The Minister of National Defence, Gabriel Oprea, participates in the military ceremony organized in celebration of the Day of the Romanian Aviation and Air Force on Wednesday, July 20. On this occasion, the Colors will be handed over to the Air Force Staff, in front of the Monument of Air Heroes in Bucharest.

Flight formations, of the Romanian Air Force and the Ministry of Administration and Interior, consisting of MiG-21 LanceR, IAR-330, C-27J Spartan, IAR-99 SOIM, Mi-17 and EC-135 will fly over the Aviatorilor Square.

During the military and religious ceremony, wreaths would be laid at the Monument of Air Heroes, in memory of all military and civil heroes.

During the week, in Air Force military units across the country, wreath-laying ceremonies will be organized at the monuments of the heroes, as well arms and equipment exhibitions

Representatives from the defence ministry, local public authorities, retired and reserve military personnel, war veterans were invited to participate in the activities.

* * *
Romanian Air Force were part of the troops deployed in missions abroad in the last twenty years in order to fulfill Romania’s pledges in peacekeeping operations, in support, stabilization and reconstruction operations, conducted in conflict areas and engaged in the international fight against terrorism.

Romanian military airmen ensured the air connections for the troops of the other military services in the theaters of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Western Balkans and conducted missions under NATO or EU aegis, such as Air Police in Baltic states, the operational command of the International Airport Kabul - for the second time under the responsibility of Romania - or the participation in Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Among the missions carried out by the Air Force this year, mention should be made of the evacuations from Lybia. By making an air bridge operational, for the first time since WW2, 317 people were evacuated from Lybia - 231 Romanians and 86 foreign citizens - and others were saved by the humanitarian flights.

MoND Press Office