He completed the OCC in July 1970 and was transferred to 1 Squadron flying the F 86 Sabre, which was primarily used to prepare young fighter pilots for conversion on the Mirage III aircraft.

2 Squadron, operating the Mirage III B, C, D E, R, D2 and R2 versions specialising in air superiority, ground attack and tactical reconnaissance.

He completed the South African Air Force Pilot Attack Instructors Course at 85 Combat Flying School on 20 January 1978.

During this period, on 27 August, with a rocket attack on Ongiva in Southern Angola, a SAM 7 hit his leader, who fortunately landed safely at Ondangwa.

[8] During his tenure, the war in Angola escalated further, and the squadron deployed numerous times and mainly operated from Air Force Base Rundu in South West Africa, now Namibia.

The Mirage F1s intercepted the MiGs by ingressing at a low level, communicating to the radar operators through an airborne pilot relaying the messages to increase the surprise factor.

With the second interception, the air defence radar at Rundu lost the targets at a critical time before the F1s could make visual contact.

The MiG-23s launched their missiles when the F1s obtained visual contact after the initial cross, and the number two F1 sustained damage after the explosion.

Air Force Base Rundu was not optimally suited for high-performance fighter aircraft, and the pilot could not stop on the runway.

[10] Nearing the end of his tour at 3 Squadron, Gagiano passed the 1,000 flying hour mark on the Mirage F1 CZ during a deployment to Air Force Base Langebaanweg.

[12] The couple arrived in Israel in late December 1989, with Gagiano now newly promoted to colonel, during increasing tension in the Middle East.

When the air war started in Iraq and Israel began being targeted by Scud missiles, the defence office moved temporarily out of Tel Aviv to his residence for increased safety.

Gagiano, throughout his tenure, promoted good relations with air force commanders and specifically those of Southern Africa by the outstanding support of multi-national exercises and the building of personal relationships.