2006 IACE Turkey

In this issue . . .
★ IACE 2006 . . .
★ A Living Memorial “Chuckie” . . . WINTER
★ CAF Cadet Heritage Academy . . . 2006
. . . And Much More!
 Wing Conference
By Capt Laurie Prior

Wings Over Texas is the autho-

rized publication of the Texas
Wing Civil Air Patrol. It is pub-
lished by a private firm in no
way connected with the United
States Air Force or Civil Air Pa- Cadet Paul Rojas at Ataturk’s Mausoleum.
trol Corporation. The opinions
expressed in the articles and ad-
vertisements in this magazine
From Texas to Turkey:
are the sole responsibility of the
contributors and in no way con- International Air Cadet
stitute an endorsement by the
United States Air Force or the Exchange (IACE) 2006
Civil Air Patrol Corporation.
By C/Lt Col Paul Rojas
HEADQUARTERS
Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol “Congratulations, C/Lt Col to Turkey; a country at the cross-
USAF Auxiliary Paul Rojas, you have been selected roads between Europe and the
P. O. Box 154997 for the International Air Cadet Middle East. Its location makes it a
Waco, TX 76715 Exchange (IACE)! This is once in center for trade. While a relatively
Please send articles and digital a lifetime opportunity for you to young nation, its cultural history
photos for publication to: experience the culture of another goes back thousands of years.”
Wot-editor@sbcglobal.net country; while at the same time As I read the email from CAP
highlighting the best of America.” NHQ that had just arrived in my
Please do not insert the
photos into the articles, “You have been selected to go Continued . . .
rather make the articles and Formal Dinner, left to right, Joe Marshall (UK), Emma Lockley (UK),
photos separate attachments. Anna Reddyhoff (UK), Paul Rojas (USA), and Thomas Nichols (USA).

DEADLINES: Continued on page 8 . . .

Feb. 28; June 28; Oct. 28

Col Robert F. “Frank” Eldridge

Commander, Texas Wing
Maj Patricia P. Darby
Editor, Wings Over Texas
For information on
Advertising Rates and Space
Please Call 1-800-635-6036

1
Cadet Paul Rojas at the Ruins of the Ancient City of Ephesus.
From Texas to Turkey: IACE 2006 . . .
Continued
inbox, I realized that my summer
plans had just changed and I had
much preparation in the coming
months. Fast forward four months,
IACE Turkey had arrived! It had
been a long road to get here and
the hard work was paying off. I
left for Washington DC for the
start of my trip. I was welcomed
by the IACE staff and our brief-
ings began. I was joined by about
40 other cadets all who were
heading to different countries for
IACE. We spent two days in DC
for briefings and sightseeing. Then
we departed Monday for Turkey
for the start of our trip.
The flight lasted about ten
hours and finally we arrived in
Istanbul. Customs was a breeze
and after getting our luggage we
met with our Turkish hosts, Ayse,
2
Beste, Sermet, and Sahin. We
were taken to our dorms and
awaited for the arrivals of all the
members of the IACE Turkey
2006 group. Cadets from Canada,
Germany, United Kingdom,
France, Switzerland, and the
Netherlands completed our group.
We were all disappointed that we
were not joined by our Israeli
counterparts due to conflict with
Lebanon. We headed for Ankara
the next morning. The sights
along the way were breathtaking.
Our stay in Ankara was at a Turk-
ish Army Officers Base. Spend-
ing three days there we visited the
4th Main Jet Base, met with vari-
ous officials from the Aerospace
Industry. We went to see
Ataturk’s Mausoleum, who is the
patriot that brought the Turkish
people from the dying Ottoman
Empire to the Country of Turkey,
after the Mausoleum we met with
the Governor of Ankara. We had a
formal dinner that night with more
Aerospace Officials, following the
dinner we spent the evening learn-
ing various Turkish Dances.
We headed to Inonu which
was the flight training center. The
drive took us past more breath-
taking sights. The next day we
had flights on an old plane from
post-World War II era. After
lunch we had glider flights over
the mountains. That night we
spent a memorable evening star-
gazing with the mountains as the
backdrop. Morning soon arrived
and we headed for the 1st Main
Jet Base which was home to the
F-4 Fighter and Recon Squad-
rons. We were welcomed warmly
by the Base Commander and then
after a quick briefing we were
Continued on page 29 . . .
IACE Cadets Visit Texas Wing
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Group III PAO

21-31 July, 2006

By charter, the International IACE cadets tour NASA.
Air Cadets Exchange is composed
of “cooperating national air organi-
zations from any number of coun-
tries.” The IACE makes it possible
for air cadets to travel to other
member nations, where they act as
unofficial youth ambassadors of
good will, learn how other cadet
organizations function, share their
mutual interest in aviation, and
learn about other people, cultures
and traditions. Each group is nor-
mally escorted by an adult member
of IACE’s choosing.
To be eligible for IACE travel,
Canadian cadets are required to
submit an essay detailing their rea-
sons for wanting to do so. On the
basis of these essays, a shorter list
of candidates is developed, and selection process. A cadet may Washington, DC and CAP National
individuals from this intermediate request a country, but individual final decides which wings will get which
selection must then “win” over destinations are not revealed until cadets, and how many of them
their peers as they appear before an all cadets are gathered at the airport (normally up to six). This year, due
interview board. Australian and on the day of their flight abroad. to an emergency, Texas Wing got
Swedish cadets, on the other hand, The same uncertainty sur- eight cadets (by pre-arranged
are selected on the basis of their rounds their final destination agreement): 4 Canadians, 2 Austra-
demonstrated performance and within the host country, which is lians, and 2 Swedes - who were
progress in the cadet program, given to them after arrival. In the accompanied by two adult escorts,
without personal intervention in the U.S., all cadets enter through one Australian, the other Swedish.
The cadets spent three days in
Washington, DC before departing
Let’s do it all over again, please! for their host wings. Once their
visit at the host wing was over, they
returned to Washington where they
spent an additional two days before
flying back to their own country.
IACE cadets Jason Averay and
Troy Pangalos (Australia); Scott
Crook, Ross Faller, Megan Fink,
and Étienne Gosselin (Canada);
and Frida Lööv and Anton Lund
(Sweden) arrived with easy smiles,
an open attitude, and a thirst for
knowledge. Their escorts were
Continued . . .

3
IACE Cadets Visit
Texas . . .
Continued
Jessica Garcia (Australia) and
Henrik Persson (Sweden). A thor-
oughly cordial and gracious group,
they made friends with ease. Lt Col
Dawn King, Texas Wing IACE
Coordinator and a member of
Pegasus Composite Squadron in
Austin, joined them upon arrival;
she would remain with the group
until their departure from Texas,
very early on Monday, July 31st.
Assisting her for the entire stay
within Texas would be two CAP
Liaison Cadets: C/Capt Bradley
Cilino and C/Capt Richard Pope, both
of Pegasus Composite Squadron. Romina Black with the new honorary Texas citizens.
Friday, July 21st was a very
happy day at the Addison Eagles Houston, to Austin, to San Antonio of Frisco, near Dallas, welcomed
Composite Squadron, host unit for and back to Austin, plus extensive the visiting group. On July 23rd,
the Dallas area and part of Group travel within these metropolitan the Six Flags Over Texas amuse-
III. Since fluency in English is a areas, meant that the visitors would ment park in Arlington was a great
prerequisite for selection, all cadet end up traveling almost 2,000 miles hit, and at dinner that evening, the
visitors - almost all high school by car. Young and vigorous, they took group celebrated two impending
seniors - fit right in with the group the schedule in stride, played hard, birthdays: Sweden’s Anton Lund’s
of CAP cadets who greeted and and absorbed it all with aplomb. 17th (July 27), and CAP Cdt Brad
accompanied them. In Dallas, the group went to the Cilino’s 16th (July 29).
Host families opened their American Airlines CR Smith On July 23 the group traveled
homes to the visitors, and bonds of Museum and the Stock Yards in Ft. to Houston, a city that lies within
friendship and affection were Forth. They spent the night at Texas Wing’s Group IV and is rich
quickly formed. Sightseeing during Bishop Airfield (owned by Lt Col in technology and history. On the
these trips is so intense and diverse Tom Bishop, Group II com- evening of their arrival, Maj
that it has been jokingly referred to mander), where they would go for Dennis Cima, Group IV com-
as an extreme sport. Since Texas is glider flights on the following day. mander, and his wife Lt Col Brooks
a large state, going from Dallas to After the glider flights, the Mayor Cima, Texas Wing Director of
IACE at The Alamo. Continued on page 30 . . .
IACE at C.R. Smith Museum in front of DC-39.
CATASTROPHIC DISASTERS!
Is America Ready?

I
n the history of the United States, no catastrophic
storm crippled the American people like hurri-
cane Katrina. In an effort to educate the Texas
Wing Squadrons, a Disaster Relief Operational
Readiness Exercise was conducted on 15-17th Sep-
tember 2006. Make no mistake, the United States
was not prepared for the vast economic, property
and human life devastation that was caused by the
hurricane season during the last two years and many
states are still struggling to recover.
For that reason, it is imperative that the Civil Air
Patrol be kept up to date on all rescue procedures.
Texas Wing played a huge part in assisting with not
only Katrina, but also with Rita that hit Texas and
Wilma that hit Florida. The Texas squadrons need to
be educated and ready for deployment at a moment’s
notice. The Decatur municipal airport was the
incident Command Post under the direction of Lt Col
Tom Bishop for the Disaster Readiness Exercise. The
Decatur National Guard Armory provided accommo-
dations similar to facilities and equipment used when
an actual disaster occurs by providing food and
accommodations as needed. This exercise simulated
a natural or man made disaster.
There were approximately 67 participants,
including 12 aircraft, about a dozen cadets, 2 ground
teams, 10 staff, and 25 pilots representing numerous
squadrons throughout the state. All Texas Squadrons
were invited to participate and many were repre-
sented not only by Senior Officers but also cadets.
Capt O’Conan supervised the cadets in ground team
training, search and recovery, communications, and
medical treatment for injured persons. Some of the
cadets in attendance were:

South Fort Worth Diamond- Also present were 1st Lt Lisa Eldridge, Wing Commander, Lt
back Squadron was represented Gunnell from the TX450 Wichita Col Steven Haney, Major Dave
by Capt Jay Workman; 1st Lt Falls Squadron, E.S. “Tex” Kinney, Lt Col Fisher.
Graylin Conerly, Capt Artemis Collins from the Crusader Com- Commencement of a briefing
O’Conan, PAO Sharron posite Squadron, Grand Prairie, began with Lt Col Bishop
Stockwell. Lt Col Tom Bishop, Col Robert F. Continued . . .

