The change of command ceremony of the 202nd Flight Group between Major Antonio Schifano, outgoing Commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Carla Angelucci, incoming Commander, took place on Tuesday 4 June 2024, at the Alfredo Barbieri Airport in Guidonia.
The event, chaired by the Commander of the 60th Wing, Colonel Michele Cesario, took place in the presence of military personnel and various civil and military authorities, in a purely aeronautical setting, among aircraft and gliders of the past and present.
The outgoing Commander, Major A. Schifano, in his farewell speech underlined, placing particular emphasis on the training activity carried out by the 202nd Flight Group, how “being an instructor means trying to transmit knowledge, passion and safety”, these values, materialized in the numerous results achieved in the last two years, with the constant “common desire to serve the Air Force as best as possible and to spread its best image everywhere”.
Proudly assuming the role, the first woman in command of the 202nd Flight Group, Lieutenant Colonel Angelucci confirmed that she was “confident that the staff, united, will be able to face and complete” the challenges of the future.
Finally, the Wing Commander, Colonel Michele Cesario, taking the floor for his speech, once again underlined the important results achieved and, continuing, wanted to recognize all the personnel of the 202nd Flight Group for the fundamental role played in the activity to promote aeronautical values and the image of the Air Force.
The handover was sanctioned, as per tradition, by the symbolic change of command in flight, with the exchange of the position of “leader” in the formation of 5 SIAI U-208As.
The 202nd Flight Group was reconstituted on 2 August 2023 within the 60th wing, inheriting the glories of the Gliding Group. The 60th Wing is placed directly under the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Region. Among the Department’s activities is glider flight training for students of the “G. Douhet” and for student pilots of the Air Force Academy and other Armed Forces. Glider qualification, maintenance activity and advanced mountain flying qualification have been an integral part of the training process for student pilots of the Air Force for some years. The Wing is also involved in Air Force propaganda activities through the organization and management of Aeronautical Culture Courses which take place every year in some Italian cities and are aimed at three-year high school students. For some years now, the Department’s activity has intensified in favor of training missions for the interception of low-speed aircraft by the national air defense system and close collaboration in the training activities of the Aerocooperation School. Furthermore, the 60th Wing is responsible for providing logistical and operational support to all the entities located on the grounds of Guidonia airport.
