Home > Base visits > (1973) Istrana (Italy) Base Visit, Best Hit 1973

(1973) Istrana (Italy) Base Visit, Best Hit 1973

On July 17th , 1973 Hans and Frank visited NATO’s Southern Region Fighter Weapons Meet at Istrana AB in northern Italy.
The August/September 1973 -issue of Flash Aviation Magazine reported as follows :
“The sun was shining bright when two of your editors arrived at Istrana Air Base after a drive from the city of Treviso in the north of Italy. The purpose was to visit this year’s AIRSOUTH Fighter Weapons Meet “BEST HIT” for which the Italian AF acted as hosts from 16-28 July .Competing were combat ready pilots from all NATO Southern Region attack squadrons assigned to AIRSOUTH. In addition the Meet was open to one guest team composed of pilots not permanently assigned to the Southern Region. We were welcomed by USAF LT.COL.V.Tocci of AFSouth , who showed us around and gave all possible assistance ”
Participating teams to Best Hit 1973 were:
- Italian AF : 101 sq./ 8 Wing (Fiat G-91Y from Cervia)
- Hellenic AF : 341 FBS / 111 FBW ( Northrop F-5A from Nea Anghialos)
- Turkish AF : 192 FBS/ 9th AB ( Northrop F-5A from Balikesir)
- USAF : 613 TFS / 401 TFW (F-4E Phantom from Torrejon, Spain)
- US Navy : VA-12 / ACW 7 (A-7 Corsair II from USS Independence)
The winning team of the 1973 Best Hit competition was the Turkish Air Force.