Interwar years On 31 October 1926, the 8th Anti-aircraft Artillery Center was formed in
Rome, which incorporated the existing 7th Anti-aircraft Group. On 1 January 1927, the center consisted of a command, a trucked group with
75/27 C.K. anti-aircraft guns, a positional group with
76/45 anti-aircraft guns, a photo-electricians unit, and a depot. The photo-electricians unit operated
searchlights. On 1 January 1951, the Infantry Division "Cremona" included the following artillery regiments: •
Infantry Division "Cremona", in
Turin •
7th Field Artillery Regiment, in Turin •
17th Field Artillery Regiment, in
Novara •
52nd Anti-tank Field Artillery Regiment, in
Acqui • 1st Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in
Albenga On 1 July 1951, the 1st Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment was reorganized as 1st Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment and transferred the I Light Anti-aircraft Group to the 7th Field Artillery Regiment and the II Light Anti-aircraft Group to the
17th Field Artillery Regiment. As replacement the regiment received the CIV Group with
90/53 anti-aircraft guns from the Anti-aircraft Artillery School. In 1953, the regiment added a second group with 90/53 anti-aircraft guns and in 1954 a third group with 90/53 anti-aircraft guns. During the same year the regiment also added the V Light Anti-aircraft Group with 40/56 autocannons. On 1 January 1956, the regiment received the VI Light Anti-aircraft Group with 40/56 autocannons from the
1st Mountain Artillery Regiment of the
Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". The next month the V and VI groups were renumbered and as IV and V groups. Also in 1956, the regiment replaced its 90/53 anti-aircraft guns with American
90/50 M1 anti-aircraft guns. At the end of the year the regiment consisted of the following units: •
1st Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, in
Albenga • Command Unit • I Heavy Anti-aircraft Group with
90/50 M1 anti-aircraft guns • II Heavy Anti-aircraft Group with 90/50 M1 anti-aircraft guns • III Heavy Anti-aircraft Group with 90/50 M1 anti-aircraft guns • IV Light Anti-aircraft Group with
40/56 autocannons • V Light Anti-aircraft Group with 40/56 autocannons On 21 May 1960, the V Light Anti-aircraft Group was disbanded. On 1 November 1961, the III Heavy Anti-aircraft Group was disbanded, followed by the IV Light Anti-aircraft Group on 31 August 1963. On 31 May 1964, the regiment and the II Heavy Anti-aircraft Group were disbanded. Afterwards, the regiment's flag was transferred to the
Shrine of the Flags in the
Vittoriano in
Rome for safekeeping. After the regiment had been disbanded, the I Heavy Anti-aircraft Group was renamed I Autonomous Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery Group. One month later, on 30 June 1964, also the I Autonomous Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery Group was disbanded. ==References==