7
Is America Ready . . .
Continued
discussing the hurricane season
and the ability of the Civil Air Pa-
trol to respond (1) in a short pe-
riod of time at a moment’s notice,
(2) with minimal staff, (3) with
minimum training, (4) and be able
to operate in a strange or hazard-
ous environment, (5) with emer-
gency staff, (6) with planes, (7)
and with minimal dollars to get
the job done in a crisis.
Texas needs to plan a disaster
exercise at least once a year. Em-
phasis was made about training
needs related to ELTs, proper
handling of airplanes and tie
down procedures, training about
weather conditions, photography,
scanning, medical treatment, and
ground teams. Ground teams need
to be briefed prior to all flights
and coordinate activities with
other team members to eliminate
ground chatter. Map training was
covered in relation to mission
kits, where to get maps, locating
specific details like where
bridges, roads, etc. are located on
maps, how to read the legend,
find towers on maps, the impor-
tance of not having to wait for
ground teams when planes are
ready, how to communicate with
the ground team and specific lo-
cation “points”. GPS equipment
should be available in all team ve-
hicles. Microsoft sells a program
that would be beneficial to the
CAP and non-profit organizations
can request multiple copies of the
program. There was a discussion
about weather conditions and
safety issues related to both on the
ground and in the air, including
but not limited to, slick roads,
lack of rain, hydration, and slick
runways. All crew members need
to spend time on the ground on
the mission staff.
The Texas Wing, as well as,
all CAP squadrons need to be
mindful of qualified and aircrew
team replacements. As cadets ma-
ture and go on to college, the
Civil Air Patrol need to find ways
to encourage membership growth.
Cadets are essential especially
during disasters. During hurricane
Rita, ground teams were vital in
the door-to-door evacuations.
Sunday worship services
were conducted by Ch. George
Kelly at the National Guard Ar-
mory with emphasis on the topic
of “Always Vigilant” and “God’s
Redcap.” The opening invocation
was given by Major David
Kinney. Music focused on songs
specific to those who serve and
are guardians of day and night.
Lt Col Don Fisher provided
an Aerial Photography Training
Class. Photography performed
during the flight exercises was
shown and evaluated. He dis-
cussed the basics of knowing your
equipment, what to photograph
and what not to photograph, do
not crop photographs, angles,
quality, pixels, and what custom-
ers want. Photographers saw the
impact of Katrina, they saw the
“red” in the gulf of Texas with
hurricane Rita, witnessed three
evacuations, bridge and structure
damage (both long term and short
term) and how the CAP is utilized
through photography. During this
exercise the CAP discovered a
fire in progress and was able to
capture the images through pho-
tography.
To the Wise County Mayor
and the Wise County community
and its citizens, the Civil Air Pa-
trol would like to thank them for
their graciousness, outpouring of
hospitality and encouragement to-
ward all of personnel in the civil-
ian sector and military sector.
Wise County citizens recognize
the service and sacrifice put forth
by those that have served, those
now serving and the cadets yet to
serve in the armed forces and the
auxiliary. The citizens realize
they are the true benefactors.
This was truly an educational
and enlightening experience for
all who attended.
★
9
 Gain Higher Education While
Serving Your Country
By Lt Col Bob Russell, Phoenix Composite Squadron PAO
It is never too early for a cadet to
plan for a career or start thinking
about higher education. Today, there
are incredible opportunities for
young men and women that should
be investigated before approaching
high school graduation and not hav-
ing any plan whatsoever. These
opportunities combine patriotic ser-
vice to one’s country with excellent
educational programs—and you can
get paid while doing both!
Of course, the four primary ser-
vices in the United States—the
Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and
the Marine Corps—all require a col-
lege degree in order to become an
officer. Commissioning can be
obtained through the Reserve Officer
Training Corps (ROTC), one of the
service academies, or specific pro-
grams—such as Officer Training
School (OTS) for the Air Force.
However, for some young CAP
members, the opportunity to get into
an academy is rare and the cost of
college is almost prohibitive. Fur-
thermore, many young men and
women would like to begin serving
their country immediately after high
school, rather than waiting at least
four more years to do so.
There are a number of well-
designed pamphlets produced by the
services that outline all of the ben-
efits and the educational opportuni-
ties available to new recruits. This
article summarizes a few that are of
particular interest for each of the
services.
U.S. ARMY – The Army offers an
opportunity to work in 200 career
fields and the education and training
required to prepare for those careers.
In addition to war fighting skills, the
Army offers fields like Engineering,
Avionics, Electronics, and Health
Care. One of the skills most highly
10
sought after is that of a linguist –
selectees attend the Defense Lan-
guage Institute (DLI) in beautiful
Monterey, California, from 6-16
months for superb training in any
number of foreign languages.
Active duty members are eli-
gible for the Montgomery GI Bill
and Army College Fund—worth up
to $50,000. There can be as much as
$20,000 offered as an enlistment
bonus, which is great for beginning
your college efforts. In some cases,
100% of tuition assistance is offered
for you to take classes at a college of
your choice and, today, with technol-
ogy offering Internet courses, that
might be a way to take some courses.
Furthermore, if you have already
completed some of your college edu-
cation and have a loan to pay off, the
Army can offer up to $65,000
through a Loan Repayment Program:
you first pay off your debt to the
financial institution, then pay the
Army back over time. The Delayed
Entry Program (DLP) allows you to
defer your enlistment for up to one
year as you complete your education
or plan out your Army career path.
U.S. NAVY – For those cadets aspir-
ing to “see the world,” the Navy has
a number of opportunities. Programs
are offered for many diverse fields,
such as Nuclear Propulsion, Subma-
rines, and Cryptologist (linguist)
Interpretations. The Navy College
Program (NCP) pays up to 100% of
your tuition for off-duty courses and
the GI Bill is available, like it is for
the other services. The Navy also has
“Tech Prep,” whereby a junior or
senior in high school can earn 15
hours of college credits before
graduation, then gain another 15 cred-
its after high school at a community
college.
U.S. MARINES – Like the “parent”
service (Navy), there are Marine edu-
cational opportunities that bear ex-
ploring. There are a lot of options for
young recruits under the “Guaran-
teed Enlistment Options” program
offered in areas such as aviation,
electronics, or intelligence. There are
benefits in the “Delayed Enlistment
Program,” such as referrals—get two
friends to actually enlist in the Ma-
rines active duty force or reserves
and it will earn you a promotion! The
Marines offer monetary support for
education through the Marine Corps
Tuition Assistance Program
(MCTAP). Undergraduates can also
apply to the Platoon Leaders Class
(PLC), an accelerated way to earn a
full commission as an officer.
Play trumpet, tuba, drums or
some other instrument? The Marine
Drum and Bugle Corps and Ceremo-
nial Band are two of the finest bands
in the nation. One Marine band, in
fact, plays for the President’s official
(and social) functions. If you are a
CAP cadet aspiring to stay in the mu-
sic field and want to join a top-notch
group of musicians, consider joining
the Marines and playing in one of the
top-notch Marine bands.
U.S. AIR FORCE – Finally, the Air
Force offers lots of interesting oppor-
tunities today. Spend time as a Secu-
rity Cop in the Air Force, then transi-
tion in civilian life to become a po-
lice officer, sheriff, or some other
law enforcement official. Remember
that the GI Bill also applies to those
cadets going into the Air Force—up
to $28,000 worth of expenses and
100% of tuition for college courses.
Those in the Combat Control career
field can receive great enlistment bo-
nuses—currently $3,000 for a four-
year “re-up,” and $12,000 for a six-
year contract. The Air Force Reserve
Continued . . .
Higher Education
Continued . . .
is another way to serve and get a col-
lege education. (Remember that all the
services have reserve components in
addition to active duty career paths.)
MILITARY SERVICE IN GEN-
ERAL – Important to note, in addi-
tion to education opportunities and
associated financial support for get-
ting your degree, there are other ben-
efits available for today’s soldier,
sailor, airman, or Marine. Thirty
days of paid vacation, medical and
dental care, low-cost shopping at
exchanges and commissaries, great
recreational facilities, paid room and
board, an excellent pay scale, low-
cost life insurance, and re-enlistment
bonuses are all nothing to scoff at.
I highly recommend that cadets
interested in the opportunities out-
A Family Tradition
lined in this article drop by a recruit-
ing office (or all four of them), talk
Continues
with recruiters from that particular
service, get some of the many pam-
phlets available to read and study, Bell County
and then seriously contemplate the
right move for you. You can also find
a ton of information on the Internet at
Composite Squadron
the respective sites for each service: Civil Air Patrol Cadet Chief Lieutenant. Cadet Gomez-Simons
USAF Recruiting Site – Master Sergeant Raquel Gomez- is also an accomplished ballerina
www.airforce.com Simmons has completed all the and this has made the CAP physi-
USN Recruiting Site – requirements to receive the Gen- cal fitness tests very easy for her.
www.navy.com eral Billy Mitchell Award and Raquel’s older sister Vanessa
Marines Recruiting Site –
was promoted to the rank of Ca- was the first of the siblings to
www.marines.com
Army Recruiting Site –
det 2d Lieutenant Saturday, Octo- receive the Mitchell Award and is
www.goarmy.com ber 7th. Rachel is the third mem- now a junior at Southwest Texas
Civil Air Patrol cadets who are ber of her unique family to State University. Her older
in the 9th or 10th grade owe it to achieve this award. At one point brother Jerome was next and is
themselves to research all the oppor- both parents and four of five chil- now a sophomore at Southwest.
tunities offered by the military and dren were members of the Bell Both Vanessa and Jerome are in
the many paths that one can take to County Composite Squadron. The Air Force ROTC. Her younger
get a paid higher education while fifth was too young to join, but brother, Johnny, has just joined
pursing an honorable career. Even if was made the unit mascot until he the CAP the day after his twelfth
you don’t make the service a career, turned 12. birthday and is planning to be a
you will find your service time very Raquel has been very active Spaatz award winner.
rewarding. And, you may as well
in the CAP and has attended The promotion ceremony was
take advantage of the educational
opportunities that abound while sup-
numerous Squadron and Texas held Oct 7th in the Temple
porting your nation as a soldier, Wing activities. She has just Armory on Airport Road just
sailor, airman, or Marine. Yes, it will completed her duties as the Cadet beyond the Draughon Miller
be hard work, but very fulfilling and Squadron First Sergeant pending Airport. A reception followed the
a decision you will not regret. ★ her promotion to Cadet 2d ceremony. The public was invited.

