A large iron gate blocks any entry of the military "Giannetto Vassura" at Rimini-Miramare and military personnel on guard checks every document before access real in what at the time of the Cold War was one of the most 'Air Force bases important home of the famous 5 th Fighter Wing equipped with modern aircraft for the time that the famous "Starfighter" which if necessary could also be equipped with nuclear weapons. inaeccessibile time airport fenced by a high curtain of barbed wire guarded by armed patrols day and night, its modern history begins in 1984 with the presence of the F-86K and then the more 'modern F-104, strike fighter every time. They are very difficult years, the years of the Cold War and the confrontation of the two great ideological blocs and military strategy, with the resulting tension. Since 1979 at the height of the activity ', the base becomes a force called in technical jargon alert "ready in five" or "ready in five minutes" for take-off action in case of attack from the East.
The fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent disintegration of the blocks opposing NATO and Warsaw Pact, has meant that all the defenses of both arms together suffer a drastic reduction that has led to huge cuts in departments, both bases for air forces for the land and sea.
All this huge change has also affected Italy and, consequently, that this glorious Wing of the Air Force after leaving the now old "hunters of stars" moved to Cervia getting F-16 ADF fighters for then be put in place under the end of 2010 and replaced by the 15 ° Stormo CSAR used to Search and Rescue helicopters and equipped with HH-3F "Pelican"
The large base 'was successively "occupied" by the 7 th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega" which he used perfectly but that the structures which was built during the Cold War remains in memory of that period. Stores, camping, shelters, warehouses impossible to visit on those days where they were strictly prohibited any kind of recovery, now are slowly become visible and reveal the secret world of men who kept watch on the security of the country.
I had the opportunity way down in what was the heart of the base that is the underground bunker that was the center of command and control of all activities' of the Wing also under nuclear attack, and could work for many, many days independently allowing operators to coordinate the activities' of attack / counterattack without being exposed to radiation.
It 'a world of silence and darkness now, the humidity' that grips the throat and the breath of those who crossed the narrow entry hole, a world only muffled the sound of dripping water that occasionally break into knows' something doing at the contresto a great noise.
The subtle and warm glow of the flashlight illuminates this world that still exists after so many years' and as' been left here by those who lived, worked and sometimes did sigh having avoided critical situations where no one will 'never know . Outside, the sun, noise, light, traffic, music, life flowing, below the large mountain of earth and concrete history and 'stops the last day of operations.
The flashlight illuminates the first cave: a series of tables from which all were removed the equipments lined are still aligned behind a panel and 'written all still perfectly activity' last day. You have to walk very carefully because 'the obstacles are many and treacherous ground. Or lights up to see what 'and how and who was' do or down to safety, but because the first solution prevails' in here before anyone was ever even came with their cameras. It seems to be a caver who discovers an important archaeological site but also at the bottom of this and 'modern archeology!
It continues to zigzag across rooms, small stores, opening heavy doors of iron rust which was also well along the reason small corridors, other rooms that could accommodate the staff in times of rest.The musty smell and more 'oppressive humidity and the' unbearable and 'you hear so much water under the shoes.
Then on to an exit 'cause they had two artificial hills for safety down the hall and finally the blue of the sky!
Sorry friends for no nice translation from the Italian!!!I was helped from Google translator!!!
