Ciampino Air Base (Rome Ciampino Airport)

Ciampino Air Base, officially designated G. B. Pastine, is located 12 kilometers south-southeast of central Rome, situated outside the Greater Ring Road. Established in 1916, the installation is named for World War I airship pilot Giovan Battista Pastine.

Historical operations at the site include the 1926 departure of the airship Norge for the first trans-polar flight from Europe to America. In 1930, the airfield served as the testing site for the first helicopter prototype. During World War II, Allied forces captured the facility in June 1944, after which it was utilized by the United States Army Air Forces. The 86th Bombardment Group operated A-36 Apache aircraft from the base, and the 64th Troop Carrier Group used the facility for C-47 Skytrain transport operations. The Air Transport Command subsequently used the base as a transshipment hub for the remainder of the conflict.

The facility currently operates as a joint military and civilian airport. It hosts the headquarters of the Italian Air Force 31º Stormo and the 2nd Reparto Genio. The 31º Stormo is responsible for official flights for the Italian Government and the transport of visiting dignitaries to the capital and Vatican City. The base also hosts a fleet of Bombardier 415 aerial firefighting aircraft.

Infrastructure includes a military airport and a civilian passenger terminal equipped with 31 check-in counters and 16 gates. A separate general aviation terminal serves executive flights. The airfield also supports logistics operations for companies such as DHL and serves as a base for commercial low-cost carriers.