11
273rd Composite
Squadron Cadet receives
the Southwest Region
Cadet of the Year Award
By C/TSgt Marcela Leano
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel
Gabriella Leaño was presented
with the Southwest Region Cadet
of the Year for 2006 Award at the
Southwest Region Conference, in
Dallas, Texas. She achieved this
award because of her dedication,
motivation, and hard work in the
Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program.
C/Lt Col Leaño, age 19, has
been an active member of the
273rd Composite Squadron,
based in Nederland, TX, for the
past five years. She is the current
Cadet Commander of her squad-
ron, a position she has held for
two years. Last year, in July of
2005, Leaño was promoted to
Lieutenant Colonel after receiv-
ing the Ira C. Eaker Award, the
second highest award in the Cadet
Programs. She also led her squad-
ron to become “Squadron of
Merit” in 2005. During that same
summer of 2005, C/Lt Col Leaño
earned her solo wings at the
Powered Flight Academy,
and received a Texas Wing
Commander’s Commendation as
well as the “Honor Cadet” award
for her dedicated participation at
the event. Three weeks later, she
graduated as a member of the
“Honor Flight” at the Cadet
Officer School held at Maxwell
AFB in Alabama where she also
received recognition as the
flight’s “Top Writer.” In that
same summer of 2005, Leaño
completed her first solo flight in a
T-233 Glider at the Texas Wing
Glider Academy. A day after
completing this amazing Glider
Academy, she left for Washing-
ton D.C. as a member of the U.S.
Delegation in the International
Air Cadet Exchange, one of Civil
Air Patrol’s premier events.
Selected to represent the United
States in an exchange to the
United Kingdom, she had the
excellent opportunity to meet for-
eign military and civilian digni-
taries while she toured England
and Scotland. While there, she
also learned about the cultures
and traditions of cadets and
nations from around the world.
This past spring of 2006
Cadet Leaño received the “Honor
Cadet” award upon her gradua-
tion from the Cadet Command
Staff College, the final school in
the CTEP progression plan. Then
in June of 2006, Cadet Leaño, as
the 38th Squadron Commander
at the Texas Wing Summer
Encampment held in Paris, TX,
led her flights to success and con-
sistently high ratings through her
perseverance and persistent
efforts. She was commended for
her efforts there by being awarded
the “Line Staff Honor Cadet”
award at the encampment gradua-
tion banquet. A month later, in
July, Cadet Leaño was selected to
staff the Region Cadet Leadership
School, RCLS, in San Antonio,
TX, and as the Alpha Seminar
Leader she led her seminar to
being named “Honor Seminar.”
At the RCLS, C/Lt Col Leaño
was responsible for communi-
cating and leading discussions
about advanced leadership topics
and principles to high-ranking
and experienced Civil Air Patrol
officers from around the South-
west Region.
Most recently C/Lt Col Leaño
was awarded the Texas Wing’s
Female Cadet of the Year Award,
which was presented at the
Annual Texas Wing Conference
in April, 2006. She was also
selected as the Air Force
Association’s Texas Cadet of the
Year. In addition to all of these
achievements, Cadet Leaño
received a prestigious appoint-
ment to the United States Naval
Academy but declined the offer to
accept admission to Rice Univer-
sity in Houston, TX, where she is
currently an undergraduate stu-
dent. Cadet Leaño also has plans
to take the Spaatz test, the highest
award in the Cadet Programs, in
the summer of 2007. C/Lt Col
Gabriella Leaño has consistently
set an outstanding example to her
peers of the qualities that a Civil
Air Patrol cadet should strive to
attain and she has always put
forth her very best effort.
13
 SM Dan Patz
(FWSS) in his WW
II Army Air Corp
uniform presenting
“Chuckie”, a 1944
B17G.

FT. WORTH SQ—When you

visit the Vintage Flying Museum
on the south end of Fort Worth
Meacham International (FTW),
you will meet FWSS, SM Dan
Patz adorned in his WW II Army
Air Corp uniform giving tours of
“Chuckie”, a 1944 B17G. Dan
can tell you all about the long his-
tory of the Fortress from possibly
flying combat during the last few
months of the war to transporting
fruit in Florida and then as a fire
ant sprayer in Florida and Georgia.
In 1979, Dr. William Hospers
of Fort Worth purchased the air-
craft and he and a core group of
volunteers perform a running res-
toration. Over the past years he
and his tireless volunteers
have de-civilianized 44-8543
(“Chuckie”) and are bringing it
closer to a combat configuration.
“Chuckie” wears the colors of the
bomb group for which it may
have actually flown during WW
II: the 486th Bomb Group, Eighth
Air Force, based in Sudbury,
England, Aug. 1944 - Aug. 1945.
SM Dan Patz Relives History
at Vintage Flying Museum
By Capt Laurie Prior
Dan always lets the squadron
know when “Chuckie” is flying.
The Fortress is one of the twelve
in the world that is still flying.
Even though there were 13,000
built, there are about 40 on static
display. Dan was elated when he
caught a ride on the Fortress to
Fort Worth from Denton after
being in an airshow. N3701G
burns on average 200 gallons of
fuel an hour with an additional 8
gallons of oil for the engines!
Dan is a blessing to CAP and
to all the school groups and vet-
eran groups that come out for a
tour of the museum. The children
especially like the 45 he straps on
(plastic of course). But Dan is
quick to tell you that he really
could legally carry one. He whips
out his badge with a smile. Before
he joined CAP Dan was a Ser-
geant in the LA County Sheriff
Dept.; 9 years active duty and 20
years AF Reserve as a Col. with
the Security Police.
Hats off to the men and
women who work to preserve
“Chuckie”, as a living memorial
to the thousands of men and
women who built, serviced, and
flew them.

1944 B17G hangared at the

Vintage Flying Museum at Fort
Worth Meacham International
and still flies today.

15
“Oh, the Smell of Jet Fuel in the Morning”
Lt Col Mike Manuel, PAO, Crusader Composite Squadron

What started out as a one-time
event, motivated by a simple need
to gather for information and an
exchange of ideas on a pilot-to-
pilot basis, has now grown into an
informative and enjoyable quar-
terly affair. Combining a presenta-
tion on useful regulatory informa-
tion, and product demonstrations
the Crusader Composite Squadron
can count on a productive day.
On 13 May the squadron
hosted a quarterly Safety Fly-In
and Pancake Breakfast at the
Grand Prairie Municipal Airport.
The flight line marshalling crew -
a joint effort of the Arlington,
Black Sheep, Crusader, and
McKinney Composite Squadrons
- put their skill to good use in
guiding and organizing the air-
craft on the apron.
After the presentation of the
colors by the Arlington Compos-
ite Squadron Honor Guard, Lt Col
Roy Hill, squadron commander
gave an intro. He was followed by
Steven Buckner, FAA Operations
Safety Inspector, who made an
excellent Wings presentation.
On static display were an
Indus T211 LS Thorpedo Sport (a
plane that is manufactured in
Dallas), several CAP aircraft,
Ercoupe, Taylorcraft, half-scale
Corsair, and the much-envied cream
of the crop: a brace of L-39 Alba-
tross warbirds from Czechoslovakia.
The Albatross, a trainer and
light fighter that made its debut at
the Paris Air Show in 1977, is still
in use as a trainer in many Euro-
pean countries. A subsonic
single-jet bird, this sleek aircraft
is much admired for its maneuver-
ability and the spectacular views it
provides from its tandem cockpits.
The L-39 jets remained on
static display most of the day, and
delighted the attendees with some
excitement upon departure and
subsequent low, high speed, for-
mation fly-bys.
At the end of the day, the new
friends had become “old” and the
old friends were somehow rejuve-
nated. An unexpected bonus for
Crusader Squadron is that many
attendees join the Civil Air Patrol,
once they realize that their skills
can find a good outlet at the ser-
vice of the community.
Normally, airports are not all
that exciting, and small airports
even less so, but they’re useful.
Many pilots believe that there’s
nothing like the smell of jet fuel
fumes in the morning to clear one’s
head (or at least one’s sinus cavities).
Sponsors for the event
included: Grand Prairie Munici-
pal Airport, The Historical Avia-
tion Memorial Museum,
CareFlight, The FAA and Mr.
Steven Buckner, Pepper’s Restau-
rant, AOPA Aviator Air Center,
Jon Boede and Roma Skinner, the
Commemorative Air Force, and
Sporty’s Pilot Shop.
Presenters included: The
Civil Air Patrol’s Crusader Com-
posite Squadron, Embry Riddle,
Indus Aviation, Bell Helicopter,
Vaught Aircraft, and others. Spe-
cial thanks to Crusader’s Project
Officer, 1st Lt Ron Cheney.
In mid-June, Mr. Bill Terrel,
of Woodmen of the World, pre-
sented the Crusader Composite
Squadron with a new American
Flag and a Texas Flag. With the
4th of July looming near, Mr.
Terrell expressed with affection
what the Flag meant to him,
words that reflected the feelings
of Crusader members themselves.

Arlington Composite Squadron Honor Guard Some of the marshalling crew, members of
presents the colors during the Quarterly Safety Fly-In Arlington, Black Sheep, Cursader and McKinney
and Pancake Breakfast. Composite Squdrons.
Cadet Villarreal and Cadet Lozano stand at attention Major Joe Ely Carrales stands beside the “War on
at Warren Sherrill Park in Downtown Corpus Christi, Terrorism” Memorial at Sherrill Park. Kudos to the
the first public outing for cadets in over a year and a Leadership Corpus Christi organization for their work
half. on that impressive landmark.

