AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- The 31st Fighter Wing hosted the 25th Anniversary of the 31st FW Celebratory Banquet on Oct. 5, 2019, at Aviano Air Base, Italy.
This event marked 25 years since the 31st FW transitioned to Aviano AB in 1994. Former 31st FW and ITAF base commanders since 1994, local Italian civic leaders, and current 31st FW and ITAF leadership and personnel attended the event to commemorate the years of partnership.
Maj. Gen. Barre Seguin, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) strategic employment deputy chief of staff, was the guest speaker for the evening’s event. Maj. Gen. Seguin was also the former 31st FW commander from 2014 to 2016, and reflected on both past and present successes of the wing.
On Aug. 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed the home of the 31st FW at Homestead AFB, Fla. On April 1, 1994, the 31st FW inactivated at Homestead and subsequently activated at Aviano AB in place of the 401st Fighter Wing.
The wing went on to receive two new squadrons, the 510th and 555th Fighter Squadrons, later joined by the 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons and the 606th Air Control Squadron.
Over the past 25 years, the wing has conducted countless missions and combat operations in areas such as Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq and Libya in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).