ALABAMA WING CIVIL AIR PATROL

NEWSLETTER JULY 2009

Col. Mike Oakman Lt. Col. Dave Boswell Commander Vice‐Commander

FLY A TEACHER AND MAKE A Contents DIFFERENCE

Fly A Teacher As the night became day, all was quiet at the airport on April 18, 2009. SER Cadet of the Year 4 Occasionally, the quiet was broken by an airplane starting up, taxiing and taking off. Chaplain Information 6 Soon, other sounds were heard at the Bessemer Airport (KEKY). There were the Multiday, Multiagency Simulation 6 sounds of CAP members, including cadets, arriving and preparing for a busy day. Berlin Airlift Remembered 7 The building housing the Bessemer Composite Squadron was opened and Capt. Lynn Toney Award 11 preparations were underway for a morning of CAP's Fly A Teacher program. Coffee Teacher, ROTC, JROTC Flying 12 was brewing, cadet flight line marshallers were preparing for arrival. Soon, the first Space Camp Teachers Fly 13 CAP planes began arriving and were parked. Boaz Pell City Cadets at Air Show 16 First one, then two, then the others began arriving after calling to 1st Lt Dale SAREVAL 16 Chambers on the radio that they were inbound. Soon the ramp near the Tuscaloosa Air Show 17 Bessemer Squadron building was nearly filled with Cessna 172's and Cessna 182's Public Affairs 18 including Garman 1000 equipped Cessna 182's from Pell City and Birmingham.

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 1 prayer. The cadets did a great job on the flag raising. The teachers saw how to do it right. Afterward, while the pilots were getting settled down for the morning briefing by Capt Ladde Mayer, the maintenance officer of the Central Alabama Senior Squadron, the teachers sat in the other room. They were welcomed by Lt. Col. Austin Landry, commander of the Central Alabama Senior Squadron, 1st Lt. Dale Chambers, commander of the Bessemer

Squadron, Maj. Silvano Weuschner, Photo by 1st Lt. Rick Kilgore coordinator of the Alabama Wing's Fly the There was great support from many Teacher and Lt. Col. David Boswell, the of the Alabama Wing squadrons. The pilots Alabama Wing Vice Commander. included Michele Basso, Montgomery The teachers were told what to Squadron (AL032), Andrew Boyer, expect. They were told that each pilot Huntsville Squadron (AL119), Ed Barnes, would take two teachers and would fly to Tuscaloosa Squadron (AL024), Mark another airport and the teacher in the right Gurganus, Tuscaloosa Squadron (AL0 24), seat would move to the back seat and the Carlton Foster, Huntsville (AL055), Jim teacher in the back seat would move to the Corey, Birmingham Squadron (AL090), front right seat and the plane would return to Gary Ernest, Clanton Squadron (AL119), Bessemer. Lt. Col. Landry explained the Jim Harris, Central Alabama Squadron importance of weight and balance and the (AL132), and Donnie Todd, Pell City concept of the weight and balance envelope Squadron (AL118). and the overall meaning of "pushing the The cadet marshallers, from both the envelope." The teachers were told that Bessemer Squadron and Squadron 90 at Capt. Gary Wright, Logistics Officer of the the Birmingham Airport, as part of their Central Alabama Senior Squadron would training as marshallers, were making sure discretely ask each teacher for their weight that every plane taxied safely to their in order to make the calculation of weight designated spot and safely shut down. The and balance for their flight. pilots finished the shut down checklist, As part of the overall pilot briefings secured the airplanes and walked to the going on next door, the teachers were CAP building. assigned to each pilot. In order not to While this was happening, at about overcrowd one airport for the switching of 8:30, cars began driving up and seventeen seats for the teachers, the pilots agreed on excited teachers from the Shelby County which airports each flight would land before School system, led by Dr. Charlotte Draper coming back to Bessemer. walked from the cars to the building, looking Back in the room with the teachers, around at the planes and activity on the 1 Lt. Rick Kilgore, the Training Officer for ramp. the Central Alabama Squadron, was giving The CAP facility at Bessemer was a presentation on the history, heritage, perfect for this program. There was a room structure and purpose of the Civil Air Patrol for the radio communication, a common and the Fly the Teacher program. area, and separate rooms for the teachers The excitement for the upcoming and the pilots. After everyone arrived and adventure and learning opportunity was got settled, we all went outside to the flag building as the teachers learned more about pole for the flag raising, pledge, and a what was in store for them over the next several hours.

