Heroes in time: the 185th RRAO 'Folgore' celebrates 80 years since Operation Herring and the 25th anniversary of its establishment
The 'Carlo Pisacane' barracks in Livorno was the scene of a twofold and heartfelt celebration: the 80th anniversary of Operation Herring and the 25th anniversary of the re-founding of the 185th Parachute Regiment Goal Acquisition Reconnaissance 'Folgore'known as the RRAO. Two anniversaries that intertwine in a narrative of courage, military excellence and historical memory, elements that define the profound identity of this elite unit of the Italian Army.
The ceremony was attended by numerous military and civil authorities, including the Honourable Paola Chiesa, leader of the Defence Commission of Fratelli d'Italia, Brigadier General Marco Manzone, COMFOSE Commander, Division General Alessandro Grassano of the Defence General Staff, and Division General Maurizio Fronda, Commander of the 'Acqui' Division.
Embellishing the event was the inauguration of the new 'Sala Ricordi', a museum space inside the barracks that houses historical regimental artefacts and an evocative sculpture by artist Stefano Bressani depicting an Objective Acquisitor. During the ceremony, the official commemorative postage stamp issued to celebrate 25 years of the RRAO was also presented, in collaboration with the Italian Postal Service: a recognition that seals the historical and operational value of a department that, since 2018, has been formally included in the Italian Special Forces.
Operation Herring: legacy of an Italian epic
Operation Herring, remembered as the only Allied military airdrop carried out on Italian territory in World War II, represents a central episode in the history of the unit. From 20 to 23 April 1945, 226 Italian paratroopers belonging to Reconnaissance Squadron 'Folgore' - known as 'F Squadron' - and Centuria Nembo were dropped behind German lines south of the Po River.
The mission, commanded by Captain Carlo Francesco Gay, then not even thirty years old, had the strategic objective of disorganising the enemy forces and slowing their retreat to facilitate the final breakthrough of the Gothic Line by the Allies. The Italian soldiers, some of them very young, operated with courage and determination, paying a high tribute in terms of lives but earning the respect of the Allies and a medal for military valour.
Today, the moral and professional legacy of those paratroopers lives on in the values and training of the RRAO operators, who pick up the baton with pride and responsibility.
RRAO: operational present, future of excellence
In his commemorative speech, the Colonel Marco Margutti, commander of the regiment, emphasised that the exploits of F Squadron are not just a memory to be honoured, but a living testimony of the spirit of sacrifice, selflessness and love for the Fatherland. "I wanted to summarise the history of the squadron and all the awards because they are a testimony to how altruism, the spirit of sacrifice, and love for our Homeland were the primary values of the men in uniform of the time and who, with their commitment and their stories, contributed to the construction of our unity, to what is now the Republic," said the Colonel.
A special thought was also addressed to the personnel currently deployed in foreign operational theatres, engaged in increasingly complex missions in an unstable geopolitical framework, and to their families, who silently share their burdens and values.
The celebrations, marked by the guard of honour, the laying of commemorative wreaths and moments of collective reflection, were also an opportunity to strengthen the link between the Armed Forces and citizenship, between memory and action. Today, the men and women of the 185th RRAO embody that continuity between past and present, between the epic deeds of the Italian military during World War II and the modern operational requirements of contemporary special missions.
The anniversary of 25 years since the re-founding of the Regiment is not just a registry date, but the tangible sign of a military project that has been able to evolve, while maintaining its founding values: honour, discipline, technical preparation and historical identity.
The Livorno event thus testified that the 185th RRAO is not just an operational unit, but a symbol of the Italian Army's ability to combine memory and modernity, tradition and innovation. With their gaze turned to the future, but their feet firmly planted in their own history, the Objective Acquisitors continue to represent the excellence of a Nation that, when it knows how to recognise and honour its heroes, also rediscovers its most authentic strength.
Published by Condoralex
Born Alessandro Generotti, C.le Maj. Parachutist on leave. Military Parachutist Patent no. 192806. 186th RGT Par. Folgore/5th BTG. Par. El Alamein/XIII Cp. Par. Condor.
Founder and administrator of the website BRIGATAFOLGORE.NET. Blogger and computer scientist by profession.
