Dec. 28
This week in 1954, the New Hampshire Wing reached acrossorganizational lines to prepare for future missions. Wing CommanderLt. Col. Phillip Labom, Director of Civilian Defense Rear Adm. C. A.Brinkmann, and Air Force Coordinator of the Ground Observer CorpsMaj. Myles King met at the wing’s headquarters to plan training, ensure that organizational cooperation was as easy as possible,and recognize the wing for its rescue efforts after an airliner crash.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91831428/nh-dec-1954/
Dec. 22
The National Capital Wing led CAP in flight hours for 1953 with a totalof 614. To this day, the wing still is one of the nationwide leaders inflight hours. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90702745/
Dec. 14
This week in 2019, Cadet Lt. Col. Ian Gonzalez-Munoz of the PuertoRico Wing earned his wings after he completed his CAP checkridewith Maj. Ivan Garcia. Gonzalez-Munoz was the first Puerto RicoWing cadet to complete the Cadet Wings program and just the 27thcadet to do so nationally. For more information on Cadet Wings, headto https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/…/cadetinvest/cadet-wings.
Dec. 7
In 1966, members of the Massachusetts Wing were winding down theircelebrations for CAP’s 25th birthday when the Williamstown squadronhosted an open house. The program included speeches from a numberof local dignitaries and featured a film about the cadet program.
Read more about the open house in this article in the North Adams Transcript.
Nov. 23
This week in 1952, the Florida Wing joined forces with about 900 Air ForceROTC cadets from the University of Miami to spread the word about CAP.The group paraded through Coral Gables advertising the cadet program. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89414058/
Nov. 16
As Civil Air Patrol approaches its 80th anniversary, “This Week in CAP History”is rewinding 53 years to November 1968, when members of the West VirginiaWing were planning an anniversary celebration of their own. Activitiesincluded public ceremonies and events and concluded with a banquet for thewing’s cadets and senior members. newspapers.com/clip/89030741/
Nov. 9
On Nov. 9, 1942, Flight Officer George Ruhl of the Maryland Wing returnedhome from a tour with the Army Air Corps participating in Civil Air Patrol’sWorld War II efforts. Ruhl was a member of the CAP squadron in Cumberland.When the Department of War reached out to CAP for members to fly coastalpatrols and submarine reconnaissance missions, Ruhl immediately jumpedat the opportunity. He came back home Nov. 9, two months after he beganthe patrols. newspapers.com/clip/88617547/
Nov. 2
On Nov. 3, 1961, the Oklahoma Wing’s Miami squadron presented Certificatesof Proficiency to six cadets. That total was the highest in the wing. www.newspapers.com/clip/88179506/
Oct. 26
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This week in 1951, members of the Texas Wing’s Austin squadronworked with U.S. Air Force rescue members at San Marcos Air ForceBase, demonstrating a constant commitment to emergency servicesand readiness. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87783457/
Oct. 19
This week in 2012, the state of Hawaii was preparing for a tsunamihat promised massive devastation. Instead of taking care of theirpersonal belongings. Members took flight to warn residents ofthe impending disaster. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87378232/
Oct. 12
This week in 1955, Alaska Wing members took to the skies to aid inthe search for a missing aircraft. Eight aircraft from two squadronswere joined by three U.S. Air Force aircraft in what the FairbanksDaily News-Miner described as an “all-out search,” which eventuallylasted 16 days before being called off. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86945299/
Oct. 5
This week in 1962, Cadet 2nd Lt. Gary Creese of the New Jersey Wingreceived the first $4,000 academic scholarship awarded by theApplegarth Foundation. Named after A. Rufus Applegarth, aPennsylvania Wing member, the Applegarth Civil Air PatrolScholarship provided tuition assistance for many years to CAPcadets in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Creese headed awayfrom home to attend the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86524332/the-daily-journal/
Sept. 28
This week in 2012, the Wyoming Wing hosted Teacher OrientationProgram flights for schoolteachers who were also CAP aerospaceeducation members. https://www.newspapers.com/…/86147025/casper-star-tribune/ and https://www.newspapers.com/…/86145856/casper-star-tribune/
Sept. 21
This week in 1944, Pennsylvania Wing cadets attended an encampmentin New Jersey. They traveled to Fort Dix, where they were trained inairbase operations and introduced to military life. https://newspapers.com/clip/85640464/pawg-twich/
Sept. 17
Five days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, even though Americanairspace was mostly closed to traffic, the Idaho Wing transportedblood products around the western U.S. on behalf of the AmericanRed Cross. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85070977/south-idaho-press/
Sept. 10
This week in 2014, the Alabama Wing conducted a search and rescueexercise for U.S. Air Force evaluation. The wing passed with high marks. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84866770/alwg-twich/ and https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84866834/
Aug. 31
The New York Wing is featured this week with a 1961 feature on the cadetprogram. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77498193/
Aug. 24
This week in 1944, the Tennessee Wing’s Jackson Composite Squadronopened for operations, and the Jackson Sun covered it with afull-page feature.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77475029/
Aug. 17
On Aug. 21, 2015, the Connecticut Wing conducted an emergencyservices exercise for evaluation by the Air Force on mission readiness,training, staffing availability and more. The wing passed with flying colors.| https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77498441/
Aug. 9
A group of Ohio Wing cadets traveled to their basic encampment on aC-47 in 1949. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77501829/
July 27
The Mississippi Wing is front and center for the new installment of This Week in CAP History. This 1994 article featured Lt. Col. MarthaBowling of the Jackson Composite Squadron, the only female pilotin her squadron. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77480797/
July 19, 2021
July 23, 2005, Salem (Ore.) Statesman Journal (two links)
Oregon Wing cadets and senior members alike packed up and headed toMonmouth to participate in the wing’s first summer encampment in five years.