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 2 Then the time arrived for the first go. We watched that weather very carefully flights. The pilots came to the room with the ensuring that everything continued to be teachers and called out the names of the safe. Soon, it began to drizzle at Bessemer. teachers that would fly with them. As they We got lucky, there were no storms and we walked out to the aircraft on the ramp, the had only light rain. Soon, the rain stopped. teachers were introduced to the Not long after that, the first of the planes components of the airplane and were given called on the radio that they were inbound, a demonstrated preflight and were told returning from a, hopefully, educational and about the different parts of the plane and enjoyable flight. As each plane landed and were familiarized with the various taxied into their parking space, Capt. Gary instruments and radios. The teachers were Wright was waiting for the engine shutdown belted in, listened to what was going on with and the pilot and teachers to come out of their headsets and were ready to go. Many the plane. Capt. Wright was there to have were excited, some were apprehensive, but each pilot sign the First Flight Certificate all were looking forward to the flight. and present it to the teachers. Also there The first plane's rotating beacon was was 1 Lt. Kilgore, who doubled that day as turned on, signaling to the cadet our official photographer. marshallers that the plane was ready to start engine. The marshaller signaled that he or she was also ready. The pilot shouted "clear" and the propeller started turning. The excitement grew. The plane slowly moved forward and marshallers carefully guided the pilot through the line of planes to the taxiway. In the other planes, pilots and teachers were going through the same routine: the shout of "clear," propellers turning and slow taxiing to the taxiway. Soon, all the planes were airborne, each following shortly after the other down the runway, into the air. After this, it was Photo by 1 Lt. Rick Kilgore reminiscent of a World War II movie. All the airplanes were gone, the ramp was again Each pilot/teacher "crew" had their quiet and the ground crews slowly went into post flight picture taken. There were ear to the building to wait for the return of the ear grins everywhere. It was now time for aircraft. All that one could do now is wait. the remaining teachers to embark on their However, not all the teachers were educational adventure. The same routine of able to go on the first flights. A few would preflight, explanation of airplane parts, have to wait their turn until the planes and aircraft instruments, beacon on, start, taxi pilots returned from the first flight. During and take off. It was again quiet on the ramp this time, Capt Ladde Mayer led a and the waiting began for this group of discussion on the principles of aeronautics, flights to return. the basics-gravity, lift, thrust, and drag. He While this group of teachers was in also led the teachers in how to make a very the air, Capt Mayer made the same unusual paper airplane shaped like a circle presentation on aeronautics as was given that actually flew. Now, that is something earlier for the other group and this group they could take back to the classroom! was introduced to the round paper airplane. About mid morning, the worry This entire effort took a lot of preparation began. The weather radar showed a line of and planning. In addition to the senior weather moving in from the west and we members mentioned by name earlier, the had teachers in the air and some waiting to

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 3 efforts and planning included Maj. Silvano C/Lt Col Aaron Hanes Wueschner, Wing AEO, wing coordinator of Wing and SER Cadet of the Year Fly A Teacher; Maj. John Neil, the Wing Operations Officer, who scheduled the Aaron Hanes joined the Civil Air airplanes: the senior members of the Patrol at the age of 13 as a member of the Bessemer Squadron; Dr. Charlotte Draper, Keesler/Ocean Springs Composite Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for Squadron. He quickly made his presence as the Shelby County School System and, a leader known rising to the position of most importantly, the pilots who made this a Flight Sergeant. As flight sergeant, he was great day for the teachers. an integral part of the formation and We received immediate positive development of the “Dragon Flight” training comments on the day of the flights. program for newly recruited cadets. All of However, the comments made by email this was accomplished before he received really drove home that the time and effort his Wright Brothers Award. were important and worthwhile. Some of As a young cadet, Col. Hanes the email received by Lt Col Landry deployed with, the now renamed, Col. Berta included: A. Edge Composite Squadron to South "Just wanted to forward these Florida, to assist with the disaster relief comments from one of our teachers. It truly efforts after Hurricane Charley. Col. Hanes did make a difference. Thanks again" distinguished himself in the area of "Just wanted to thank you again for communications. He served as the allowing the Shelby County teachers the communications section of the Punta Gorda opportunity to fly! I am still on a high from Mission Base. He also assisted in locating, the experience and can't wait to tell disarming, and documenting over one everyone about it at school tomorrow. I will hundred ELTs. definitely encourage other teachers to As an NCO, Aaron competed as a participate in the "Fly the Teacher" program" member of the Mississippi Wing Drill Team. "I cannot remember the names of all He was one of the youngest members on the officer, pilots, cadets, etc. who met with the team but still distinguished himself as us yesterday, but please let them know how one of the stand out performers and leading much it meant to see their enthusiasm and NCOs of the team. He also assisted in the willingness to spend their Saturday with a training of his squadron’s Wing Champion bunch of educators!" Color Guard that same year. He performed "...I am a cancer survivor. After in many Color Guard presentations in all having cancer, you say things like, 'I want to positions on the Guard including the first LIVE my life!' Well, this ranks way up there annual Wreaths Across America at the on the 'LIVING' list!" Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, MS. All the press releases, newspaper As Cadet Commander of SER-MS- stories, TV clips, public service 048, Aaron was at the forefront of the announcements about what we do cannot rebuilding of the squadron after the result in the kind of impact that was the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. He result of this Fly the Teacher effort. We, as spearheaded the recruiting and training of individuals, and collectively can make a new cadets. Without his untiring devotion, difference. We did on a cloudy Saturday in the cadet squadron of MS048 would have April at the Bessemer, Alabama airport. slid into oblivion. Throughout his cadet career, C/Lt. Lt. Col. Austin Landry, Commander Col Aaron Hanes has distinguished himself Central Alabama Senior Squadron at every level of the cadet chain-of-