Cadets Honor POW-MIAs in Corpus

Christi and then Fly High in Victoria
By Major Joe Ely Carrales, PAO

Corpus Christi SQ-It was a
(not too) warm Saturday morning
on 16 September 2006 and Offic-
ers and Cadets from the Corpus
Christi Comp Squadron of the
Civil Air Patrol stood at attention
clad in blues as a very solemn cer-
emony got underway.
The event was a special trib-
ute to American servicemen who
were prisoners of war or who are
listed as missing in action. In
attendance for the occasion was
the Veteran’s Band of Corpus
Christi as well as others from the
veteran’s community.
The event was hosted by the
Catholic War Veterans under the
auspices of the Corpus Christi
Mayor’s Committee for Veterans
Affairs. Corpus Christi City
Councilman John Mares made
opening remarks. The guest
speaker for the event was 1SGT
USA retired Lazaro “Larry”
Velasquez who spoke on little
recognized female POWs and
MIAs.
Long time CC-CAP member,
Major Victor Medina, Jr, nor-
mally attend these occasions, but
since Major Medina was away on
vacation . . . the unit’s cadets
responded. The officer of the day
was 1st Lt Sandy Phelps who did
an excellent job in preparing the
cadets for the solemn occasion.
At the end of the event, 1st Lt
Phelps transitioned the formation
to 2d Lt Mike Garmon, unit
Safety Officer, for a road trip to
Victoria, Texas. The purpose of
that trip . . . the staging of cadet
orientation flights for the unit’s
cadets.
After a short stop for a meal,
and to handle some paperwork
with squadron commander Major
John Rios, the cadets and officers
left of Victoria arriving a few
minutes before 1600. At that time
they were turned over to Capt
Leonard Saddler who organized
the days flying activities.
The pilot, Capt Gene
Jeansonne, immediately took the
cadets and began to brief them on
what was to be expected. In all
there were three cadets who were
given flights. C/Basic Philip
Lozano and C/Basic Dylan Hatch,
received a type 6 orientation
flight (meaning an initial powered
flight) and C/TSgt Christopher
Villarreal received a type 7 orien-
tation flight (the second in the
series). Upon completing his
flight Cadet Hatch was given
some training in General Emer-
gency Services.
That days activities heralded
a milestone in the Corpus Christi
Composite Squadron, it was an
example of capitalizing CAP
activities and time. All in all it
was a good day for the unit!
Semper Vigilans!

17
 Pegasus Squadron Conducts
Airman Leadership School
2d Lt Russell Corley
August 11-13, at its Camp Mabry headquarters,
Pegasus Composite Squadron, a subordinate unit of
Group III, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol, conducted a
two-day Airman Leadership School (ALS). The
training focused on the required academics, Civil Air
Patrol history, military customs and courtesies, and
marching drill and ceremonies. Meant for Group
III’s new cadets, the training was attended by 14
members from Greater Austin and Waco. Student in-
processing started on the evening of Friday 11,
followed by a game of capture the flag. With all the
excitement, cadets found it hard to sleep when
lights-out was called at 2200.
Saturday 12th started at 0600, when C/1st Sgt
Steven Hamman conducted Physical Training (PT)
ending with a mile-long run in formation. Now fully
awake, the cadets settled into a day of academic
study and preparation for the leadership test. For
some, the ALS was their first exposure to what it
means to be a CAP cadet. In describing the experi- smaller elements, and as individuals. Later that day,
ence, “ALS was a great learning experience,” said C/ after taking the leadership tests, the cadets cleaned
Amn Evan Petrosky. “The basics of CAP member- their rooms, reluctantly packed their personal
ship were well covered. I was hoping to know all this belongings, and prepared for graduation.
so I wouldn’t stick out like someone who just When the test results were tallied, the Pegasus
joined,” he added. “I’m really happy that I came.” staff knew they had a winning class. Eight airman
Sunday involved preparation for the physical fit- basic cadets qualified for their Gen. John F Curry
ness test, taking the leadership written exam, and award and, breaking with tradition, the staff selected
practicing marching maneuvers. Again, C/1st Sgt two (instead of one) honor graduates: C/AB Shelby
Hamman led the cadets through small-unit drills, Cody and C/Amn Evan Petrosky. “Everybody
showing them how to maneuver as a flight, in involved did a great job,” was cadet Petrosky’s final
comment. He then explained that his all-inclusive
comment – from the cadet instructors who had “been
there” and made the weekend fun, to the senior staff
that also had “been there” and helped the weekend
run so professionally.
This event was enhanced by the continued sup-
port of the Texas Army National Guard’s 132nd
Division, who lent the use of the Audie Murphy
facility and billeting.
1st Lt Daren Jaeger, Pegasus Composite Squad-
ron commander, who is looking forward to hosting
another ALS in the spring of 2007, said, “We are
building tomorrow’s youth and, from what I can see
in these cadets, that future is bright indeed.”

19
During the night exercise, Cadet Hamman practices Group shot of the trainees, at the start of the course.
triangulating an ELT signal.

Pegasus Composite
Squadron’s Fall 2006 FTX
C/2d Lt Steven Hamman
The evening of September 29 at 1800 marked the qualification. MREs for lunch presented a new
start of Pegasus Squadron’s Fall 2006 FTX, held at experience for many of the cadets, a break soon fol-
the Lost Pines Boy Scout ranch, near Camp Swift, in lowed by LPER/ELT training by Maj Pope. Capt
the Group III Area. As instructed, the trainees hiked Benavides and 1st Lt Wreyford of Apollo Squadron
their gear to camp, following a marked trail that ran demonstrated the use of the tape measure Yagi-Uda
through the woods. Once there, they dumped their antenna. After everyone had had an opportunity to
gear and the camp staff in-processed them. use both the H-antenna and the Yagi, Maj Draper
After taking care of the administrative details, taught the ground team trainees orienteering and map
the students began setting up their shelter. Late arriv- reading, while 1st Lt Jaeger trained the more
als added some temporary confusion - soon inte- advanced students on ground team leader tasks.
grated into the orderly routine - and by 2200 there The students soon put their newly learned skills
were 14 cadets and 8 seniors for a total of 22 partici- to the test on a 6-point orienteering course that was
pants. A briefing covering safety and ground team nearly 3,000 meters long (about two football fields’
assignments followed at 2230, a Charge of Quarters short of 2 miles). Three hours later, at 1800, the last
(CQ) list was posted, and the first sentries took their team returned to camp just in time for dinner, which
posts for an hour each. Continued . . .
At 0600 on the following morning, the cadets
started a new day and the assigned Kitchen Police
(KP) crew busied itself with breakfast preparation.
With all the activity, they were hungry and soon fin-
ished eating and cleaning up. 1st Lt Ford of Phantom
Squadron led a moral leadership class, and the last
cadet arrived, bringing the number of participants to 23.
After a short break, 1st Lt Jaeger and 2d Lt Bos
instructed the trainees on “familiarization and prepa-
ratory training” for ground team member level 3
The trainees move along the
trail on their way to set up camp.

