155 Gruppo Electronic Warfare Tactical Suppression

Callsign : PANTERE NERE

Nato Tiger Association status : former member

The Gruppo (Squadron) was created on 15 January 1941 as the 155° Gruppo Caccia Terrestre (Land Fighter Squadron), under the 52° Stormo Caccia (Fighter Wing), with the 351°, 360° and 378° Squadriglie (Flights) and was equipped with the Fiat G-50Bis “Freccia”.

Shortly after it left the 52° Stormo and became part of the 14° Brigata "REX" in Lybia.

In December 1941 they returned to Italy.

24 March 1942 the Gruppo began receiving the MacchiI MC.202 "Folgore" with which it was redeployed to Sicily in May.  6 months later they deploy to Tunesia for only 1 month.  Upon return 155° participates in the air-defense of Rome.

On 21 April 1943 the Macchi MC.205 "Veltro" began to supplement the 202’s.

6 May 1943 the 378° Squadriglia was sent to Sardinia, followed by the 351° and 360° Squadriglie shortly after.  In July some aircraft from 351° and 360° Squadriglie are sent to Sicily to counter the Allied landing ( Operation Husky).  They will return to Sardinia a few days later.

After the armistice on 3 September 1943, the Gruppo was transferred to Galatina/Sicily.  In October they absorb the 82° Squadriglia Rinforzata (Reinforced Squadron) and the 160° Gruppo Autonomo (Autonomous Squadron)

From 24 December 1943 155° Gruppo, together with 21° Gruppo, participates in the Guerra di Liberazione (War of Liberation) as part of the ‘Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana' (Italian Cobelligerent Air Force), which fought alongside the Allies.

On 5 May 1945 the war ended for the 155° with 127 enemy aircraft shot down, 31 pilots killed or missing, and 8057 combat hours.

May-June 1946 the 155° starts exchanging their war-worn Macchi’s for Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, left behind by the RAF.

Starting from September 1950, the Gruppo was equipped with North American P-51D "Mustang".

New Year’s Day 1951 sees the 155°, consisting of 361° and 378° Squadriglie, becoming part of the newly reconstituted 6° Stormo Caccia.  In June 1951 the Gruppo received its first de Havilland DH-100 "Vampire" jet aircraft.

The 6° Stormo becomes an Aerobrigata (Air Brigade) in 1953, and the 155° Gruppo is organized into 4 Squadriglie: 361°, 364°, 365° and 378°.  A few days later the first Republic F-84G “Thunderjets” arrive.

These will be replaced by the Republic F-84F “Thunderstreak” in April 1956.

April 1967 the 155° Gruppo was incorporated into the reconstituted 50° Stormo Caccia.

From 1973 the 155° is part of the 51° Stormo Caccia.  The first Aeritalia Starfighter F-104S arrives in the Squadron on 2 October 1973.

1 January 1985 saw the squadron, again, as part of the 6° Stormo Caccia.  As a result the Gruppo's name changed from Caccia Bombardiere (CB Fighter-Bomber) to Caccia Bombardiere Ognitempo Convenzionale (CBOC Conventional All-Weather Fighter-Bomber).

 Mis-1990 the Gruppo moves back to the 50° Stormo Caccia.

 in 1993 the first Tornado ECR (electronic combat/reconnaissance) began to arrive.  The Gruppo name changed from CBOB to ETS (Electronic Warfare Tactical Suppression) on 24 February 1995.

On 24 February 1995 the 155° left the C.B.O.C. (Conventional All-Weather Fighter Bomber) role to take on the E.T.S. (Electronic warfare Tactical Suppression) role, which involved the use of the AGM-88E HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile).  In February 1998 the transition to the new role was completed and the 155° specialized in the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence) task.

On 14 September 2016, following the closure of the 50° Stormo Caccia, the 155th ETS Group was transferred, once again, to the 6° Stormo Caccia.

(all aircraft are to scale, not all drawings show an aircraft in 155 markings)

Aircraft

Fiat G-50 Freccia

Macchi MC.202 Folgore

Macchi MC.205 Veltro (Regia Aeronautica markings)

Macchi MC.205 Veltro (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana markings)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX

North American F-51D Mustang

de Havilland DH.100 Vampire

Republic F-84G Thunderjet

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter

Panavia Tornado IDS

Panavia Tornado ECR

6° Aerobrigata

6° Stormo Caccia

50° Stormo Caccia

51° Stormo Caccia

52° Stormo Caccia

155° Gruppo CT

155° Gruppo CB

155° Gruppo CBOC

155° Gruppo ETS

361° Squadriglia

364° Squadriglia

365° Squadriglia

378° Squadriglia

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text & picture sources : own collection & library + the world wide web / No copyright infringement intended : drawings, photos, etc. belong to the rightful owners.