command at Wing and Region Encampments. As an NCO, he served as

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 4 the cadet NCOIC of Administration and as Communications Officer. As a cadet officer, Most recently, Col. Hanes has been he has served as a Squadron Commander the driving force behind the forming of the and Logistics Officer. cadet squadron of the Baldwin County Cadet Hanes has attended many Composite Squadron. He has jumped in National Cadet Special Activities including with both feet and been an excellent COS, PJOC, APJOC, and Civic Leadership example of what it means to be a cadet in Academy. At the Pararescue Jumper the Civil Air Patrol. He has steadily grown Orientation Course he learned how to push the squadron from one cadet to a squadron himself to the limit and beyond. At the of eight cadet members and eight Advanced Pararescue Jumper Orientation perspective cadets. He is currently Course he learned to lead under the stress designing a comprehensive training syllabus of simulated combat. As a new cadet officer, to train cadets in all aspects of the Civil Air Col. Hanes attended Cadet Officers School Patrol. at Maxwell Air Force Base, where he honed Aaron’s accomplishments have not many of the leadership traits that define him been limited to Civil Air Patrol. He is an as a senior cadet officer. He learned how to officer in the BCHEA Toastmasters Club. step back and look at all angles of a He has distinguished himself in forensics situation and pick the best method for winning the NCFCA Region 7 Team Policy mitigating the situation. He has passed the Debate Tournament. This year he is lessons learned at these activities on to the mentoring a younger forensics student in cadets of his squadron and wing. Later this the art of debate. He is also assisting his year, he will be representing CAP and the debate coach in teaching debate in his local United States by participating in the debate club. He distinguished himself as a International Air Cadet Exchange when he temporary employee of Columbia Southern travels to the Netherlands, where he hopes University when they relocated to their new to learn how to interact on the international campus and has been asked back on stage the way he has on the national level. multiple occasions since then. He will graduate from His Providence Academy in May where he has maintained a 4.0 GPA through all four years of High School. He plans on doing one year of service before attending college. C/Lt. Col. Aaron Hanes is an outstanding cadet that embodies the CAP Core Values. He is an excellent example and a model cadet. He has twice been awarded Wing Cadet of the Year honors (MS ’08, AL and SER ’09). In 2006, he was awarded Mississippi Wing’s Col. Berta A. Edge Communicator of the Year. He has been recognized for his service by having been awarded two Commanders Commendations (one region and one wing) and an Achievement Award for his service at the Florida Wing Summer Encampment by the Florida Wing Commander. He has been recognized for his service in Emergency Services and Disaster Relief Wayne Fisk, CMSgt, USAF (ret.) air force with the Find Ribbon (two bronze devices) pararescueman and C/Lt. Col. Hanes the Air Search and Rescue Ribbon and the

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 5 Disaster Relief Ribbon (with “V” device). He has the Cadet Community Service Ribbon Additional information can be obtained from for over 1500 hours of service. He holds the Wing Chaplain, Lt. Col. Hyde. technician ratings in Communications and Emergency Services. He is a rated Ground Lt. Col. Dan Hyde, CAP Team Leader. Alabama Wing Chaplain

Andrew Hanes, 1LT, CAP Deputy Commander (Cadets) SER-AL-112 Alabama Wing Participates in Multiday, Multiagency Simulation

Chaplain Information What started out as a statewide interoperability mission with the Alabama The Spring 2009 edition of State EMA, DHS, and other state and our Chaplain Corps Newsletter is now federal agencies, soon turned into a full day available. Please use the following link to of missions. The Interoperability Mission access the current edition: was to simulate a Category 4 – 5 hurricane impacting the Mobile, Alabama area, and http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap_nati traveling through the state. The purpose onal_hq/chaplain_corps/chaplain_newslette was for the Alabama Wing to practice with r.cfm multiple State and Federal Emergency Services by providing, airborne Our newsletter is released quarterly. An communications, aerial photography and email, including the link for access, will equipment transport. be sent to all Chaplain Corps Personnel. Email addresses are compiled using information in eService. Therefore, please verify the accuracy of your information in eServices to ensure continued receipt.