20
Cadet 2d Lt Annabel Andrews
Two Thunderbird Cadets
Earn Billy Mitchell Award
By 1st Lt Denise Thompson
Two Thunderbird Composite Squadron cadets
earned the Billy Mitchell Award and promoted to
Cadet Officer in a ceremony Tuesday September 5,
2006 at West Houston Airport. Presented by Group 4
Commander Maj Dennis Cima Cadets Sharya
Quereshi and Annabel Andrews were promoted to C/
2d Lt.
Both cadets are members of the Thunderbird
Squadron competition color guard team. They
proudly represented Texas at the Southwest Region
Cadet Competition this past April in Tucson, AZ.
Pegasus 2006 FTX . . .
Continued
was dispatched seemingly in seconds, since they
were eager to hike back up the trail to an open field,
set up the HF radio, and check into the net at 1900.
Capt Benavides’ clear instructions helped the cadets
set up the radio in record time.
That night, both Pegasus and Apollo Squadrons
successfully signed onto the net. Immediately after-
wards, the net closed at 1930, the cadets took down
the radio, and the ground teams prepared for their
first practice ELT mission. Within an hour, the only
team equipped with a Yagi antenna located the ELT
and returned to base. The other two teams searched
for nearly another hour before locating the ELT and
returning to base. With six hours left until reveille,
one of which would most certainly be spent on CQ,
the trainees were grateful for whatever sleep
Cadet 2d Lt Sharya Quereshi
Quereshi was also a member of the 2004 color guard
team that advanced to the national level. Andrews is
an active member who is also in the process of earn-
ing Girl Scout Gold Award. This prestigious award is
presented to only 1% of the active Girl Scouts in the
US. These young ladies have also participated in
many CAP activities such as Texas Wing Encamp-
ments, leadership schools, glider academy, Wings
Over Houston Airshow and CAC (Cadet Advisory
Counsel).
they could get.
After a light breakfast - a healthy combination of
fruit and donuts - the ground teams re-formed and set
off, each one on its own mission. Within two hours,
each ground team had independently located the ELT
and returned to base. Tired but happy, smiling as
they relished their success, they spent the next few
hours taking down camp and performing the most
time-consuming task of all: picking up micro-trash.
Once the project officer was satisfied with the
campground’s condition, everyone hiked their gear
back up the trail to the vehicles and loaded them.
Some thought they had left something behind,
because the gear didn’t seem to be as heavy as they
remembered it from nearly two days before. It was
now near noon, October 1st. The FTX had lasted for
42 hours, not quite 2 days, but they had completed
almost all of the requirements for GTM3, with
some earning nearly fully-qualified Ground Team
Leader status. ★
21
Observing Memorial
Day Among Warbirds
of Yesteryear
1st Lt Laura Lee Woodward
The Cavanagh Flight
Museum (www.cavanaughflight
museum.com) is devoted to the
preservation, restoration, and
exhibition of historically signifi-
cant aircraft, as well as fostering
and broadening the knowledge of
aviation history and impact on our
society, particularly among the
young. Therefore, it was only fit-
ting that they should welcome
Civil Air Patrol participation
when they organized their Memo-
rial Day remembrance, “Wings
over Addison.”
Texas Wing’s Addison Eagles
Composite Squadron, also located
in Addison, readily accepted to
share in the event. However, lacking
enough member volunteers
for the job, they sought (and
received) help from the Dallas
Composite Squadron and the
Irving Composite Squadron. As a
bonus, the Thunderbolt Com-
posite Squadron, located in
McKinney, TX contributed a well-
prepared honor guard to the effort.
The Cavanaugh Flight Museum’s
newly-restored WW II-vintage
F4-U “Corsair” (whose engine
had not yet been re-installed) was
a very popular exhibit. Present for
the occasion, at the museum’s
invitation, was an original Corsair
pilot, Marine Corps “Ace” Col
Archie Donahue, whose authentic
aircraft colors were used for the
restoration, which the museum
dedicated to him. During
President Bush’s National
Moment of Silence, the retired
officer was delighted
t o w i t n e s s t h e The McKinney Thunderbolt CS honor guard
flanking USMC Ace Col Archie Donahue in front
Thunderbolt Honor of “his” F4-U Corsair.
Guard’s presentation
of the colors. Later, flanked by mechanics of flight, presenting
the Honor Guard cadets, he posed an overview of the history of
for the CAP photographer in front aviation, and giving an unclassi-
of his reborn warbird, graciously fied briefing on the new
congratulating the cadets on ARCHER technology (which is
their skill. designed for highly specialized
Some of the participating aerial imagery). Children were
CAP cadets, in crisp camouflage eager to sit at the GA-8’s controls
uniforms, helped guide traffic and imagine themselves actually
towards designated parking areas, flying the aircraft. Their obvious
efficiently marshalling them into enjoyment mirrored an experi-
position. Others stood guard at ence that many CAP members
the runway viewing area, making remember having had in their
sure that small children didn’t own tender youth, when it planted
stray onto active airport areas. a seed that later led them to make
The combination of their youth, aviation a part of their life.
good manners, and excellent A chance to own a small por-
training motivated many visitors tion of history (in miniature) had
to come up and talk with them. been planned as well. A very
The cadets, following their natu- popular raffle yielded two win-
ral inclination, candidly shared ners of WW II model airplanes: a
their personal experiences with all P-47-30 “Thunderbolt” and a
- young and not-so-young - gener- P-51 “Mustang.” Meticulously
ating much interest. built by Addison Eagles’ histori-
CAP senior members worked cal modeler 1st Lt Stan Vasquez,
a small concession stand where they thrilled the attendees by
the crowd could purchase bottled their life-like appearance and
water, soft drinks, and hot dogs. rich detailing.
Many celebrants asked about the At day’s end, many young
Civil Air Patrol and its programs, visitors waved good-bye as
and were glad to be directed to the they passed by a CAP cadet. It
CAP orientation area. is rumored that most had stars
With an abundance of posters in their eyes.
and videos, and the static display Special thanks to all volun-
of CAP aircraft, including its new teers, whose time and effort made
Gippsland GA-8 Airvan, CAP this such a successful endeavor.
members addressed adults and
youngsters alike, explaining the ★
23
CAPCERTDrill-8Oct06-006: CAP rescuers move a
simulated victim to safer ground.
CAP Unit Trains for
Disaster Response
WAXAHACHIE SQ—“Help us
in here, somebody please help
us!” A chorus of distressed cries
greeted members of the
Waxahachie Talon Composite
Squadron, member of Group III,
Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol
(CAP), as they raced into the
simulated effects of a tornado’s
wreckage Sunday afternoon. Sev-
eral volunteer “victims,” suffer-
ing a variety of minor and major
injuries, awaited the rescuers
in sid e th e W a x a h a c h i e F i r e
Department training facility, just
southeast of town.
The team members were put-
ting into practice the twenty
hours’ worth of training they had
recently completed under the fed-
eral Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) pro-
gram. They became the first in
Ellis County and the first CAP
unit in Texas to be certified
graduates of the program.
The team, consisting of both
adults and teenaged cadets as
young as fifteen, quickly moved
24
Major Tom Smalley assists a simulated victim out of
a building that has been declared “destroyed by a
tornado.”
By Lt Col Gary Stevens
through the debris on two floors
of the building, locating survivors
and noting the type and degree of
injury each victim had suffered.
The training leaders had spent
hours beforehand creating the
illusion of bleeding wounds, bro-
ken bones, and even imbedded
shards of glass. Combined with
detailed briefings to each “vic-
tim” about how to act and what to
say to the rescuers, the Holly-
wood-style “blood and gore”
effectively portrayed the scene
that might greet first responders
to such an actual disaster scene.
Once the new graduates located
the role-playing victims, they
removed them from the wreckage
by whatever means were avail-
able, including office chairs as
wheelchairs and boards as stretch-
ers. The emphasis was on pre-
venting further risk of injury or
even death to the survivor, and
providing basic first aid until pro-
fessional emergency responders
could arrive on-scene.
Much of the activity stressed
cooperative effort among team
members, beginning with the
methodical search of the debris
for victims, then the process of
moving the more seriously
“injured” victims to a safe area
away from the building, assessing
the injuries, and providing aid and
comfort before they could be
treated by medical professionals.
“I think we often underesti-
mate what to expect of our
youth,” commented Lieutenant
Colonel Nancy Smalley, Texas
Wing Chaplain and the team
leader for the exercise, “Admit-
tedly, the Civil Air Patrol pro-
gram attracts the best of today’s
youth through its emphasis on
aviation, communications, and
the opportunity to be actively
involved in important, often life-
saving missions. But when I see
this group of fifteen and sixteen
year-old cadets walk into such
chaos and misery as we saw here
today, and get the job done, I
can’t help but be impressed. They
Continued on page 31 . . .
C/2d Lt Cameron Thompson
Group IV Cadets Enjoy
C-17 Orientation Flight
By 1st Lt Denise Thompson
T
he skies over southeast Texas were clear and
the air smelled sweet after heavy rain moved
though just a few days before. The annual
Wings Over Houston Air Show got underway with a
preliminary C-17 “media flight” Friday October 20,
2006, organized by Lt Col Robert Wolin. The first
group of cadets, senior members and media were on
board a C-17 Globemaster III for a one hour flight.
Several CAP cadets and senior members waited on
the ground for a second, much longer flight.
Once the plane landed and was refueled the sec-
ond group boarded through the big cargo doors in the
rear of the plane. Soon were cruising the big blue
sky. USAF PAO S/Am Rachel Martinez, with the
“Team McGuire” public relations office explained
her role with this fine aircraft. “I am responsible for
arranging community relations. I organize media
flights and CAP C-17 orientation flights at the differ-
ent air shows”. She was very knowledgeable about
the C-17 and McGuire AFB in New Jersey where the
plane and crew are based.
Downtown
Houston
from above
Minute
Maid Park.
SSgt Mitchell Ferguson explains the cargo bay floor.
C/2d Lt Natalie Oropeza, Sheldon Cadet Squad-
ron, was chosen to sit in the cock pit during take off.
She watched as Galveston and the Texas Gulf coast
went by. We then took a north easterly course toward
College Station and Texas A & M. After going over
Kyle Field we headed south along Highway 6 to
Interstate 10. The cadets and senior members all
enjoyed the view from the cock pit during the flight.
SSgt. Mitchell Ferguson, Team McGuire, took time
to explain the floor of the cargo area. He demon-
strated how the panels in the floor can be pulled up
and reversed depending on the need. Flying the l-10
corridor toward downtown was exciting as we identi-
fied airports and landmarks along the way. It was
quite a sight as we came in to the downtown area
looking at all of the tall buildings from a different
perspective.
Then it was time to buckle in for landing. Once
on the ground Cadet Claralee Andrews, Thunderbird
Composite Squadron, was tasked with opening the
cargo bay doors.
Loading up.
Alamo Composite Squadron Color Guard lead
Monte Vista Fourth of July Parade.
Fulfilling Dreams While
Fulfilling Missions for America
T
he Alamo Composite
Squadron, San Antonio,
TX, fulfilled the dreams
of an inner-city neighborhood as
the Cadet Color Guard led the
procession in the annual Monte
Vista Neighborhood Assoc-
iation’s 4th of July Parade.
Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Color
Guard program is one of many
ways Civil Air
Patrol can provide humani-
tarian service to the community.
Discovering other community
service opportunities can be as
simple as speaking with the
squadrons Chaplain.
Chaplain Alvarez, Chaplain
to both the Bexar County and
Alamo Composite
Squadrons, is fortunate to be
able to attend many neighborhood
association meetings through his
work. “There are many simple but
significant activities that can help
make a difference for others.
Alamo Composite Squadron passing a historic home
during the parade.
By Lt Estelle Kelly
Even the smallest need such as
filling treat bags for safe Hallow-
een parties makes an impact on
the families in the area.”
Lt Col Alex Alvarez offers a
unique perspective for utilizing
volunteer opportunities during the
coming Holiday Season. “The
local media puts out quite a bit of
information on organizations that
need help during the Holidays.
Many events such as a toy
drive are specific to that holiday
however; other volunteer oppor-
tunities such as canned goods
drives come around again. I find
that it is best to volunteer during
the Holidays with an organization
that interest the squadron mem-
bers and then develop a contact
with the organization so that the
squadron can continue to volun-
teer upon request.”
Collecting a file of newspaper
articles referencing organizations
such as the Habitat for Humanity is
a good way to monitor needs in the
community throughout the year.
Many organizations sponsor
events that use phone bank call-
ins for pledge fundraising. This is
a great way to volunteer and de-
velop visibility for the squadron
and Civil Air Patrol.
Remember too that joint ac-
tivities may be possible with sis-
ter service organizations such as a
Rotary Club, the American Le-
gion, or the Red Cross. For those
CAP units on a military instilla-
tion the moral welfare and recre-
ation offices offer a point of con-
tact for service activity within the
base community. Making an im-
pact for the community is “a gra-
tuitous circle” explains Chaplain
Alvarez. “The more we serve the
more we will be called upon to
serve.” Thus fulfilling our own
dreams of serving our country and
our community as Civil Air Patrol
members.
27
Texas Company—
A Generous
CAP Donor
By Lt Col H. M. “Butch” Ragland,
PAO, Tyler Composite Squadron
TYLER SQ—The Tyler/Robert’s Raiders Compos-
ite Squadron, Group III, Texas Wing presented a
Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Elmer Ellis, Chief
Executive Officer of East Texas Medical Center for
ETMC’s support to the local Civil Air Patrol since
1989. ETMC has provided space for communica-
tions equipment in their climate-controlled equip-
ment room, as well as a CAP antenna on the
hospital’s tower.
This equipment has made it possible for the
squadron to communicate with aircraft and ground
teams throughout East Texas for Emergency Ser-
vices missions in support of the community and Nation.
Lt Col Terry L. Howlett, squadron commander,
thanked ETMC and Mr. Ellis for their support in pro-
viding misting machines and the ETMC canopy,
both of which were used at the squadron’s Staging
Area in support of Group lll, Texas Wing’s Incident
L-R Lt Col Terry L. Howlett, Tyler Composite
Squadron Commander, Mr. Elmer Ellis, ETMC’s
CEO and Lt Col Dennis Bennett (former Group 7
Commander)
Command Post during the TEXAS SENTRY COW-
BOY USAF Guided Search and Rescue Training
Exercise in August. “These items were especially
helpful for our ground teams and aircrews, in the pre-
vailing triple-digit temperatures,” he said.
During Exercise TEXAS SENTRY COWBOY,
Group lll, Texas Wing’s Command Post, hosted by
Tyler/Robert’s Raiders Composite Squadron coor-
dinated 100 air and over 30 ground missions
statewide, setting a new national record for the Civil
Air Patrol.

From Texas to Turkey: IACE 2006 . . .

