61° Stormo
Galatina Air Base
Italia
16Th / 17Th February 2017
The 61th Wing Lecce Air Base, is the home of the Flying Training School.the school can trace its roots back to the 371° Autonomous Flight CT (Caccia Terresti)- Ait to Ground Fighters) belonging to 8° Squadron CT. In November 1943 the School was relocated to Levarno Airfield(Lecce) under the 4th Territorial Air Zone command and with the name of Fighter Training School, was equipped with Macchi MC.200 aircraft. On november the 1th 1945, the Fighter School was relocated to Lecce Airport. Between the end of 1945 and the beginning of 1946, the 2th Flying Squadron (CR42) was deployed to Brindisi Airfield and renamed as 212° Flying Squadron and two Flights, 213nd and 214nd, were established therein.
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master
In September 1954 the 212° Squadron moved back to Lecce Airport and was assigned to carry out Pilot Training of 1st and 2nd Period on FIAT G.46 and T-6 Texan aircraft. From October 25th 1960 to February 15th 1965, the 212°Squadron accomplished ” Initial Basic Period Pilot School” and , starting from January 15th 1962, was equipped with the Aermacchi MB326 aircraft which was flown till 1982 when the Squadron was converted on the newer Aermacchi MB339A. Following September the 11th ,2011 the 212 Squadron was designated as an Air Defense Unit in the SMI ( Slow Mover Interceptor) role. SMI was established to counter threats posed by aircraft operating slow and close to the terrain. Starting from October the 2nd 2014, the 212° Squadron has received the new T-346A Fighter Trainer which together with the Ground Segment (GBTS) contributes to the phase IV training for Italian and International partners pilots, assigned to 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft.
GALLERY
