New York Air National Guard Conducts Funeral Flyover in New Paltz

174th Fighter Wing Honored Air Force Col. Adrian Pone

NEW PALTZ, NY (02/01/2010)(readMedia)-- Four F-16C Fighting Falcon fighters assigned to the New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing will conduct a flyover above St. Joseph's Church in New Paltz at about 11:15 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 1 as part of a military funeral.

The flyover was part of a formal military funeral commemorating the life of Col. Adrian Pone, an Air Force officer who died in a car accident in Italy on Jan. 20. At the time of his death Pone was assigned to NATO Combined Air Operations Center Five in Poggio Renatico, Italy. Prior to that assignment he commanded the 510th Fighter Squadron in Aviano, Italy where he flew the F-16C.

Serving Air Force aviation rated officers are entitled to the flyover honor, as are retired Air Force generals, recipients of certain medals for valor and former Prisoners of War.

The four plane flyover took place at about 1,000 feet.

Because of an oversight in the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Press Office a release announcing the overflight was not issued ahead of time. The Division of Military and Naval Affairs regrets this error and apologizes if the unannounced flight caused any concern.