Continued from page 2
ushered into a bus. “We have a
surprise for you. You are Special
Guests and we have arranged
some flybys of our F-4s” we were
told. Flybys we thought, we had
all seen flybys, and little did we
realize that these were to be
DIFFERERNT. The bus drove us
onto the flight line and up to the
runway. As we waited, four F-4s
pulled onto the runway and were
within twenty feet of our group.
We stood in awe as none of us had
ever been so close to a live
jetfighter, but yet before us was
four jetfighters. We watched
takes offs, landings and flybys.
The next day we departed for
the resort town of Kusadasi, a
coastal city on the Mediterranean,
for leisure and relaxation. The
following day we departed for the
ancient city ruins of Ephesus, and
house of the Virgin Mary. The
scenery was something to behold
since there was so much history
of the world in that one location.
We spent the following day relax-
ing on the beach at Kusadasi
National Park. We departed for
the last leg of our IACE journey
back to Istanbul. We visited the
Military Museums, various palaces
and the famous Sultanahmet
Mosque. The last day was spent
sightseeing on the Bosphorus and
shopping in the Grand Bazar. We had
our farewell dinner and that morning
departed for our home countries.
The Turkish Government,
Hosts and People were very gen-
erous, friendly and accommo-
dating. They went out of their
way to make sure we were well
taken care of. I appreciate their
kindness and generosity for mak-
ing this trip very memorable.
My journey halfway across
the world allowed me to see
sights and sounds most teens my
age would never experience. How
can I become an IACE cadet?
You may ask. Simple, obtain your
Earhart Award, be well rounded
in school and extracurricular activi-
ties, and be at least 17 before you
apply. All cadets have the potential
to participate in IACE. The memo-
ries, experiences and friends made
on your trip will last a lifetime! ★

29
IACE Cadets Visit Texas . . .
Continued from page 5
Cadet Programs, generously enter-
tained the visitors at their home.
Highlights of their trip to Houston
included a behind-the-scenes visit
to NASA’s Johnson Space Center
(and its enormous swimming pool
where the astronauts practice
“space walking”), and Galveston’s
Lonestar Flight Museum (famous
for its aircraft and Aviation Hall of
Fame). Dinner at the great Board-
walk restaurant in Kemah, near
Galveston, was memorable, with a
spectacular sunset as a backdrop.
Austin (in the Group III area),
founded at about the same time as
Houston, has been the seat of gov-
ernment from the start, and the
Texas State Capitol is always a
popular place. Historic Camp
Mabry (seat of the Texas National
Guard headquarters), offered the
Audie Murphy Museum and the
Texas Military Forces Museum as
windows to Texas’ past. The visit
to San Antonio (a city at least 100
years older than either Austin or
Houston) included Randolph Air
Force Base (with “flight time” on
the T1 simulator), the Alamo
Museum, and other points of inter-
est. Lunch at the Hard Rock Café
on San Antonio’s River Walk was
yet another occasion for celebrat-
ing Cdt Lund’s birthday, since this
time it was the correct day.
As a memento of their visit to
Texas, after a private tour of the
Texas State Capitol on July 28, Ms
Romina Black, Executive Secretary
of the Secretary of State, presented
all cadets and their escorts with
Honorary Citizen of the State of
Texas certificates signed by Gover-
nor Perry. The honorees, in turn,
presented her with an IACE Certifi-
cate of Appreciation. Afterwards,
the group had lunch courtesy of
Austin’s landmark restaurant “The
30
County Line on The Lake,” an
occasion enjoyed by all. The Texas
barbeque was superb, the company
young and lively, and the guests
candid in their obvious enjoyment.
Saturday, July 29, in New
Braunfels, was Schlitterbahn day.
Considered the premier water park
in the United States, it became the
active setting for yet another cel-
ebration of Cdt Cilino’s 16th birth-
day, since his proper date had
finally arrived.
On Sunday, July 30, the visit-
ing cadets spent most of the day at
San Marcos, where three CAP air-
craft took them on front-seat orien-
tation rides. Hosting the flight line
was the Tex Hill Composite Squad-
ron, which is in Group V. IACE
cadets are often licensed pilots in
their home country, and this was
the case with Cadet Megan Fink, of
Canada. On that Sunday evening,
at the Tres Amigos Mexican res-
taurant, visitors and hosts attended
an informal farewell dinner. To
everyone’s expected non-surprise,
the by-now famous cadet birthdays
were celebrated yet another (and
probably final) time. On that occa-
sion, Lt Col Norm King, former
Texas Wing Chief of Staff and now
Director of Plans and Programs,
met with the cadets and wished
them a good trip home.
As a final salute to their
hosts, the IACE cadets staged an
impromptu “personalized ballad,” to
everyone’s great mirth, with two
cadets on acoustic guitars (a singing
Australian and an instrumentalist
Canadian), and two “victims” seated
between them (a Canadian and a
Swede), personifying the ballad’s
characters (who could hardly con-
tain their own laughter). Afterwards,
the group thanked their hosts for a
wonderful time, and presented Lt
Col Dawn King and their host fami-
lies with small gifts that they had
brought from their home countries.
But there was one more gift
forthcoming. Each visiting group
brings along one very special IACE
award, which they are instructed to
give to the one person they think
was most responsible for their
enjoyment. This time they chose to
honor Lt Col Dawn King - the first
time she had ever been so distin-
guished, after many years as Texas
Wing IACE Coordinator. Deeply
touched, Lt Col King hugged them
all, one by one, and to her immense
surprise, Cdt Anton Lund (Swe-
den), who towers over her, literally
swept her off her feet. (Even rank-
ing officers are permitted a senti-
mental tear or two, on occasion.)
The visitors’ enjoyment was so
obvious, and the hosts were so
reluctant to part with them, that the
room became charged with emo-
tion. “I’m coming back, Sir. I don’t
know how, but I’ll be back,” said
Cdt Troy Pangalos of Australia to
this writer.
At each stage, the visitors had
shared the company, customs, hos-
pitality and food of the people in
the area, and the mere ten days
allotted to their trip seemed to van-
ish into thin air. They freely shared
of themselves with their hosts, and
were candid and respectful in their
interaction with everyone they met,
who in turn will remember them
with sympathy and affection. Most
likely, their memories will stay
with them for a very long time. To
help them do so, each will receive a
CD filled with digital images of
their trip throughout Texas, images
taken by the two CAP cadets who
accompanied them and made sure
that their visit was not only pleas-
ant, but well recorded as well. ★
Disaster Response
Continued from page 24
put a great deal of time and effort
into absorbing the information
they were provided, then applied
that knowledge in a very stressful
environment to save lives and
relieve suffering.”
Such methodical and thought-
ful response during the first few
minutes and hours of a disaster by
ordinary citizens is the pur-
pose of Community Emer-
g e n c y Response Training. In
fact, the whole intent of the CERT
program is to provide the citizens
of the community the skills and
knowledge they will need when
they must assist their family
members and neighbors in the
first minutes or hours after disas-
ter strikes. It does not create a
thoroughly trained professional; it
simply provides program gradu-
ates with the basic skills they’ll
need to prevent further injury to
the victim without unnecessary
risk to the rescuer. That latter
point is critical. In the first hours
after Mexico City’s earthquake
several years ago, neighborhood
residents were credited with sav-
ing some 800 lives, but about 100
of the rescuers perished due to
lack of training on how to reduce
their own risk while helping others.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,
which devastated large areas of
the U.S. Gulf Coast last year, are
merely the latest of a long series
of natural and man-made disasters
that showed that neighborhoods
might be on their own for hours or
even days before professional
medical and emergency response
teams can reach them. The Los
Angeles City Fire Department
first developed and implemented
the CERT concept in 1985. It was
California’s Whittier Narrows
CAP members treat simulated injuries during a disaster drill.
earthquake of 1987 that con-
firmed that trained families,
neighborhoods and employees
were better able to meet their own
immediate needs right after the
disaster. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
now provides a “Train-The-
Trainer” program to form “seed”
teams in a community, who will
then conduct the training program
for others. The goal is to have a
broad base of CERT-qualified
citizens throughout the commu-
nity, ready to respond capably
whenever disaster strikes.
Civil Air Patrol members
have been responding to commu-
nity needs in a variety of ways
since the organization was
founded days before the attack on
Pearl Harbor in 1941. Known pri-
marily for their role in searching
for missing aircraft, members
have increased their capability
over the years to assist in disaster
response in a number of ways.
CAP members in north Texas
were deeply involved in last
year’s huge hurricane relief
effort, operating from staging
areas all across south Texas,
Louisiana, and Mississippi. Soon
after that, CAP spent months fly-
ing fire spotting missions all
across north Texas and the Pan-
handle, and is credited with mini-
mizing the burn area which could
have been simply devastating, as
well achieving stunning success
in fire prevention and the saving
of lives and property. More
recently, a statewide CAP exer-
cise last August, involving mem-
bers in 24 locations across Texas,
effectively demonstrated their
ability to simultaneously provide
assistance in ground and airborne
search, storm damage assessment,
evacuation route survey and
monitoring, as well as airborne
reconnaissance and photography
for numerous state and federal
agencies. In fact, more than 40
“real world” photographic recon-
naissance projects were com-
pleted and submitted to the
requesting agencies during that
three-day exercise. Whether on
the ground or in the air, the Civil
Air Patrol’s corps of dedicated
volunteers stands willing and able
to help their community and
nation in time of need. ★
31
Daniel family - 3 Captains
A Family Affair
By 2d Lt Mary Ureke, PAO
DELTA COMPOSITE SQUADRON—based out
of David Wayne Hooks airport located in Northwest
Houston. There are currently 73 senior members and
68 cadets in the program, all working and training for
when they are called. Within these numbers are
many great individuals but also several family
groups who are actively involved in CAP.
The Wilkins family with six, soon to be eight, of
their twelve family members is very active in CAP.
Leading the way is Senior Member 2d Lt Kelly
Wilkins, who is also the Aerospace education officer
and leads the Double Eagle Scout program chartered
by Delta (CAPR 52-16). The five Wilkins cadets are
involved in Delta’s color guard and work hard toward
earning promotions. Daniel, Jonathan, Abigail,
Stephen, and Samuel range in age from 12 to 16. Mrs.
Wilkins and older sister, Lydia (22), are Venture lead-
ers and will soon be joining CAP as senior members
working in the cadet program specialty track. The
Wilkins family.
Southwest Region
Conference
“Falcon Virgo”
is a group photo of the awards
presented to the participating
Wings for a job well done
during that exercise.
Wilkins’ are not the only family at Delta Composite.
There are five in the Daniel family. Three of
which are Captains. C/Capt Jesse Daniel is currently
the cadet commander, his brother, C/Capt Jonathan is
C/Admin officer, and Senior Member Capt Claudia
Daniel is the squadron’s medical officer. Also
involved are 2d Lt Douglas Daniel and 2d Lt Anno
Montgomery, mother of Claudia and grandmother to
Jesse and Jonathan, who comes to most Tuesday night
meetings and events held at the squadron.
Still, there are more families with multiple mem-
bers. The Braytons with four, Buchman, Glasscock,
Hustons, Wykes, and Ureke with three, and several
more with two, are regular faces seen on duty day, at
color guard practice, FTX’s and SAREXs, and any
other activity on the squadron calendar.
It may seem confusing, at first, to see so many
with the same last name but there is no doubt in
anyone’s mind, that all (individual member or one of
eight), are welcome and are important to the squad-
ron and the Civil Air Patrol mission.
33
Gladewater
Cadets in
Field Training
Weekend
1st Lt Harold Parks
On the weekend of 13-15
October, the Gladewater Corsairs
Composite Squadron, held a
training weekend devoted to
developing Ground Team search
and rescue skills with special
emphasis on L-per training in a
difficult environment. “L-per”
describes the operation of a por-
table electronic homing device
used to locate aircraft emergency
locator transmitters (ELT). Usu-
ally, when an aircraft crashes, the
ELT is activated automatically
and starts emitting a distress sig-
nal. This signal is captured by
ground-based radio receivers and
listening satellites, and the
approximate location is reported
to a central emergency response
center. The Civil Air Patrol unit
nearest to the signal is then
alerted to find the ELT.
In addition to very rough,
varying and broken terrain,
the selected training area had
Getting the Next Bearing: C/Maj Kyle Vaughn with L-per, C/Maj Stephen
Mouton, C/MSgt Jarrod Alexander, C/Amn John Ryan observing.
numerous high voltage lines run-
ning across it and a number of
steel buildings and wire fences.
These factors make for challeng-
ing searches as the L-per opera-
tors receives many false and con-
fusing readings. Training in such
a difficult environment and learn-
ing how to overcome the elec-
tronic obstacles make for more
successful electronic searches in
real world emergencies.
All squadron members are
trained in various positions of
responsibility during the searches.
Cadets and adult members
rotated through the Team Leader,
Final Shootout;
C/Maj Stephen
Mouton and
C/Amn John
Ryan shooting
in final relay of
Squadron
competition.
C/MSgt Jarrod
Alexander
spotting and
C/Maj Kyle
Vaughn
observing.
Navigator and L-per Operator posi-
tions, and all of them participated
on the search lines. Everyone
came to understand the challenges
faced by those placed in each
position, and therefore gained a
varied experience that is designed
to result in more successful
Ground Team searches. The
broader the experience level of
each team member, the more that
each member can offer to the
team when an actual search is on.
After working on ground
search and rescue training all day
Saturday, with good success, it
was time for some fun. The squad-
ron is in the process of forming a
competitive air rifle team, so this
was a good time for target practice.
On Sunday Lt Alexander, a certi-
fied NRA firearms instructor,
presented a firearms safety class
followed by training in competi-
tion shooting. The rifles were
sighted in, and all members fired
practice rounds. The squadron
then held an informal competition,
with the following results: C/Amn
John Ryan earned first place, fol-
lowed by C/Maj Stephen Mouton
and C/MSgt Jarred Alexander.
35
San Angelo
Squadron
Conducts Members of the San Angelo Squadron search the sky for their rocket.

