A translated article from an Italian publication announcing formation of a special assault regiment in the Italian Air Force during WWII, from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 28, July 1, 1943. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

AN ITALIAN AIR FORCE ASSAULT REGIMENT The formation of a so-called Assault Regiment in the Italian Air Force is announced in an article in the Popolo d'Italia of 2 May 1943. *          *          * The first Assault Regiment of the Italian Air Force, which bears the glorious name of Amedeo D'Aosta has been very recently established, and already one of its units has had its baptism of fire on the Tunisian front. Employed at a particularly critical moment, and for tasks which went beyond the limits of their specific training, the parachutists of the Italian Air Force have worked unstintingly, with great enthusiasm and a very high spirit of sacrifice. This regiment is designed to operate in areas and sectors solely of air interest, and its tasks are essentially concerned with offensive and defensive actions in connection with installations, equipment, and services which are primarily for the air force. It also has organizing tasks, still for the air force, and generally concerned with the immediate reorganization of airfields abandoned by, or captured from, the enemy. The Regiment consists of the regimental headquarters, the "Loreto" Battalion, a parachute battalion, and a depot company. The regimental headquarters in addition to the normal duties and functions of similar units, such as administration, discipline, morale and general training, the employment of the personnel, and the care of material issued to units or of individual equipment, is responsible for directing the special training of the regiment with a view to the particular tasks which each of its units has to carry out; for ensuring the correct and complete application of the guiding principles issued by the higher authorities in order that the special methods of employment of the units may be applied in the best possible manner; for coordinating in the tactical sphere the employment of the several units in order that each may function smoothly, in particular when the operations of the various units have to be coordinated; and finally, for studying in the light of experience any matters which might improve the organization and efficiency of the units under its command, always from the standpoint of the tasks allotted to these units. The "Loreto" Battalion is normally airborne and is responsible for garrisoning and defending airfields already occupied by Italian units or at any rate evacuated by the enemy; for organizing all the technical services of the airfield, making use of, and reconditioning, existing installations wherever possible in order to make the airfield operational; and for organizing all the supply and administrative services which are essential to the life and functioning of an airfield The parachute battalion, normally dropped from the air, restores to use the landing area at occupied enemy airfields; cooperates with units of the other services in the defense of the airfield, and organizes the necessary services with makeshift material pending the arrival of elements for manning and equipping the base. The personnel of the "Loreto" Battalion may be obtained from volunteers or may be drafted to the unit. The standard of physical fitness is that normally required for conscript service with the colors. Only volunteers, on the other hand, may join the parachute battalion.

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