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35th Meeting of the "Circolo del 53" at the Cameri Air Base

On October 4, 2025, the annual Meeting of the "Circolo del 53" was held at the Cameri Air Base. The association consists of military and civil personnel who served at the air base and a number of aggregate members. The association draws inspiration from the heroic accounts of the 53rd Stormo Caccia "Guglielmo Chiarini" with their 21st Gruppo flying F-104G and S Starfighter interceptor fighters. These units were based at the Cameri Air Base, named after Natale and Silvio Palli, from April 1, 1967 to July 28, 1999. The "stormo" was disbanded and replaced by the "Comando Aeroporto di Cameri", a unit within the Italian Air Force Logistic Command structure.

In the early days, the "stormo" was flanked by the 3rd GEV (Gruppo Efficienza Velivoli) which was renamed 1st CMP (Centro Manutenzione Principale) in 1981. On November 1, 1985, 1st CMP was renamed as the 1st RMV (Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli) dedicated to the overhaul of IAF Tornado aircraft and later also Eurofighters.

As usual the event was perfectly managed, and included the general assembly, an interesting conference, a laurel wreath laying ceremony at the memorial stone, a group photo portrait and the lunch at the mess hall on the base. Similar to the previous meetings, a remarkable static display had been set up on the 1st RMV apron. This year a Tornado, a Eurofighter, the pioneering era Gabardini Gabarda, two FIAT lorries used during the First World War and a long line of vintage motorcycles were exhibited.

But the real novelty of the 2025 meeting was the new look of the Tornado on display as gate guard to the 1st RMV premises. For the 35th anniversary of "Desert Storm" it has been just repainted in the sand colour used during the IAF "Operazione Locusta" carried out in 1990-1991 with eight Tornadoes belonging to 6st, 36st and 50st "Stormo" (plus two reserve aircraft) based at Al Dhafra airport (Abu Dhabi). The deployment of this Gulf Force was part of the security system implemented by Resolution 678 of the United Nations' Security Council.

In the picture: Panavia Tornado pre-series PS.14, repainted in the sand colour used during the First Gulf War, on display in front of the Cameri's 1st RMV from 2025. (Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, October 2025)