Fall Rocket
Launch
By 2d Lt Johanna O.
Augustine
The San Angelo Composite
Squadron TX-023 conducted a
rocket launch event on 30 Sep-
tember, at Goodfellow AFB,
Texas.
Twelve cadets and six senior
members participated in the C/Amn Angelica Gutierrez
event; with each cadet launching prepares her rocket for launch.
a rocket assembled at the last C/A1C Christopher H. Brown
regular meeting. Cadets received “We created quite a spectacle attaches ignition wires to his
instruction in cordoning an area Saturday as the rockets climbed rocket.
for the launch, and participating into the bright blue morning sky
in “downrange” recovery of rock- over Goodfellow. Security per- launched her rocket despite its
ets. The weather cooperated sonnel even visited the launch site slowly disintegrating body. Tape
greatly with a slight breeze bring- just to watch. Cadet Davila and glue and away it flew, over
ing rockets down within one hun- earned the name “Rocket and over.” stated Squadron Com-
dred yards of the launch site. Woman” as she repeatedly mander Major Clements.

Southwest Region
Conference
MG Antonio Pineda, Col Tom Todd
(exiting SWR CC), Col Eldridge,
and Lt Col James Lasche (USAF,
SWR Region Liaison Officer), as
Col Eldridge gives Col Todd a
CAP-themed numbered
lithograph as a farewell present.
“How am I going to get this home
in the airplane?” said Col Todd,
as he smiled broadly.
 Texas Wing
Commander Col
Frank Eldridge and
Cadet Josse’s
grandfather, US
Navy Commander
B. K. West, (Ret)
join Cadet Josse
after pinning on his
new rank.

Texas Wing Cadet Reaches

Mitchell Milestone
TALON SQ—Cadet Benjamin
Josse, a member of the
Waxahachie Talon Composite
Squadron at Waxahachie-
Midlothian Midway Airport,
Group III, Texas Wing, was hon-
ored with his Mitchell Award
Ceremony. He had his new rank
of Cadet Second Lieutenant
bestowed upon him by Colonel
Frank Eldridge, Texas Wing Com-
mander, assisted by Cadet Josse’s
grandfather, Commander B. K.
West, USN (Ret). Afterwards, Col
Eldridge presented the new C/2d
Lt with his Mitchell Certificate.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Eric
Josse of Red Oak, and a member of
the Waxahachie Talon Composite
Squadron at Waxahachie-
Midlothian Midway Airport, he cut
a fine figure in his dress-blue uni-
form. His obvious excitement was
shared by all unit members present,
as well as his relatives who had
been invited to witness the event.
Cadet Josse joined the Civil Air
By Lt Col Gary Stevens
Patrol in August, 2004, attended the Deputy Commander, and recently
Oklahoma NCSA Flight Academy assumed command of the
where he received his solo wings, and Waxahachie Composite Squadron
serves as chairman of the Group III Cadet Corps. Cadet Josse is also
Cadet Advisory Council (CAC) and active in Creative Arts and The-
an Alternate for the Texas Wing atre. He maintains high academic
CAC. In 2005 he was selected Honor standards and is currently a junior
Cadet at his basic encampment in the in high school in his home school
winter, and his squadron recognized program. His goal is to attend the
him as Outstanding Non-Commis- Air Force Academy and become a
sioned Officer of the Year. military pilot.
His spe- Cadet Benjamin Josse accepts the General Billy
cialty qualifica- Mitchell Award from Col Frank Eldridge, Texas Wing
tions include Commander, during recent ceremonies.
Search and
Rescue Ground
Team Member
and Urban
Direction
Finder Team
Member - both
responsible
positions. He
has served as
Flight Sergeant,
Flight Com-
m a n d e r ,
Black Sheep CS Holds Cadet Promotion
and Change of Command Ceremonies
On the evening of July 18, the
cadets of the Black Sheep Com-
posite Squadron, Group III, Texas
Wing held an awards and promo-
tions ceremony in the presence of
their parents and their unit senior
members. Lt Col Jack Birchum,
the unit’s Moral Leadership
Officer, gave the invocation; Col
Frank Eldridge, Texas Wing
Commander, presented the
awards and promotions.
The occasion was noteworthy
in that every cadet was recog-
nized with a promotion on that
day. C/TSgt Johanna Cohen and
2d Lt Kelly R. Castillo, PAO
C/TSgt Sgt Brittany Stelting, in
recognition of their promotion,
were presented with Wright
Brothers Award certificates.
C/TSgt Cohen was also recog-
nized as the recipient of the Air
Force Association’s Outstanding
Cadet award.
After promotion to their
respective Cadet Officer grades,
C/Capt Rebecca McKinney and
C/Capt Chris Papson received the
Amelia Earhart award, while C/2d
Lt Mitchell Graham was presented
the General Billy Mitchell Award.
In celebration of the occasion,
four cadets displayed their Honor
Guard skills with a well-
timed and executed rifle drill
demonstration.
“These cadets should be com-
mended for their outstanding hard
work, an effort that earned them
these awards and promotions,”
said Col Eldridge.
After the awards and promo-
tions, C/Capt Rebecca McKinney
relinquished her position in the
squadron to C/1st Lt Johnilea
Petty, who became the Black
Sheep Composite Squadron’s
new Cadet Commander.

Texoma Tour Tactical

Training Center
By 1st Lt Charlie Giarraputo
On Saturday, August 5, 2006, eighteen cadets,
family members, senior members and Perrin AFB
Museum volunteers, toured the International Tactical
Training Center, one of the newest companies with
facilities at Grayson County Perrin Airport.
Lieuntenant General Charlie Searock, Chief
Executive Officer of ITTC, briefed the visitors on the
mission of the Tactical Training Center. This
included the aircraft maintenance hanger, aircraft,
IL-78 tranker.
and a personal walk around and inside tour of their
IL-78 giant aerial refueling tanker. Sealock is also a CAP members at the entrance door of the IL-78.
member of CAP’s National Board.

