Fall 2020 BamaBama ExpressExpress Official Publication of Alabama Wing, Civil Air Patrol Squadron of the Year Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Bama Express is the official publication of the Alabama Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. It is published twice a year by the Alabama Wing Public Affairs Staff. Bama Express is published by a private firm which is not associated with the Commander’s Corner Department of the Air Force or the Civil Air Patrol Corporation. The appearance of Col. James A. Harris, CAP, Alabama Wing Commander advertisements for products and services, as well as supplements and inserts found in this magazine, does not constitute Well, I marked a great mile- endorsement by the United States Air stone in April 2020 by com- Force or the Civil Air Patrol Corporation. pleting my first year as the Alabama Wing Commander, Alabama Wing Commander and I have enjoyed every minute Col. James A. Harris, CAP of it. However, this has been a different and unprecedented Director of Public Affairs kind of year for all of us. We Capt. Cynthia Collette, CAP experienced a pandemic unlike anything we have ever seen in Editor my lifetime. Additionally, we Capt. Cynthia Collette, CAP have experienced civil unrest throughout our country, which Article submissions are always reminds us all to embrace diver- welcome. Please send them in sity for the greater good. As Microsoft Word format to Capt. I indicated a year ago, we are Cynthia Collette, Editor, Bama “One” Alabama Wing much Express at [email protected]. Attach like we are one Civil Air Patrol. photos (in jpeg format) to your We embrace one another along Command Council set some email and make certain to include with our differing backgrounds achievable goals for you for the full caption information for each in support of our different mis- year 209, and you accomplished photo at the end of your article. sion sets. We must continue to a majority of them. First, you be a diverse organization where helped grow our membership Article Submissions - every member is of importance above ,000 members, which is Next Issue Submission and everyone can make a valu- the first time we have seen those Deadline: March 1st, 2021 able contribution to this Wing, kinds of totals in a few years. this State, and our Country. Our new goal will be to grow the Headquarters We will continue working as Wing by 20% in the next year. Alabama Wing, Civil Air Patrol a premier Wing in this Region Our Cadet Programs continues 111 South Kuter St., Bldg. 711 achieving Civil Air Patrol’s to be a strong program for this Maxwell AFB, AL 36112 three mission areas: Emergency Wing with 43 Cadets in the Services, Cadet Programs, and ranks. We would like to grow Phone: 334-406-9770 Aerospace Education. Your Continued on page . For information on advertising rates COVER CAPTION: 2019 Squadron of the Year Redstone Composite and space, please call: Squadron adapts to virtual meetings. 1-800-635-6036 Samuel James Guthrie, Sr. (1927-2020) CAP Cadet 1943-1945 US Army Air Force (9th AAF) 1945-1948 Article by Lt. Col. Kim Miller Samuel J. Guthrie was born August 9th, 927 in Wilmington, Delaware to par- ents Rowland J. Guthrie and Catherine T. (Rowe) Guthrie. During his teenage years, WWII was in progress in Europe and Asia; however, the United States was sitting on the side- lines. Although the U.S. wasn’t involved in the conflict young men were still being drafted for one year of military ser- vice. Consequently, CAP had just been formed December st 94 as part of the civilian defense program (hence the CAP logo with the triangle and the three bladed prop). During this time, young Sam Guthrie was in the 9th grade and work- ing at the Wilmington Ball Guthrie CAP Family Park, working, whether it was before, during, or after a game. If other activities were happening at the ball park, old, he wanted to do his part in the war effort. With he was there for those also. On one day in particu- a passion for building model airplanes and glid- lar, December 7th, 94, there was a professional ers, and the desire to fly, he joined the Delaware football team playing at the ballpark while he was Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). CAP at working. He was going back and forth between the this time didn’t own any aircraft, so they were refreshment stands and the kitchen when he heard supplied by the all-volunteer pilots. The Cadets a radio news flash that Pearl Harbor had been primarily trained to become Army Air Force attacked. He said that at that time they’d never aviation cadets (Air Corps Cadet Program), and heard of “Pearl Harbor.” Attending the game that