Halfmoon resident Phillip Napolitano takes "final flight" as Army National Guard Pilot
West Point graduate and veteran of the elite " Night Stalkers" helicopter regiment retiring after 40 years of Army service
Latham, New York (12/18/2024) — A New York Army National Guard pilot from Half Moon who entered the Army as a West Point cadet in 1984, took his "final flight" before retirement on Dec. 16 after a 40-year career.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Phillip Napolitano piloted a C-12 transport on an out and back mission from the Army Aviation Support Facility at Albany International Airport, and returned to be greeted by family, friends, and fellow Soldiers on his last mission.
Along the way, Napolitano served in the vaunted "Night Stalkers", the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and amassed 6,300 hours of flying time in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Following his final flight, he taxied the aircraft between two Albany International Airport fire trucks spraying water about the plane and was greeted with a spray of champagne by fellow aviators.
He will officially retire at the end of March, 2025.
He's had a great career, Napolitano said.
"I have had a fulfilling career and met a lot of great aviators during my time, some of which have become great lifelong friends, "Napolitano said.
He's also had some bad times, he added, losing friends to accidents and in combat.
His wife Dawn, who he married in 1988, has helped him deal with the bad times and enjoyed the good ones throughout his military career, Napolitano said.
"She is a constant in my life," he said.
The Dec.16 flight will be his last time in a cockpit, Napolitano said.
"There's no more work or recreational flying on my horizon. Just commercial flights to see more of the country and world," he explained.
Napolitano entered the United States Military Academy in 1984, and graduated in 1988, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in Army Aviation. Along the way, he earned the Army parachutist badge and the Jungle Warfare Expert patch.
He also earned the Air Assault Badge while becoming an OH-58 scout helicopter pilot in 1989.
Napolitano served in Alaska with the 6th Infantry Division before qualifying as a UH-60 pilot after being promoted to captain.
He served as a maintenance expert in the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and eventually served as the battalion's Headquarters Company Commander. During his four years in the special operations unit, he deployed worldwide on operations, Napolitano said.
Napolitano left active duty in 1997 to move to New York and joined the New York Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment in 1998. He served as the battalion executive officer until 2001, when he transferred to the Army Reserve.
He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and served in various Army Reserve assignments around the country, before returning to the New York Army National Guard in 2013.
He had maxed out his time serving as a commissioned officer. Because he was a pilot, he could revert to warrant officer rank and continue flying and serving.
In 2017, he trained to fly the C-12, the military designation of the six-passenger Beechcraft King Air, and transferred to the C-12 detachment at the Latham flight facility.
While assigned to that unit, he deployed to Djibouti in 2022.
Napolitano's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal., the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Australian Army Parachutist Badge.
Media Attachments
New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Phillip Napolitano, a C-12 pilot, poses with family members following his "final flight" as an Army National Guard pilot on Dec. 16, 2024. Napolitano, a member of Detachment 5 of C Company of the 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment, is retiring after 40 years in the Army and Army National Guard. The final flight tradition recognizes a long serving aviator as he or she leaves the service. On landing the pilot is greeted by friends and family and sprayed with champaign.
New York National Guard
Lt. Col. Jean Kratzer, 518-786-4581Share this Story
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