USNH Sigonella
Troina
National Night Out
Converts to U.S. Treasury's Centralized Receivable Service!
Sigonella helps commemorate the Battle of Troina!
Sigonella rallies!
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
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August 7, 2015
Vol. 32 No. 31
Due to the Italian holiday period in August, The Signature will be on a two-week break beginning August 14. Don't miss our next issue available on August 28. Stay up-to-date by visiting us on the NAS Sigonella Facebook page.
Sigonella personnel help commemorate 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Troina By MC2 ramon go NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Soldiers march with Italian uniformed members in the streets of Troina, Siciliy on Aug. 2 to commemorate the 72nd Anniversary of the Battle of Troina. The battle took place July 31, 1943, a strategic Axis stronghold that stood between the Allies and the city of Messina.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
TROINA, Sicily - For the first time in NAS Sigonella history, Sailors, Marines, Air Force and Army personnel commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Troina, Aug. 2. The Battle of Troina took place July 31, 1943, a week-long struggle between Axis and Allies for control of the town standing between the two armies and the ultimate goal – the city of Messina and passage to mainland Italy. During the fight townspeople fled or bunkered down in their basements and churches away from the battlefield. After six days of deadlocked fighting and both forces at a stalemate, the Allied forces called for an air strike on Aug. 4. Two days later the Germans fled into the night, liberating the people of Troina. “Troina became one of the few towns that became a republic because they valued the American system that liberated them from Nazism,” said Fabio Venezia, mayor of Troina. “We lost many forces during the battle and it’s very important for us to remember the past so that we can learn from them and use it to benefit for the future.” The battle is still remembered. Placido Stampiano wasn’t yet born, but his father, an Italian soldier, fought and ended up a German prisoner and told stories during the time of the battle. “The whole town was greatly affected by the battle,” said Stampiano, a member of the Associazone Nazionale Combattenti e Reduci (a local
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Executive Transport has bird in hand once again
After 18 months without its Catbird, command ‘very happy’ to be flying missions By LT Paul Newell NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – The sight of three twin wheels hitting a runway is something Cmdr. Nicholas Brandt has seen countless times; but watching the landing gear do its thing while the command’s new C-20G Gulfstream IV touched down for the first time last month was far from an ordinary landing for Brandt and his team of 20. It meant for the first time in 18 months Executive Transport Detachment (ETD) Sigonella would again have an aircraft in its hangar with sorties on its horizon. Flying missions is the way it was supposed to be when in 2013 Brandt took command of the aircraft purposed to fly Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa to meeting destinations around Europe, Africa, and other locales within range. However, near the end of 2013 their lone Gulfstream C-20A jet went down with mechanical issues and was sent back to the States never to return. Instead of getting the needed repairs the higher ups decided the detachment would get an updated Gulfstream – the C-20G. The problem was with no loaner jet available for ETD Sigonella to borrow from other Gulfstream inventories, their mission would be shelved a while. Aside from the frustration stemming from the inability to do the job they came to Sicily for, Brandt and his team had other obstacles to overcome. This included dealing with the perception by some who figured ETD having no aircraft meant the team
NAS Sigonella's new C-20G Gulfstream IV lands on the NAS Sigonella airfield, Aug. 4. After 18 months without a jet to fly their missions, Executive Transport Detachment (ETD) Sigonella recently received a new aircraft to fly Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa to meeting destinations around Europe, Africa, and other locales within range. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tony D. Curtis/Released)
would naturally be using their glut of “down time” to kick back, cut out of work early, and take extended absences to hone their Eurotraveler blogging skills, when in reality, having no aircraft made life even more complicated for ETD Sailors and contractors supporting them.
“Because pilots and aircrew have to maintain qualifications and proficiencies, and there was no aircraft here in which to maintain them, we spent countless days flying back to the States and training
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