July 12, 2021
Members from four Minnesota Wing squadrons attended the Great MinnesotaAir Show, but not just to see the planes. The members were assigned tomarshal arriving and departing planes at the show, including U.S. Air Forceand U.S. Marine Corps aircraft.
July 5, 2021
July 5, 2015, Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader (two links)
The Argus Leader profiled Civil Air Patrol after its response to a tornadothat struck the town of Delmont. Another article featured then-CadetBrandon West, who planned to fly to every airport in South Dakota afterCAP introduced him to flight.
June 28, 2021
The Baxter Bulletin featured a search and rescue exercise conducted by theArkansas Wing.
June 24, 2021
In 2014, Congress approved the Congressional Gold Medal for CAP’s volunteer efforts during World War II. One of the early members, Mary Pat Shely, is the focus of “This Week in CAP History.” Always humble about her wartime service in the Kentucky Wing, Shely was finally awarded a Congressional Gold Medal replica for her work in 2018 at age 94. Shely’s bravery and service aren’t even the most impressive part of her story, though. She taught herself to fly and had a longcareer as a teacher and athlete.
Check out the full story about Shely in the Lexington Herald-Leader.
June 21, 2021
Colorado Wing cadets participated in a survival course with instructorsfrom the U.S. Air Force Academy.
June 15, 20921
In June 1957 three Kansas Wing cadets were selected to attend a national,two-week encampment for female cadets at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
June 7, 2021
June 1, 2012 St. George (Utah) Daily Spectrum (two parts)
Utah Wing members played a crucial role in the search for a downed aircraft,supporting law enforcement, government and military groups.
May 31, 2021
The Michigan Wing’s Livingston Composite Squadron carried out someimpressive activities in mid-1984, such as assisting on the scene of aplane crash on the interstate, working to support the U.S. Army and more.
May 25, 2021
Then-cadet Nicole Pilakowski of the Montana Wing received a college scholarshipdue to her service in CAP.
May 17, 2021
At the height of World War II, CAP was responsible for costal patrols, protectingthe homeland from German U-boats and rescuing survivors of ships attackedby the subs. This mission was especially active in North Carolina and SouthCarolina, as members took to the skies to serve.
May 11, 2021
In 1944, Washington WIng members set out to train 800 local high school studentsas a potential reservoir of future military flyers.
May 4, 2021
The Virginia Wing works to shape the lives of local youth through emergencyservices training.
April 27, 2021
After a series of tornadoes devastated the Southeast in the spring of 2011. membersfrom the Alabama Wing and other wings flew over the devastated areas to assessdamage across the region.
April 20, 2021
Florida Wing members stand ready to help out during emergenciesand natural disasters.
April 13, 2021
The Wisconsin Wing shaped the lives of young people through search andrescue training.
April 7, 2021
Cadet Sakyse Johnson of the New Jersey Wing’s Cumberland squadron isshown after a glider flight.
March 30, 2021
April 1, 1945, Lincoln (Neb.) Star“Busy as a bunch of bees in a bucket of tar” well describes thelocal squadron of the (Nebraska Wing), for no sooner do they closethe books on one assignment than Uncle Sam tosses another intotheir laps.”
March 21, 2021
March 21, 1943, St.Louis Globe-DemocratThe Women’s Advertising Club of St. Louis raised funds to help purchase threeplanes for the Missouri Wing, which used them for training.
March 15, 2021
March 21, 2004, The (Alexandria, La.) Town TalkLouisiana Wing members conducted a search and rescue exercis designedto help volunteers make smart and potentially life-saving decisions inreal-world situations.
March 8
March 8, 1945 The (Davenport, Iowa) Daily Times “Serve your country in an important job. Get valuable training in the fastgrowing aviation field. Mechanics, musicians, typists, doctors, nurses,medical technicians, hotographers and airplane pilots especially needed.”
March 2
March 2, 201, Santa Ynez Valley (Calif.) NewsCadet Ben Baker wanted his fellow students at Dunn School in Santa YnezValley, California, to experience the exciting world of aviation, STEM andaerospace. He decided that CAP was the perfect organization to introducethem to.
Feb. 22
Feb. 20, 2016, Pittsburgh Post Gazette Cadet Lt.. Col Ceara Berry leads fellow Pennsylvania Wing cadets back tobase after a search and rescue mission during the annual Winter WeekendWest, a cold-weather training exercise held in coordination with localemergency personnel.
Feb. 16
Feb. 18, 2011, Arizona RepublicBryan Connelly (left) pins new rank insignia on his son, Michael Connelly,13, a Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302 during the unit’s weeklymeeting at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport.
Feb. 8
Decatur (Ill.) Herald Review“About 70 men including police, civil defense, Civil Air Patrol and firemen,worked throughout Monday night without sleep to evacuate families fromflooded homes.”
Feb. 1
“The squadron of Civil Air Patrol, flying all types of of civilian aircraft,landed recently at the Albany municipal airport. The planes came from allparts of Georgia, and their pilots were guests of Colonel John B. Patrick,commanding officer of Turner Field.”
Jan. 25
Starting today and continuing through 2021, Civil Air Patrol is launching“This Week in CAP History” — in observation of the organization’s 80th anniversary on Dec. 1. Take a look at this first link to CAP’s rich history,