LTG Charles
Searock (USAF
Ret.) right, and
BG John Elkins,
(TNG Ret.) left
who is Perrin
AFB Museum’s
Curator, and
coordinator for
the tour.
 CAP cadets
taking part in
the 5K run.
By 2d Lt Castillo
Black Sheep Squadron
Participates in Freedom Run
On 9 Sept 2006, members of
the Black Sheep Composite
Squadron, Group III, Texas
Wing, Civil Air Patrol took part in
the Freedom Run in downtown
Dallas. Held to pay tribute to the
heroes and victims of the Septem-
ber 11th tragedy, the event in-
volved a 5K run and a 1 mile
walk.
Black Sheep Composite
Squadron members included 1st
Lt Opal McKinney, SM Terri
Kleinmeier, C/Capt Rebecca
McKinney, C/TSgt Brittany
Stelting, and C/A1C Tim
Kleinmeier. All but C/A1C
Kleinmeier made the run with
members of other CAP Group III
squadrons, while the rest handed
out information about the Civil
Air Patrol to interested persons.
To start the event, the City of
Dallas Police Honor Guard pre-
sented the colors, followed by the
pledge of allegiance and the Na-
tional Anthem.
All participants finished the
event, and no injuries were re-
ported. On this day, similar activi-
ties took place across the Nation,
as part of a national day of re-
membrance, five years after the 9/
11 terrorist attack.
City of Dallas
Police Honor
Guard chatting
with 2 girls.
41

CAP Helps Stage Air Show
2d Lt Kelly Castillo, Public Affairs Officer
Blacksheep SQ-On 14 Octo-
ber 2006, the Black Sheep Com-
posite Squadron assisted with the
annual Wings and Wheels Air
Show at the Mesquite Metro Air-
port in Mesquite, Texas. First pre-
sented in 1932 as The National Air
Carnival by the Birmingham Aero
Club, it was a free-admission event
that included many aviation
notables as guests and performers.
During WW II the show was
suspended, but in 1946 it drew an
attendance of 400,000 - the largest
SM Terri Kleinmeier passes a P-17 Stearman while
on her way to marshall another plane.
ever until that day. As the civil
aviation world evolved, and major
airports became overcrowded with
commercial traffic, the show
moved to smaller airports all over
the country, under the “Wings and
Wheels Air Show” banner. Many
young attendees have first flown in
a small plane at one of these.
The air show attracts many pi-
lot-owners who fly in for the oc-
casion. Traditionally, the Black
Sheep Composite Squadron
serves a pancake breakfast that is
1st Lt Toby Buckalew speaks with an attendee
standing by the Black Sheep Squadron’s Cessna C-182.
Black Sheep members pose in
front of a Commemorative Air
Force R4D. Back row left to right:
C/A1C Tim Kleinmeier, C/Amn
Justin Davis, 1st Lt Opal McKinney,
C/Capt Rebecca McKinney, C/
SSgt Andrew Smith, Lt Col Mike
Eberle, C/TSgt Brittany Stelting, 2d
Lt Ray Hicks, 2d Lt Terri
Kleinmeier. Front row left to right:
C/TSgt Johanna Cohen, C/2d Lt
Mitchell Graham, 1st Lt Justin
Coffman, C/Amn Tracy Norman, C/
AB Jeremy Banks. Other members
who were busy answering visitors’
questions, not pictured, included
Capt Ron Marshall, 1st Lt Toby
Buckalew, 1st Lt Bob Morton, and
2d Lt Kelly Castillo.
always well-attended. This year
the squadron’s cadets raised $270
thanks to it.
Squadron personnel were
busy all day with flight marshal-
ling, visiting plane security, and
some parking duties. A recruiting
booth saw many interested people
file by, both teens and adults, ask-
ing many questions and picking
up informative CAP pamphlets.
The squadron was praised by
attendees, pilots, and airport man-
agement for a job well done.
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Can Be Fun
C/TSgt Michael G. Moody,
Cadet Commander, Apollo CS

APOLLO SQUADRON—“Whoa! What’s that?”

said the Apollo cadets as they looked at the home-
made hovercraft the squadron commander had
brought in her truck. “Get on and I’ll show you,” I
said, as their faces showed surprise, confusion, and
wanting to get on and try this thing that they had never
seen before. In fact, perhaps Texas Wing had never
seen anything like it before, either.
Let me explain why we decided to make two
hovercraft for the cadets. As we were busy planning
the next aerospace night, we thought we would teach
the CD hovercraft that are in the AEX book. But we
didn’t have a pattern, so we rummaged around the
Internet and found a pattern for hovercraft that could
carry people.
Building something we could ride on seemed
like a great idea. Besides, we decided that these
would be much better for teaching Newton’s laws of
motion than little CD hovercraft that could hardly lift
anything much at all. Also it would make the cadets
Cadet Moody
sets up the first
hovercraft.
Cadet Cameron Condrey takes a ride on a
hovercraft.
get up and do something, instead of just sitting there,
pretending to be awake, putting up with another
boring lecture.
The expensive part we already had - a leaf
blower we could use for a fan to keep us off the floor
- so we decided to go ahead and build a hovercraft.
Then we realized that if we built just one, it would
take too long for all the cadets to go through the line
and each get a ride. That’s when we decided to build
two. But to build two we needed another blower, so
we contacted SM Davidson and asked if we could
use his blower. He said yes and volunteered his
house to build the project.
Hoping it would work, we went and got all the
items to build the hovercraft, and took everything
over to SM Davison’s house and started working. To
tell the truth, none of us actually thought it would
work, until SM Davidson got on it, and it picked him
up like he was nothing. Now it was time to start the
testing, which is when the real fun started, as we tied
a rope around my waist and sent
me down the driveway. It was not
a smooth gym floor like the
Continued . . .
Cadets pull their way along ropes for the relay race.
Laws of Motion . . .
Continued
instructions said to use, but it still
worked. We even moved out into
the street and it kept on going. It
worked smoothly even when we
passed it over the extension cords,
and never touched them. By then
the second hovercraft had been
built too, and that one had to go
on its own test run. It was amazing
how well they worked, and we had
spent only $90.00 in making both,
and that included seats for them.
In my case, I always learn
better when I’m having fun, and
anyone could see how much the
cadets enjoyed riding the
hovercraft. Everybody - cadets,
senior members, and even little
children whose parents had
brought along - loved this activity.
Then we set up a child’s plas-
tic basketball hoop and had the
cadets pull their way up to it
along two ropes we laid for them.
They had to put a ring into the
hoop, and pull themselves back as
fast as they could, because it was
a relay race and each team had its
own rope, and each team wanted
to be the winner, of course.
Except we were having so much
fun that we forgot to keep score,
so nobody knows who won.
Besides, some cadets liked it so
much that they competed on both
teams, too.
The hovercraft worked very
well and taught the practical side
of Newton’s discovery, as well as
being easy to repair. The plastic
ripped on one of them, and fixing
it was a snap. All we had to do
was put a strip of duct tape on it,
and it was as good as new. There
was only one problem with our
creations: we had no way of con-
trolling them besides tying a rope
to the passenger and having
someone pull both passenger and
hovercraft around.
We tried using an auxiliary
leaf blower but that didn’t work
very well. The instructions said
that someone had used a fire extin-
guisher to propel them, but it also
said not to let kids do that. Even
without directional control, though,
everybody loved them. And we had
a great time while learning about
Newton’s laws of motion.
Thank you http://members
.cox.net/2smbschool/hovercraft
for the hovercraft design. ★
45
The cadets get ready to swing.
CAF Cadet Heritage Academy
The dog came barging in and
woke me up the morning of the
first ever Commemorative Air
Force (CAF) Cadet Heritage
Academy. Just three weeks be-
fore, I had come back from en-
campment, and now my mother
told me what the CAF Cadet
Heritage Academy was, and that I
could go. I was thrilled that I
would be one of the very first to
go. What a treat! I remember be-
ing so excited. I was going to go
learn about the wars of America,
and fly airplanes! This may not
sound like a big deal to you, but it
is for a CAP cadet age 14.
46
By Cadet/TSgt Michael Moody
The hours dragged on but
somehow the day flew by, so
there I was in Midland, TX, one
hour after getting there, and I was
already in the middle of a “press
conference”! Right after that we
went to the hotel, changed into
our blues and checked in, all four
cadets from Apollo Composite
Squadron, Group III, Texas
Wing. After checking in for the
course, we listened to a presenta-
tion done by a WWII veteran. It
was very interesting for all of us
there.
The next day we got up and
went down to a local high school
that had a ropes course. That was
the most fun thing there. We
started off by doing some get-to-
know-you sort of things. And
then we moved on to this rope
swing, which sounds like a silly
game, but just you wait, because
it got tough in a hurry.
For this team event, we had to
get a container full of water
across to the other side of this gap
and all of us had to land and stay
on this really small platform with-
out spilling a single drop of water,
and if one of us did drop some
water, then all of us had to go
back to the beginning. I thought it
couldn’t be done, but kept trying
anyway. After three tries, we fi-
nally got it and moved on to the
next task.
The second task was really
fun, hard, and interesting to do.
We had to get from pallet to pallet
to pallet, using three wooden
planks that were not allowed to
touch the ground, and we only
had 10 minutes to complete it. Af-
ter four tries we ran out of time
and had to go to the next task.
Bummer.
This one was a paired task, in-
stead of a team task. One member
of the pair had to get on a wire
while holding on to a rope that
was attached to a cable that was
hanging on a telephone pole, and
your partner also had one that he
hung onto. What you did was
Cadet TSgt Moody attempting to negotiate the wire crawl while hanging from a rope.
walk across the wire to the other
side. It sounds easy, right? Well,
none of us got it. We got most of
the way over though.
Then we moved onto the 12-
foot wall that we all had to cross,
but after you crossed it you were
not allowed to go back and help
the others. That was the most fun
task of all. We managed it just be-
fore the time ran out, so we all
jumped up and down and hollered
our victory.
The next and last thing that
we did was this swing thing
where you get hoisted in the air
by the other cadets, and then
when you say it’s OK, they let go
and you go for a swing. Every-
body liked that, and some said
they were going to try and make
one of their own. That was the
end of the first day.
On the second day we got to
do desert survival. That was the
best class we had there. We were
taught how to get water, what
goes in a survival pack, how to
make a shelter, how to get food,
how to move around, how to
avoid danger, and generally how
to survive. That day we also got to
watch a movie that was taken by
an American soldier in Iraq, and
heard stories from him. When you
tell it like this, it sounds as if the
day had been a snap, but it wasn’t.
It was hard and we were tired, but
we wouldn’t say so.
On the last day something
happened with our wakeup call,
maybe because we were tired
from the day before, and, well, we
Continued . . .
A cadet adjusts his earphones, as the pilot prepares to taxi the plane to the runway.
CAF Cadet Heritage Academy . . .
Continued
didn’t get up on time and we were
in a big rush to get there and not
be late. The only problem was
that we did try, but it didn’t hap-
pen, so we were an hour late and
didn’t get to do P.T. But we did
get to go flying in old airplanes. I
personally flew a PT-13, an open
cockpit biplane. That was a lot of
fun, and made me feel like I had
done something important, so I
think it comes with bragging
rights.
All in all, this trip was a great
experience, and I got a lot out of
it. It was tons of fun not only in
the classroom, hotel, desert, or
hangar, but especially in the air.
There aren’t that many teenagers
who can say that they have flown
in an 85-year-old aircraft and
lived to tell about it. Not too many
adults, either, I imagine.
I definitely would like to go
back next year. ★
Cadet TSgt Moody seated in a
vintage biplane prior to take-off.