23° Gruppo “Veltri” deactivated
Already on 14 February 2023, the 23° Gruppo (Squadron) “Veltri” (Veltro is Italian for Greyhound) Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) of the Aeronautica Militare (ItAF, Italian Air Force) was deactivated and retain the status “posizione quadro”. The ceremony took place inside the hangar of the 83° Gruppo CSAR on Cervia air base in northeast Italy’s Ravenna province.
It was not the first time that the 23° Gruppo was deactivated. In 2010, the Gruppo said goodbye to the F-16 AD Fighting Falcon, which was delivered to the Italian Air Force in accordance with the "Peace Caesar" programme signed with the US.
In their present status, the 23° Gruppo was, within the 15° Stormo (Wing) CSAR, equipped with the AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) HH-101A Caesar helicopter and had a PR (Personnel Recovery) operational role, for the recovery of military and civilians in hostile territory. The HH-101A Caesar is an Italian special operations helicopter, which evolved from the AW101 military transport version. The Caesar is customised to meet the Italian Air Force requirements.
The 23° Gruppo is an old unit and was established in San’ Luca di Treviso on 7 July 1918 with biplanes. It saw action in the Spanish Civil War, the Second World War and, more recently, in the Balkans. With the deactivation of the Gruppo, the 15° Stormo CSAR lose the ‘C’ suffix (Combat) retaining only the Search and Rescue role.
The 15° Stormo SAR has the task of ensuring the Search and Rescue service for the recovery of the crews of damaged military aircraft, through autonomous operations or in competition with other land, aircraft or naval assets. It contributes to rescue operations for the protection of human life and to Anti-Forest Fire operations (AIB) by cooperating with the Civil Protection and other state organisations.
The Wing integrates the National Air Defense device through operations to counter the threat from low and very low performance aircraft (Slow Movers Interception) and to support the security of sensitive areas and objectives during large public events. Next to that, it provides training and qualification of pilots and flight crews for rescue flight units, as well as basic and advanced survival training in maritime and mountain environments.
The 15° Stormo SAR has different Gruppi (Squadrons) strategically located around Italy at various bases, operating alongside other front-line squadrons and are ready to provide services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The current organisation, see the Italian Air Force Air Order of Battle, is as follows and all units are equipped with the HH-139A helicopter:
The 81° Centro Addestramento Equipaggi at Cervia (*) operates the HH-139A as well as the HH-101A, because of their dedicated training task. The 23° Gruppo HH-101As will probably go to the 21° Gruppo “Tiger” at Grazzanise air base, which already operates the HH-101A Caesar and carries out air support activities for special operations and Personnel Recovery both in Italy and in the as part of international missions.
Photo via Aeronautica Militare