Chaplain Corps Operating Procedure 2009-001 6 April 2009

(This CCOP is in effect until suspended, amended, or no longer needed.) The Alabama Wing had been This CCOP provides the guidelines for CAP scheduled to fly two aircraft for SDIS and an Chaplains who wish to support the military. airborne repeater for the Interoperability Mission, and fly one aircraft on a Counter MILITARY SUPPORT GUIDELINES Drug High-bird Mission. The day quickly filled with actual • Criteria mandated by the Air Force Emergency Service missions. After several Chaplain Corps tornados had touched down throughout the • Criteria mandated by the Civil Air state the day before, the Alabama Wing was Patrol Chaplain Corps tasked by the Alabama EMA for SDIS It is signed photos of the storm damage near Huntsville, Chaplain Whitwoodard, Col. CAP Alabama. Chief of the Chaplain Corps

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 6 throughout the day in support of all of the missions.

While flying on the SDIS mission, several Alabama Wing Aircraft started Major John Neil, Alabama Director of receiving an active ELT in Southern Operations, and Major David Hester, Alabama. Reports from Atlanta Center Alabama Wing Director of Communications, soon started coming in of a report of an both of the ICs for the missions, stated that aircraft in “Distress”, then later of an this day was a practice for the upcoming airplane crash in southern Alabama. After Wing SAR EVAL in June 2009, and was several hours of searching, the non-distress about as realistic of a possible hurricane ELT was located at Fort Rucker Army landfall as you could have, without having Aviation Center, near Dothan, Alabama. No the real thing happening. Alabama Wing actual distress aircraft was ever confirmed tasks included real events and simulations or found. The "crash" was non-existent. and met each task successfully.

Major John P. Neil, CAP Director of Operations Alabama Wing CAP

Photos by Alabama SDIS crews.

Alabama Veterans of the 1948-1949 Berlin Airlift Honored at Alabama German Celebration of the “60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift”, by The Alabama Wing also had an Harold A. Coghlan aircraft demonstrate the FMV (Full Motion Video) for the Alabama State EMA and On February 27th, 2009, the FEMA agencies. The equipment is being Alabama Veterans of the 1948-1949 Berlin designed and tested by the Alabama Wing Airlift were celebrated, honored, and for the Battle Labs at the Redstone Rocket awarded special German American Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Freedom Awards at the beautiful new wing Communications units from the of the Southern Museum of Flight. These Mississippi, Florida and Georgia Wings also special awards were issued by the German participated via HF-communications Nets, Government in recognition of America having saved the people of Berlin and

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 7 having stopped the Communist aggression instead of the 17,000), and with just a few by Russia’s Communist post-World War 2 thousand Army troops confronted by regime of Joseph Stalin. All in all, 19 out of Russia’s 300,000 troops and 33 tank the 22 known, living, Alabama resident Air divisions in East Germany alone, as well as Force veterans of this monumental airlift thousands of aircraft stationed in East were present at the celebration, reception Germany and Poland. Basically, Russia had and dinner. the military might that if it had wanted to This celebration was put together by invade the rest of Western Europe, neither Trish Coghlan, Executive Director of the the United States nor its Allies had the Alabama Germany Partnership (AGP), with military power to stop them. But then, the the help of AGP volunteers and Board American Forces in Occupied Germany had Members, along with the support of the a brave and fearless leader, Army General Government of the Federal Republic of Lucius Clay and USAF Lt Gen Curtis LeMay Germany, the German Embassy in (the same leader who would later build up Washington, D.C., the Office of the Consul the USAF Strategic Air Command into a General of Germany in Atlanta, GA, the fearsome nuclear deterrent force). Because Office of the Honorary Consul of Germany the West was so weak, Russia felt it could in Alabama, the United States Air Force, the blockade Berlin and choke off and starve Alabama Air National Guard’s 117th Air the city of 2.5 million West Berliners, forcing Refueling Wing, the Alabama Wing of the the Germans to capitulate and become Civil Air Patrol and United States Air Force Communists just to get food. But the West Auxiliary, the Southern Museum of Flight Germans did not want to become (SMF), and several German and American Communists, and Gen. Clay would not let companies, such as ISE Innomotive the Russians win, in one of America’s “finest Systems, Inc.,Hofmann Services, Freund hours”. Deutch, Magic Express Airlines, Inc, and the Joseph H. Brady Assembly of the Knights of Columbus.