studied all aspects of aviation from ground-school, day there were a lot of “Gls” (soldiers); however, navigation, aircraft engines, “Link Trainers” due to the breaking news they were told to “return (mechanical cockpit flight simulators), and first to base immediately.” aid. While serving as a Cadet member, he achieved With WWII in progress, and being 5 years the rank of st Sergeant which at that time was 2 2 the highest rank a cadet could attain. Initially Cadet Ranks had officer ranks, but they were eliminated early on. He was eventually promoted to the position of Cadet Squadron Commander of the Wilmington Squadron of the Delaware Wing. In addition, to the normal CAP duties of search and rescue, the Delaware Wing was involved in another vital mis- sion for the country. That mission was to perform coastal patrols in search of German submarines, downed airmen, and sailor survivors from sunken ships in the Atlantic Ocean. Wilmington Cadets in 1944 Even the High Schools were getting involved in the war effort. They formed radio groups known as the Victory Corps. along Guthrie deployed and went through basic training with many other students, Sam got involved and he like “greased lightning.” After graduating from actually became the team captain. Another orga- Basic, he was sent to Europe to replace a veteran nization he joined was the Air Corps Air Combat B-26 Bomber gunner Sergeant named George Crew Reserve (ACACCR) and was a member for Knowles. After the war was over, he remained in a year while patiently waiting for orders to active Germany and received orders to act as an escort duty with the U.S. Army Air Force. In 945, while at the Nurnberg (Nuremberg) trials. It was at the waiting on those orders, he left to do his annual Nurnberg, while escorting dependents that he CAP training, known as “Encampment”, which and some of his fellow GIs met the German Field was taking place at the P-47 Advanced Fighter Marshal Herman Goering, who was on trial for Base in Dover, Delaware. It was during this train- “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” ing that the ‘A-Bomb’ was dropped in order to Later, after leaving the service, he married his convince the Japanese to Surrender! It was also sweetheart Elizabeth M. Loughery, whom he met while he was attending the training at the Air when she was 7 and he was 9; however, they Base; that he received his orders to deploy with the married when she was 22 and he was a month short ACACCR. Sadly the “bad” news was that the Air of 25. They raised 3 sons and a daughter who in Corps Cadet Program was closed and all but basic turn gave them 6 granddaughters and 6 grandsons. training had been stopped. 8 year-old Private Their oldest sons, who were interested in flying, became CAP cadets. One of those sons is Lt. Col. Michael J. Guthrie of the Alabama Wing, whose wife Capt. Dorothy Guthrie, son (Maj Michael Guthrie) and two daughters (Capt. Holly Andino and Capt. Catherine Guthrie) are also members of the Alabama Wing CAP today. His CAP decorations include the Wartime Service Ribbon, Tow-Target & Tracking Ribbon, the WWII Missing Aircraft Ribbon, and the Congressional Gold Medal. His US Army Air Force (AAF) decorations include the Presidential Unit Citation, American European Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and European Occupation ribbon. H Dover AAF 1945 3 3 Commander’s Corner Continued from page 1. these numbers by 0% to 20% while continuing to they are working to ensure all of our vehicles are improve our cadet training activities. Additionally, properly equipped to support our communication we continue to work the Aerospace Education requirements. Again, the Wing leadership needs program at all levels. This year 62 of our Senior to know that their messages are getting to the low- Members achieved their Yeager Award. This est levels of the Wing’s personnel channels. At year I challenge all senior members to become the same time, you should be able to raise issues more active in our Aerospace Education Program or questions upward within the Command lines. and the Yeager is a great start for this program. Communication is a key to our eventual success! Through this effort we will continue making it a Finally, I am putting new emphasis on our top-notch program. Professional Development (PD) Program this From the operations and emergency services year. With this in mind, your Wing PD Director perspective, you have made tremendous progress is laying a foundation for the implementation of through the use of Wing, Group, and local level CAP’s Volunteer University program throughout training activities. Even with the pandemic threat, the Wing.