Lecce-Galatina military airfield

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Lecce Galatina military airfield
“Fortunato Cesari”
Lecce-Galatina military airfield (Apulia)
Red pog.svg
Characteristics
ICAO code LIBN
Coordinates

40 ° 14 ′ 21 ″  N , 18 ° 8 ′ 0 ″  E Coordinates: 40 ° 14 ′ 21 ″  N , 18 ° 8 ′ 0 ″  E
Height above MSL 48 m (157  ft )
Transport links
Distance from the city center 15 km south of Lecce
Street SS 101, SP 367
train Lecce, Galatina railway stations
Local transport bus
Basic data
opening 1931
operator Aeronautica Militare
Start-and runway
14/32 2023 m × 60 m asphalt

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The Lecce-Galatina military airfield is located on the Salento peninsula in the Italian region of Apulia , around 15 kilometers south of Lecce and around 10 kilometers north of Galatina . After the provincial capital , it is often referred to only as the “Lecce military airfield”, or even after the somewhat closer Galatina. The name "Lecce-Galatina" corresponds to the geographical conditions and also separates it from the civil airport Lecce-San Cataldo and some other airfields in the area.

use

The airfield is the location of the 61º Stormo , a squadron that trains prospective jet pilots of the Italian Air Force and friendly air forces . The 61st Squadron has two flying squadrons , the 212th and the 213th Gruppo , with Jettrainern the types Aermacchi MB-339 and M-346 are equipped. Added to this is the 214th Gruppo, which is responsible for training sections on the ground and for training flight instructors .

Prospective Italian military pilots usually complete their basic aeronautical training in Latina on Aermacchi SF-260 propeller aircraft . If they are selected there for training as jet pilots, they either go to Sheppard Air Force Base in the USA or to Lecce-Galatina. In Lecce they receive ten-month training on the MB-339A for the 213rd squadron, which is then followed by six-month advanced training on the MB-339CD and M-346 used as lead-in fighter trainers in the 212th squadron . After completing their training in Lecce, the fighter pilots come to Grosseto ( Typhoon ), Ghedi ( Tornado ) or Istrana ( AMX ) for retraining on their operational model .

The jet trainers deployed in Lecce, as light ground attack aircraft, have a second order in the field of close air support . As so-called slow mover interceptors , they serve as part of air surveillance to intercept light civil aircraft that could pose a terrorist threat . For these and other purposes, MB-339 were also stationed at other Italian military airfields.

In Lecce there is next to the 61º Stormo also a maintenance association ( 10º Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli ), which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of all MB-339 and M-346 of the Italian air force, as far as this is not done by the task forces themselves or by the industry is taken over.

history

The Lecce-Galatina military airfield was built in 1931 as a simple makeshift airfield. After expansion work, a bomber squadron ( 37º Stormo ) was stationed here, which fought against the Royal Navy in 1940, among other things, in the sea ​​battle at Punta Stilo . The airfield also served as a starting point for operations in the Balkans during World War II . After the armistice of Cassibile and the split of the Italian armed forces, the Lecce-Galatina airfield became one of the most important bases of the Aeronautica Cobelligerante Italiana , which fought on the side of the Allies , at the end of 1943 . Several allied associations also use the airfield.

Military pilots have been trained in Lecce-Galatina since November 1945. First, the local flight school took over the beginner training with the North American T-6 . In 1962, Aermacchi MB-326 jet trainers were introduced , on which even beginners received their basic training for some time, until they were carried out again on propeller-driven aircraft. In Lecce the first part of the jet training was taken over. The second part (advanced training) took place at the Amendola military airfield, also located in Apulia, on the Fiat G.91 T.

After more than 400,000 flight hours had been completed with the MB-326 by 1982, the flight school gradually received new MB-339 aircraft. In 1986 the training association in Lecce was named 61ª Brigata Aerea or “61. Luftbrigade ”, as the air force command also granted flight schools a squadron status. Squadrons with more than two flying squadrons and additional special units can be raised to brigade level in Italy . Because of its three flying squadrons and its other training facilities, the school in Lecce-Galatina received this brigade status. At the end of 1995, after downsizing, the name was changed to 61º Stormo . In 1997 a squadron of the 61st Squadron received new MB-339CD aircraft, with which Amendola could take over advanced training. In the years to come, the squadron is to be gradually converted to Alenia Aermacchi M-345 and M-346 jet trainers . With these aircraft, the Italian Air Force would like to internationalize pilot training in Lecce based on the model of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training , which is still carried out in Sheppard , Texas to this day .

photos

  • Old coat of arms 61º Stormo (until 2015)

  • MB-339, 61 ° Stormo

  • MB-339CD, 61 ° Stormo

  • Current coat of arms
    (like the former Castiglione del Lago fighter pilot school )

Web links