From TrumanLibrary.org

On June 24, 1948, the Russians closed off all roads and railroads leading to Dr. Lutz Georgens, the German Consul General West Berlin, blockading the city. Gen. Clay asked Lt Gen LeMay if the (newly Most people don’t remember how fragile established) Air Force could “haul coal to and precarious the peace was in Europe Berlin”, and LeMay answered “how much do after World War II, with most Western you want us to haul?” In reality, as much as European countries having been bombed LeMay wanted to haul the coal and and demolished and without any significant supplies, the sheer numbers and the military forces, with the United States complexity of the logistics made it an almost having a mere fraction of the military and air impossible feat. Most of the cargo planes in power it once had in Europe (1200 aircraft

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 8 Europe were C-47 (DC-3) types that could at the Western controlled airfields inside haul 2 tons (4000 Lbs) of cargo, and to heat West Berlin, Tempelhof, Gatow and later and feed the 2.5 million Berliners would Tegel (which was built from scratch and have required 2,500 C-47 flights a day (for opened on November 5th, 1948). The Airlift the 5,000 tons or 10 Million Pounds daily originally started with small C-47’s, and the requirement)! The first C-47 flight flew into Allies grew the Airlift by using four engine Templehof, and LeMay soon realized he transports, mostly USAF C-54’s but also needed a bigger plane. That plane was the dozens of British four engine York cargo Douglas C-54 (equivalent to the DC-4 planes (they looked like the Halifax bomber) airliner), which could carry 10 tons of cargo and even some Shorts Sunderland four (20,000 Lbs). At that rate, “only” 500 flights engine floatplanes which used to land in the a day were needed!!! Lt Gen LeMay put Air Berlin river (the floatplanes carried salt and Force Major General William Tunner in suffered terrible corrosion problems). charge of the Berlin Airlift, since Tunner had The Berlin Airlift defied all the run the airlift over the China-India-Burma Russian expectations and sinister attempts area in World War II. Gen. Tunner devised a to make it fail, such as when they would turn way for the airlift to succeed, using two on false NDB stations with the same predesignated corridors going into Berlin, frequencies inside East Germany to fool the and one corridor to return back to West Allied pilots into flying into Russian Germany. With the use of the corridors, and controlled airfields, or when Russian Yak-3 with airplanes assigned pre-set altitudes for and Yak-9 single engine prop fighters would their routes, and using Ground Control fly alongside the Allied crews in the air Approach Radar (GCA), and in great part corridors to harass them, with one Russian due to the “can-do” attitude of the aircrews Yak crashing intentionally into a British (their motto was “we’ll make it work”), Gen. cargo plane! Not only did the Berlin Airlift Tunner’s Airlift managed to fly all the succeed beyond all expectations, on one needed supplies to feed, clothe, heat and particular day (16 April 1949), nicknamed house the 2.5 million West Berliners. the “Easter Parade”, 1,383 flights were Everything had to be brought in by air, not flown in one day carrying a total of 12,800 only food and coal, but also paper, tons (a whopping 25.6 Million Pounds of construction equipment, cement, steel and cargo in one day!). The Communist Russian anything else was needed to keep Berlin government of Joseph Stalin realized that alive, and alive Berlin stayed! neither the American nor British Air Forces could be defeated or deterred in their Airlift, and neither was the brave and defiant spirit of the West Berliners going to be broken!

On 12 May, 1949, Russia finally gave up on the Berlin blockade and opened up again the railroads and highways that connected West Berlin to West Germany via Russian dominated East Germany terrain. The Berlin Airlift continued until 30 September, 1949, just to be sure, and by the time it had stopped there were some

incredible statistics of bravery and The American and British aircrews perseverance: 2.3 Million tons of cargo had and ground crews managed to create one been airlifted (=4,600,000,000 Lbs or 4.6 giant air bridge, flying from airbases in West Billion Pounds of cargo), on 277,569 flights Germany such as Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, over 16 months (an average of more than RAF Fassberg and Celle, and going to land 17,300 flights per month, or nearly 600 flight

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 9 per day!), feeding 2.5 Million West Berliners, hundred other guests. Among the spirited at a cost of 31 US, 39 British and 13 and engaging speakers were Gerhard Graf German lives and 70 major aircraft from the AGP, Ms. Debby Dahl representing accidents! But however costly in human and Alabama Governor Bob Riley, economic currency, the Berlin Airlift proved Congressman Spencer Bachus, who spoke to be the key decisive moment in world of his own uncle who was present having history where the West stood up to Russian been a B-17 bomber pilot and later POW in aggression and refused to cave in, refused Germany, and who later flew cargo into to let a new ally (West Germany) be Berlin helping his onetime war adversaries. dominated by Communist Russia, and put Others were USAF Colonel Polyanna the world on notice that America and it’s Paddin who teaches at the USAF Air War Allies were still a force to be reckoned with! College in Montgomery after a career of After all of these years, and after all of the combat flying as a cargo pilot herself, humanitarian airlifts that America and it’s Colonel Wolfgang Samuel, USAF(Ret), who Allies have been involved with (Tsunamis, was born in Germany and survived the war earthquakes, disasters, etc), the Berlin Airlift and the Berlin blockade to later fly 30 years of 1948-1949 still stands as the Greatest in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Lutz Georgens, Humanitarian Airlift ever accomplished! the German Consul General, Bruce Jones, Honorary German Consul General in Alabama, and Trish Coghlan of the Alabama Germany Partnership.

