AEROMEDIA
The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

OPERATION ALLIED FORCE
Aviano Air Base History

Aviano Air Base is adjacent to the town of Aviano at the foot of the Italian pre-Alps, 50 miles north of Venice . There are approximately 3,100 military and more than 800 civilian personnel permanently assigned to the base, which is the only U.S. Air Force air base in Italy.
Aviano Air Base's history pre-dates the U.S. Air Force, going back to the early days of Italian military aviation. Aviano AB shares the distinction of being the "cradle of the Italian Air Force" with two other airfields in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.
Aviano AB began as an Italian military flying school in 1911. During World War I, Italians used the field in missions against Austro-German armies. It was officially named Aeroporto Pagliano e Gori in honor of two Italian aviators (Capt. Maurizio Pagliano and Lt. Luigi Gori) who made an unauthorized, but heroic and successful, raid in the war. The two were killed during another mission in May 1917. Between the world wars, Aviano was a training, as well as an operational base that housed both fighter and bomber squadrons.
During World War II the base was used by the Italian Air Force and German Luftwaffe. It was severely damaged by Allied bombings during the later stages of the war, and several years were required to return it back to an operational status.
After World War II, the Italian Air Force resumed command at Aviano. In 1955, the U.S. Air Force moved there with Detachment 1, 17th Air Force. In December of that year, the first rotational squadron flew F-84 Thunderstreaks into Aviano to make the base operational . The 13-year rotational program came to an end with F-100s.
The housekeeping unit at Aviano was originally known as Detachment 1 of the 629th Air Control and Warning Squadron, later redesigned 7227th Combat Support Group then 40th Bombardment Group, 40th Tactical Group and, finally, 40th Tactical Support Wing.
In 1992, the wing was renamed the 401st Fighter Wing when that unit moved to Aviano from Torrejon AB, Spain. In April 1994, the 401st FW was redesignated the 31st FW under the U.S. Air Force's unit heritage program which preserves the rich lineage and illustrious accomplishments of historic units. (update July 1997)

In the pictures: 28 July 1968, "Aviano NAT0 Day": a Convair F-102A "Delta Dagger" (56-1061) and a Convair C-131A "Samaritan" (52-5788) in the static display area.

(Aeromedia, maggio 1999)

Aviano Air Base
-
Operation Allied Force