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 Centenary of the Italian Air Force Scott 1822 (2023) Joint Issue with the Vatican, Sovereign Order of Malta and Italy The Vatican, Sovereign Order of Malta and Italy issued a joint memorial stamp featuring three Savoia-Marchetti (SM.82) planes flying over Rome and the Vatican. The SM.82 is a heavy bomber/transport plane that was first used in 1940 and continued in service until 1960. A fly-over of modern jet aircraft on March 23, 2023 was one of the many religious, military and civic events celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Italian Air Force. This stamp gives appreciation to the Italian Air Force for their defense of Italy and the humanitarian services that they provide. On March 28, 1923 King Vittorio Emanuelle III of the kingdom of Italy established the Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica -RA). Prior to World War II, the first military operation of the RA was in 1935 during the Italy-Ethiopia war. Between 1936 and 1939 the RA was involved in the Spanish Civil War. Italy supported the right-wing Nationalists led by General Franco. On June 10, 1940 Italy entered World War II as an Axis power of Nazi Germany. At the time the RA had a fleet of approximately 3,000 aircraft, but it had been estimated that 40% were below basic standards of readiness. The RA aircraft were deployed to the Russian front and North Africa. The RA suffered significant losses in combating the Allies. With the end of the war, the Kingdom of Italy demobilized, and the people of Italy established a Republic. The Air Force dropped the name Royal. The Republic used the name the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare – IAF). NATO was established in 1949. Italy was one of the founding members, and this brought about an increase in Italy’s fleet of planes. NATO’s new threat was the expansion of Russian Communism in Europe. Also, the Vatican had a high-stake concern about the advance of secular Communism. IAF was involved in conflicts in Somalia, Mozambique, Congo, and the 1990 Balkan War. With the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq the Italian Air Force joined the United States coalition. Pope Francis has had two audiences with the IAF. The first was on December 8, 2019 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the feast of Our Lady of Loreto. Pope Benedict XV declared the Madonna of Loreto as the patron saint of aviation, aviators and air travelers. A Mass attended by 500 military aviators was celebrated by Pope Francis. In his papal audience with the aviators, he brought up that they were peacemakers. He gave recognition to the 13 Italian airmen who were killed in the 1960 Kindu massacre. The massacre was part of a United Nations peace operation during a civil war in the Congo. The second audience was a part of the 100th anniversary of the IAF. He commended the IAF for their work of scientific progress and their service in many contexts other than war. Flight safety and rescue, humanitarian and peace-support missions, the management of serious natural disaster, and assisting less well-equipped countries and poorer populations were acknowledged by the Pope. He stated that they were “men and women marked by great passion, commitment, courage and motivation.” The Sovereign Order of Malta was a part of this joint souvenir issue because of the assistance that the IAF has given to the Order. The Order’s mission is to bear witness to the Christian faith and to assist the poor and the sick. The Order is an independent sovereignty. It has bilateral diplomatic relations with 113 counties. It works in the fields of medical and social care along with other humanitarian aid. It has approximately 13,500 Knights and Dames. This figure does not include volunteers (Companions of the Order of Malta). One does not have to be a Roman Catholic to be a member of the organization. Its revenue is approximately $95 million. Revenue sources are mostly from grants from other governments and Non-Government Organizations (NGO) throughout the world. Most recently the Order has been providing personnel, food and materials to the people of Syria, Ukraine and Gaza. References • Centenary Of The Italian Air Force Vatican City New Issues: February 2023 Vatican Notes Volume 71 Second Quarter 2023, page 4 • Italian Air Force Wikipedia • Vatican Press release of addresses by His Holiness Pope Francis • God says, ‘be holy,’ ‘fly high,’ pope tells air force members, Arlington Catholic Herald • Malteser International Annual Report 2022.Website of the Sovereign Order of Malta Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1822 Date Issued - 23 March 2023 Face Value - €2,40 Joint Issue - Sovereign Order of Malta and Italy |