The 117th Air Refueling Wing (Alabama ANG) provided the Color Guard and impressed all with their polished presentation. The Alabama Wing of the Civil Air Patrol/United states Air Force Auxiliary, provided a very sharp looking Honor Guard for the Airlift veterans composed of 8 Cadets (Flight Officer Rebecca Balliet, C/Lt Lt. Col. Coghlan, Col. Wolfgang Samuel, Dr. Charlie Murphy, C/MSgt Joey Kimble, Lutz Georganz C/SrAmn Thomas Fay, C/A1C Devron

Smith from the 117th ANG Squadron and To celebrate this monumental Airlift, C/A1C Jacob McGowin, C/A1C Andrew the German Government created a McGowin, and C/TSgt Jessica Ernest from wonderful photo exhibit which is on display the Chilton Squadron). Lt Col Harold at a few selected cities (and here at the Coghlan, Director of Safety for Alabama Southern Museum of Flight for the next ten Wing stood in for the Wing Commander, days), and wanted to recognize and award Col. Mike Oakman. special German American Freedom awards to as many surviving Berlin Airlift veterans as possible. Trish Coghlan of the AGP worked with the German Embassy to bring the exhibit to Birmingham and tracked down 22 surviving veterans living in Alabama, who were invited to the 60th Anniversary Celebration at the Southern Museum of Flight, hosted by Dr. Jim Griffith, Curator of the Museum. There were a number of very interesting speakers who addressed the veterans, their families and nearly two

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 10

CAPT Lynn Toney Receives Aerospace Award

On behalf of Tom Gwaltney, Alabama Air Force Association President, I would like to extend our deepest congratulations to you in being named the 2009 Alabama AFA AE Teacher of the Year!!!! This is a well- Congressman Spencer Bachus with USAF deserved award for you! veteran pilot Thomas Moseley As the Tennessee Valley AFA Chapter AFA The Anniversary celebration at the Southern AE Teacher of the Year, you were Museum of Flight was followed by a special automatically placed in the state VIP Dinner held at the Southern Museum of competition. You were unanimously Flight for the 19 Airlift veterans present and selected as the winner for the state award! their families, hosted by the Alabama Germany Partnership. Many of these veterans told the author how much they had enjoyed their “moment in the spotlight”, and how this was the first time they had been given any public recognition for the monumental job they did in conducting the Berlin Airlift! It took 60 years to do it, but they were very emotional about receiving all this attention.

As I looked at these older Airmen, I could not help but feel a great bond with them and a great debt of gratitude for their great sacrifice on behalf of the Western world. The saddest part was to think that of Receiving the Huntsville Chapter AFA Teacher the hundreds of Air Force Airlift veterans of the Year Award that must have been alive and living in Alabama at one time, only 22 were I am certain that your principal, Mr. Beck, traceable by Trish Coghlan. We were very your assistant superintendent, Dr. Haney, lucky that 19 of those 22 veterans were able and your superintendent, Mr. Dishman, all to attend the 60th Anniversary Celebration of join me in applauding the work you do both the Berlin Airlift at the Southern Museum of in and out of the classroom to promote Flight, and the pictures that accompany this aerospace education to the young people article show their excitement and the great with whom you come in contact each day. event that celebrated Aviation History in The efforts you put forth are clearly defining Alabama. the future paths for these students- paths that will lead them toward successful Lt. Col Harold A. Coghlan futures- in whatever career path they each Safety Officer select.

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 11 The Air Force Association is so very Flying Teachers, ROTC Cadets and pleased that we have teachers in our state JROTC Flights in Alabama who are so dedicated to ensuring that young people are prepared---academically, Across the state of Alabama during physically, and morally--- to be the future the month of April, Civil Air Patrol pilots citizens of our state. YOU are a stellar have been flying teachers in the Fly a example of that dedication. Thank you for Teacher Program, ROTC cadets and your work. JROTC cadets. Flights for teachers this year have been in Dothan, Shelby 132, Maxwell, Bessemer and Albertville. Pilots and aircraft have come from across the state to various airports to support each of the programs. JROTC Flights have been flown in Shelby County 127, Maxwell, and Redstone. ROTC flights were in Mobile, Auburn and Tuscaloosa.

Receiving Special Commendation from CAP for Lynn's two-year coordination of the CAP Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) Program for grades K-6.

