After just three days of planning in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 4, 2013 , the Company Micoperi proceeded to recover the wreckage of the fighter of the Regia Aeronautica Reggiane Re.2000 sank off Porto Venere (La Spezia – Italy) April 16, 1943.The aircraft , supported by a special frame was then placed on a barge , made available by the Italian Navy , for subsequent transfer to the base of Air Force logistic center Cadimare , where technicians of the Italian Air Force museum will immediately work the first steps of desalination. Here is the video of the recovery and interviews with the nephew of the pilot Luigi Guerrieri.
The wreck was located for the first time in April of 2012 , by divers of the Italian Navy Mine Countermeasures Unit of La Spezia during a training exercise . The desire of the Ministry of Defence to recover the aircraft , the subsequent restoration and a possible exhibition in a museum , remained for a while a dream due to the high cost of the operation. Recently, however, as the Italian Air Force has manifested the interest in the recovery Dr. Silvio Bartolotti , Chief Executive Officer of the company Micoperi – a world leader in the sector, already engaged in the recovery of the ship Concordia – has offered to provide help for the recovery free of charge.
In the days preceding the dive, several underwater inspections were performed using a special camera wire-guided (so-called ” ROV “) by the Micoperi divers.The wreck was thoroughly inspected , then the aircraft was secured to a flat platform structure , previously built by Micoperi.The platform was then raised from the seabed with a crane (thus avoiding dangerous traction on the fuselage of the wreck ) and positioned at the bed of the pontoon ” Micoperi 30 ” . The different stages of the wreck recovery , constantly monitored and coordinated by the Operational Services of the La Spezia harbor.
The Air Force Museum at Vigna di Valle plans to recover and restore the historic aircraft operating as far as possible , using the same construction techniques and materials used by Reggaiane. Some of the more noticeable restoration projects of the Italian Air Force Museum are the reconnaissance biplane Ro.43 MM.27050 recovered from Centocelle (Rome) in 1972, a scout Ro.37 found in Afghanistan. Both on permanent display at the Museum , the Reggiane RE.2002 is nearing completion.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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