General Celentano has passed away. Today the last leap into the sky of MAN FOLGORE

Today, 28 April 2025, at 6.30 p.m., Lieutenant General Enrico Celentano took his final leap into the sky.

Born 18 September 1943 in Rione V 'Ponte' in RomeEnrico Celentano belonged to a family with deep ties to the world of the air force: his father had served as Conscripted paratrooper in the 'NEMBO' Division during World War II. Cresciuto tra i racconti e i valori della tradizione aviolancistica, Celentano ha abbracciato fin da giovane l’Ideale del Paracadutismo Militare.

On 9 November 1958 he achieved the Parachute Jump Qualification presso l’aeroporto di Guidonia, vicino Roma, primo passo di un lungo cammino di dedizione assoluta alla Patria. Nel 1964 inizia il suo percorso all’Accademia Militare di Modena (21° Corso), proseguendo alla Scuola di Applicazione d’Arma di Torino. In un’epoca in cui non era possibile accedere direttamente alla Folgore, viene assegnato ai Bersaglieri. Frequenta il Corso Tecnico Applicativo a Caserta e il 17th Parade Course at the Cesano Infantry School in Rome, ranking first and thus earned passage into the Armed Force Operations Departments.

Since then, General Celentano's career has been distinguished by high-profile assignments. He holds key roles, including:

• Commander of the 1st Company of the Military Parachute School in Pisa (1970-1973);
• Comandante della 4ª Compagnia “Falchi” del 2º Battaglione Par. “Tarquinia” (1970-1973);
• Ufficiale addetto alle Operazioni ed all’Addestramento del II Battaglione del 1° Reggimento Paracadutisti in Livorno (1973 – 1974);
• Founder and Commander of the Parachute Explorers Company, an autonomous unit reporting directly to the Brigade Headquarters, in Pisa (1975 - 1977) and Siena (1977 - 1980).

Nel corso degli anni ’80 e ’90, la sua esperienza si amplia ulteriormente. Frequenta i corsi di Stato Maggiore presso la Scuola di Guerra di Civitavecchia, e serve come Ufficiale addetto alle Operazioni e agli Allarmi presso lo Stato Maggiore della Difesa. Nel 1987 assume il Comando del 2° Battaglione Paracadutisti “Tarquinia”and in 1992 he took command of the 186th Parachute Regiment 'Folgoreguiding him through the Operazioni “Vespri Siciliani” a Palermo e “Ibis” in Somaliamissions that saw him engaged for more than nine months in complex operational areas.

In 1997-1999 he held the prestigious post of Comandante della Brigata Paracadutisti “Folgore”.

Parallel to his operational career, General Celentano achieves the Degree in Strategic Science and enriches its technical-military profile with the parachutist certificates from Germany, the United States (both Army and Marines) and Canada.

In 2001, having reached the age limit for the rank he held, he moved to the Auxiliary and then to the Reserve.
Childless, dedicated his entire life to the training and moral and professional growth of the younger generations of military personneltransferring values such as courage, discipline and a sense of belonging to them.

Retired in Orli di Casole d'Elsa, a small village in the Tuscan countryside, lived in the company of his wife Rita and his faithful dog Lasco, in a location chosen not at random: 420 metres above sea level, almost the same altitude as a captive launch.

Like si legge sul sito dell’ANPd’Iat the hands of General Bertolini, Celentano passed away after the flare-up of a serious illnessagainst which he had struggled for years and which had recently forced him into hospital. at the Hospital of Siena.

Oggi, i Paracadutisti d’Italia si pongono sull’attenti salutando il Generale Celentano, emblema eterno dell’Ideale più puro del Paracadutismo Militare Italiano.

His example, his story and his teachings will live on in future generations of Paratroopers, custodians of those values that the General honoured throughout his life.

FOLGORE Commander Celentano!