I will be working with you and the Tennessee Valley Chapter representatives, Rick Driesbach, Chapter President, and Photo by Capt. Lynn Toney John Phillip, Chapter VP for AE, to determine a day that we can come and Coordinated by Maj. Silvano make a presentation to you while you are Wueschner, eight Fly A Teacher events among your students. Please let me know have been held across the state this spring. a couple of days on or after May 15 that we Many of them were making a first flight in a could do so. Then, we will coordinate small airplane. Safety, expectations, amongst ourselves to get this done for you! weather and its effects on flight were

discussed before each pilot and the two We will also plan to formally present the teachers assigned to be the crew left to award to you at our state conference in preflight the aircraft using the checklists August. CAP pilots use before each sortie flown.

Susan Mallett, Alabama Air Force Association Teachers flew to a second airport, Vice President, Aerospace Education switched positions in the aircraft and returned the mission base. During the flight, the pilots explained the controls and the instruments.

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 12

Photo by Capt Jerry Lusk Photo by Capt. Jerry Lusk

After the flight, they discussed how JROTC flights and ROTC flights this experience could be used in the follow a very similar outline. JROTC classroom. "I'm going to make a program provides orientation flight to the Air PowerPoint Presentation to show my Force ROTC program in high schools. students," one teacher said as she Many Air Force JROTC cadets make their photographed the airplane she was going to first flight with Civil Air Patrol affording these fly in. young people an opportunity to visualize themselves in the USAF or in an aviation CAP provided suggested lesson career. Forty-four young people have been plans through the aerospace program and able to take advantage of this program the web site provides much information for them. ROTC flights provide college and university Air Force ROTC cadets the opportunity to see what their careers might include if they choose to continue in the career path that ROTC provides. Even at this level, some take their first flight in a Civil Air Patrol airplane. Forty-five AFROTC cadets have flown with the Alabama Wing from November 2008 to April 2009.

CAP volunteers use their skills to present Civil Air Patrol at its best when teachers and ROTC and JROTC cadets fly

Photo by Capt. Jerry Lusk with Civil Air Patrol pilots.

During the last six months seventy- nine classroom teachers have viewed Alabama from the air as participants in the US Space and Rocket Center Fly A Teacher program. Each of the events Teachers Take to the Skies with Civil was supported by pilots, staff and squadron Air Patrol’s Fly-a-Teacher Program volunteers. Dodging downpours of rain and intermittent low cloud cover, twenty-three US Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) educator space camp attendees took to the skies Saturday, June 13, from Madison

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 13 County Executive Air Field, in Huntsville, Teachers were given a pre-flight Alabama. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) pilots flew orientation to the airplane, a chance to try in from all parts of the state to provide the out the controls in-flight, and the opportunity teachers a small aircraft orientation flight to take aerial photographs to share with experience. their students. CAP Lt Ron Harlan flew three sets of teachers. “Flying these teachers brings a special reward in seeing their new enthusiasm about aviation. Each teacher has a unique perspective on how the experience can be transferred into classroom instruction. There is never a dull moment when teachers are in the air!”

Photo by 1st Lt. Kim Miller, Redstone PAO

This aviation experience lifted off the teachers’ week-long attendance at “Space Camp for Educators.” The teachers came from all parts of the country to attend. This event was the first such partnership initiative between CAP and the USSRC to provide Photo by Maj. P. Mitcham this added opportunity for space camp In addition to the orientation airplane teachers. flight, the teachers were also given a day of

aeronautical instruction by CAP National “The purpose of CAP’s Fly-a- Headquarters staff. Angie St John, National Teacher Program is to introduce teachers to Headquarters AE Program Manager, the aviation experience so they can, in turn, explained that the workshop provided the share their new-found aerial excitement and teachers a variety of inquiry-based activities knowledge with their students,” said Silvano to supplement and enrich their core Wueschner, the CAP’s Alabama Wing curriculum in science, technology, Director of Aerospace Education. engineering and math (STEM).

Photo by Maj. P. Mitcham Photo by Maj. P. Mitcham

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 14 eligible for the Fly-a-Teacher Program. AE membership entitles teachers across the “The ultimate goal in sharing CAP’s AE nation access to over 20 national academic mission with teachers is to provide teachers standards-based educational products to with aerospace-themed programs and enhance the K-12 curriculum, as well as an products to inspire young people toward awards program, classroom grants, and STEM-related careers.” Another hopeful professional development opportunities. outcome of the program is the introduction For more information about CAP’s AE and of the CAP cadet program to the teachers’ Fly-a-Teacher Programs, go to students. www.gocivilairpatrol.com, or contact [email protected]. Teachers who are Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) of CAP are

