From print to pixels

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy-- Since 1961, three different official military publications have hit the streets of Aviano Air Base, the Dolomite Gazette from June 9, 1961 to March, 23, 1962, the Cavallo Courier from April 6, 1962 to Oct. 22, 1965, and the Vigileer from Nov. 12, 1965 to Dec. 21, 2007. The Dec. 21 issue of the Vigileer is the last official printing of the military base newspaper at Aviano Air Base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth)

1965 - 2007

Since Nov. 12, 1965, the Vigileer has been the primary printed information tool for the wing commanders at Aviano Air Base. This cover shot of the Vigileer represents a snapshot in time at Aviano and the way the newspaper flag and cover was being designed at the time. The Dec. 21 issue of the Vigileer is the last official printing of the military base newspaper at Aviano Air Base.(Scanned base news paper covers)

1965 - 2007

Good-bye Vigileer! Hello Compass!

Published Dec. 21, 2007
By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy-- -- Since 1961, three different official military publications have hit the streets of Aviano Air Base--the Dolomite Gazette from June 9, 1961 to March, 23, 1962, the Cavallo Courier from April 6, 1962 to Oct. 22, 1965, and the Vigileer from Nov. 12, 1965 to the present.
Regardless of the name of the publication, public affairs journalists have been there every step of the way documenting and highlighting the people and mission of Aviano AB.

When officials and personnel from Aviano AB and Italian Carabinieri worked together to procure medicine for Francesco Farcetta, a stricken member of the Udine Carabinieri in 1961, the Dolomite Gazette staff was there.

When Airmen from Aviano AB responded to an emergency call to assist in rescue operations at the flood-stricken village of Longarone on Oct. 10, 1963, the Cavallo Courier staff was there.

When Monica Levi, daughter of Sam Levi, the base exchange manager in 1965, turned 13 years old and celebrated her Bat-Mitzvah in a ceremony on base, the Cavallo Courier staff was there.

When Karen Spero rolled the first sanctioned 300 bowling game at Aviano's Alpine Lanes in 1976, when fighter pilot Capt. Scott O'Grady returned home in June 1995 after being shot down over Bosnia, and when Brig. Gen. Craig Franklin became the 31st FW's tenth commander at Aviano AB in June 2007, the Vigileer staff was there.

"The wing public affairs office here has done an outstanding job through the years of managing the base newspaper and in keeping the base populace informed," General Franklin said, "And they will continue to do so in the future with a new printed product called the Compass."

On Jan. 18, 2008, the Compass will become the 31st FW commander's new primary print information tool in keeping the base populace informed on local events and it is scheduled to be printed on the first and third Friday of every month.

The Compass will have briefs regarding upcoming events and notices, an 'Italian 101' section geared toward educating people about the culture, history, and people of Italy's 20 provinces. The new product will also incorporate information previously printed in the weekly 31st Services Squadron 'Services Rocks' and the monthly 'Airpocket,' previously inserted into the Vigileer, both of which are being discontinued.