Tenn. Wing Members Return from N.C. Florence Response Mission

Lt. Col. Morgan Torp-Pedersen
Public Affairs Officer
Tennessee Wing

Twenty members from Civil Air Patrol’s Tennessee Wing have returned after assisting the North Carolina Wing following Hurricane Florence.

Five belonged to the Kingsport Composite Squadron – Lt. Col. Bill Fleming, Cadet 2nd Lts. Josiah DeLeon and Daniel Dotson, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Bradyn Testerman and Cadet Tech. Sgt. Will Baker.

"I'm extremely proud of the way members of Tennessee Wing stepped up to assist our fellow CAP members and the citizens of North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Florence," said Col. Dent Young, wing commander. "Once again, we have demonstrated why Tennessee is known as 'The Volunteer State'."

The team assisted in working at Points of Distribution (PODs) in Wilmington, North Carolina, handing out water, tarps and Meals Ready to Eat.

In addition to providing a POD team, the Tennessee Wing provided two aircrews to test the new WaldoAir camera system, capable of providing a multi-spectral aerial view of the ground.

Young said the camera pods, developed by WaldoAir and on loan from the Franklin, Tennessee, company, have been installed on two of the wing’s CAP Cessna 182s.The camera pods “collected high-resolution imagery of areas identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that were used to evaluate both the capabilities of the camera system and the extent of the damage to selected areas,” he said.

"The assistance that Tennessee Wing and two additional Southeast Region wings have provided North and South Carolina is indicative of the willingness of Civil Air Patrol members to help out our neighbors in their time of need," said Col. Barry Melton, Southeast Region commander.

"I am very proud of the work that continues to be done by all CAP members in the Carolinas. One year ago, CAP members from the Middle East Region 'paid it forward' by assisting us in the prosecution of the Hurricane Maria mission in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. I am glad that Southeast Region members could return the favor this year," Melton said.

CAP, acting as the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, is supporting Air Forces Northern (AFNORTH) during Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations following the landfall of Hurricane Florence on the East Coast. AFNORTH’s primary role is to support U.S. Northern Command’s efforts to provide assistance to FEMA's relief efforts.