Special thanks to all the AL Wing Much appreciation goes to the NHQ team members who participated in the event: who led the AE workshop for the teachers: Lt Col Gene Mitcham, Maj Pat Mitcham, Angie St John, Susan Mallett, Judy Stone, Capt Andy Boyer, 1Lt Kim Miller, Maj and Debbie Dahl. Anthony Beresford, Maj Ray Hara, 1Lt Harvey Yarborough, Capt Carlton Foster, Finally, gratitude is extended to 1Lt Joe Robbins, and Capt Don Hunnicutt. USSRC staff that assisted in the event: AL Wing Commander, Col Mike Oakman, CAP Maj Rhonda Cox, Katrine Balch, and Vice Commander, Lt Col David Boswell, Ruth Marie Oliver. and Maj John Neil were not able to fly in due to the weather all around the area, but Susan Mallett, Aerospace Education lent their support in planning the event. National CAP

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 15 Boaz and Pell City Squadrons The Spring Bash 2009 supported Support Air Show Hospice of Marshall County. Civil Air Patrol cadets served their community, their Alabama Civil Air Patrol cadets squadrons and the Alabama Wing well. supported the Spring Bash 2009 air show in Albertville, AL. Pell City Squadron cadets Photos taken by Capt. Lynn Toney, AEO for joined Boaz Middle School cadets BCSS Squadron AL 801. monitoring the aircraft on display from 10:00 AM until 3:30 PM. Cadets used radio communications to keep track of assignments and schedules. During refueling, cadets formed a line at the safety Alabama Wing Earns "Successful" marker to keep pedestrians away from the fueling area. for SAREVAL

The Alabama Wing Civil Air Patrol earned a grade of “Successful” for the search and rescue/disaster relief (SAR/DR) evaluation at Madison County Executive Airport. In spite of heat index numbers approaching 100, thirty-seven volunteers from across the state signed in and were assigned air and ground sorties. Eight CAP- USAF personnel graded the mission, a simulation of SAR/DR activities.

Commander 1st Lt Sonya Erskine, Boaz Middle School, and 1st Lt. Cynthia Bennett, Pell City Squadron, supervised the cadets as they worked near the display aircraft and when the cadets worked at the recruiting booth.

1st Lt. Joe Robbins, Lt. Col. Otha Vaughan, Capt. Barry Roberts plan high bird flight

Civil Air Patrol volunteers spent 400 man hours working the different aspects of the mission, including both air and ground sorties. Additional time was spent in preparation for the mission.

Tasks during the evaluation included aerial photography of places in North Alabama which could be affected by serious weather events. Satellite Digital Imaging System (SDIS) operators photographed areas using

July 2009 Citizen Serving Communities: Above and Beyond 16 the satellite system as requested by Operations and planning sections officials. worked with the scenario of two overdue aircraft and simulated storm damage to assign missions. By early afternoon all parts of the exercise had been accomplished. One practice target was located in Cullman County by an air sortie and retrieved by a ground team guided in by the aircraft. The second target was found west of Huntsville. Thirty-two air sorties were briefed and dispatched.

Moulton, as seen by SDIS crew

A medical transport task was included to insure that CAP pilots could support the American Red Cross or other medical units who might ask for support. Radio communications between ground teams, aircraft and mission base personnel would be critical during a real event. Mission base personnel set up HF and VHF radios to insure that the various CAP components could send and receive messages. Civil Air Patrol volunteers use exercises such as this become more proficient in the skills they would use if needed by local, state or federal officials.

Photos from Tuscaloosa Air Show

Lt.Col. Brad Lynn, Capt. Ande Boyer, Lt. Col. Gene Spruille, and Capt Gary Bishop plan a sortie.

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Great day at Tuscaloosa air show for Updated Reference Material Web Links dedicated CAP member. 2nd Lt. Mike (2009) Epsman is side by side with Blue Angel pilots Capt.Tom Bunker & Capt.Brian CAP Media Policy Lauber next to an F18 Hornet Fighter Jet. http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap_nati Photos by Capt Mike Carr. 2nd Lt. Epsman onal_hq/public_affairs/cap_media_policy/ is under hospice care and still participated in the activities at the air show. CAP Public Affairs Program - CAPR 190-1 (4 June 2007) http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/c ms/R190_001.pdf

CAP Notification Procedures in Case of Death, Injury, or Serious Illness - CAPR 35- 2 (15 July 1998) http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/c ms/u_082203092317.pdf

CAP Emergency Services Training and Operational Missions - CAPR 60-3 (26 May 2004) http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/c

ms/u_082503073358.pdf

CAP PAO Toolkit http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap_nati onal_hq/public_affairs/cap_pao_toolkit/

“The Air Force New Media guide and video are now available online. Read about them and find links at Air Force Live http://ow.ly/2xOK

The actual guide is at http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document /AFD-090406-036.pdf”

The next Newsletter will be in October.

The deadline for material, pictures, Public Affairs announcements will be September 25, 2009.

Public Affairs Links can be found in the next column. Every squadron PAO should be familiar with them. All members with Facebook, MySpace, blogs and so on should be familiar with the AF Media Guide and be sure that your material is consistent with the AF guide and follows CAP regulation.

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