" | |
| 250px
Wing patch
|
|
| Active | 1937-1943, 1967-present |
| Country | _crowned.svg){kind=small} Kingdom of Italy Italy |
| Branch |  Italian Air Force |
| Type | Wing |
| Part of | 46th Air Brigade |
| Airport | Amendola |
| Decorations |  [1] |
The 32nd Wing "Cap. Pil. Armando Boetto" (Italian: 32° Stormo "Cap. Pil. Armando Boetto" ) is a military aviation unit of the Italian Air Force, equipped with both attack aircraft (F-35B) and unmanned aerial vehicles for ISTAR missions (Predator MQ-1C and Reaper).[1]
History
The 32nd Wing was established on 1 December 1936 at the airport of Cagliari Elmas. The following 3 April 1937 the War Flag was solemnly granted to the Wing; the first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Vincenzo Napoli. In 1937 the 32nd Wing was equiopped with the three-engine bomber/transport aircraft Savoia-Marchetti SM.81; in 1939, the Wing adopted the three-engine medium bomber Savoia-Marchetti SM.79. On 3 June 1940 the 32nd Wing was deployed in Decimomannu; the unit saw action and it was awarded with Silver Medal of Military Valor.[1]
Main war actions include attacks on Gibraltar where, on 8 May 1941, died Captain Armando Boetto, commander of the 49th Flight, to which the 32nd Wing is dedicated. Captain Armando Boetto's memory was awarded with a Gold Medal of Military Valor. After this period, the 32nd Wing was renamed as 32nd Torpedo-bomber Wing and in late 1941 received first exemplars of Savoia-Marchetti SM.84.[1]
In May 1942 the 32nd Wing was moved to Gioia del Colle and, then, in Lecce. On 27 January 1943, the 32nd Wing was disestablished.[1]
The 32nd Wing was reestablished on 10 September 1967 in Brindisi, with the role of fighter-bomber and reconnaissance. The 32nd Wing consisted of the 13th Group Fighters-Bombers-Reconnaissace (CBR in Italian acronym). In this configuration, the Wing had the Fiat G.91R jet-fighters; subsequently, they were replaced by Fiat G.91Y aircraft.[1]
On 1 July 1993, the 32nd Wing was moved in Amendola; the Wing included: 13th Group CBR, 201st Group OCU (operational conversion unit), and 204th Group (with Fiat G.91Ts).[1]
On 31 July 1995 the 101st Group OCU was put under the 32nd Wing, while the 201st Group OCU was transformed into a cadre unit. On 5 September 1995, also the 204th Group was transformed into a cadre unit.[1] On 30 September 1995 the Fiat G.91T was radiated and the Wing received AMX and AMX-T aircraft.[1]
The 32nd Wing had taken part to "Deliberate Guard" Operation to maintain the peace in Bosnie since 9 December 1997. In following years, the 32nd Wing provided security to Roma airspace during major events.[1]
On 1 March 2002, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Group was established within the 32nd Wing, with Predator-A UAVs. On 1 February 2005 the Group was renamed as 28th Group "Le Streghe", after the 3rd Wing in Villafranca was disestablished. The 28th Group has participated to all major missions abroad since 2005: Operation Antica Babilonia in Iraq, Unified Protector in Lybia and NATO Joint Enterprise in Kosovo. In 2009 the 32nd Wing provided air security to the 2009 G8 Summit in L'Aquila and to the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. In Afghanistan the 32nd Wing sent two task-group: in 2007 with Predator UAVs (Task Group "Astore") and in 2009 with AMXs (Task Group "Black Cats").[1]
Since 2013, the 32nd Storm provided aerial surveillance within "Mare Nostrum”, “Mare Sicuro”, “EUNAVforMED” and "EUNAVFOR Atalanta” missions. In 2014, Predator UAVs have been sent in Iraq against ISIS ("Inherent Resolve"); in the same year, the 32nd Wing deployed some of its forces in Sigonella.[1]
From December 2013 to 12 May 2016 the 13th Flying Group was converted into a cadre unit. In July 2014 the 101st Flying Group was moved under the 51st Wing in Istrana.[1]
On 12 December 2016, the 32nd Wing received the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.[1]
Organization
The 32nd Wing "Cap. Pil. Armando Boetto" had at its dependencies:[1]
- 13th Flying Group (Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II);
- 28th Group (Predator UAV);
- 61st Flying Group (Predator UAV);[2]
- 632nd Connection Flight (MB-339).
