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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTexas Wing Civil Air Patrol 1973-1975 TEXAS WING CIVIL AIR PATROL 1973 -1975 WIDER HORIZONS The 62nd Texas Legislature recognized the Texas Wing Civil Air Patrol by creating the CAP Commission. (Senate Bill 4, Chapter 521). The law charges the Commission with 1: Improving and promoting the voluntary deployment of the Texas Civil Air Patrol, its resources, man power and equipment in search and rescue operations; 2: Provide ade- quate financing for the operations of the Texas Civil Air Patrol; 3: Improve civil defense disaster capabilities by joint operating agreements with the Department of Public Safety; and 4: Promoting and conducting active aerospace education and training programs for the youth of Texas. When and if this Bill is adequately funded by the State to augment the limited services and voluntary donations that have built the Texas Wing to its present level, the CAP in Texas will be second to none in its youth aerospace and leadership training and emergency services /disaster relief capabilities. Through the CAP Commission, the State of Texas now has the opportunity to provide the necessary financial as- sistance that has been long overdue. For the past 31 years the Texas Wing of the Civil Air ��. p{R ppl Patrol has maintained a constant vigil over our state. Al- A 9 �l ways ready to bring immediate aid and support to disaster stricken areas, this organization also provides communi- cations and air, as well as ground, transportation to other relief agencies working in the same area. This vital and most important task of immediate relief USAF and support is accomplished by men and women from ' fxfoaa k all walks of life. Some are wealthy; most have limited means. A great number are students. But as diversified as their backgrounds may be, they are bound by one common interest ... the desire to help their fellow man in distress. TEXAS WING Today, as ever, the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol CIVIL AIR PATROL stands ready to act on a moment's notice. Our mission may P. O. BOX 3353 consist of flying relief to a hurricane stricken coastal town, TYLER, TEX. 75701 air - lifting a sick child from a remote area to a city hospi- tal, searching for a lost plane, or any one of a thousand others. Regardless of the mission, our members give free- p,IR A` ly of their time, talent, and personal resources. � �' ti 1 find it a privilege to be associated with them. 0 � }tF * , 01/42/t' I 4 * % �v �1E D S • JOSEPH L. CROMER Colonel, CAP Commander • On Dec. 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) came into BORN OF being — born of the desire of patriotic civilian flyers who be- lieved that a civil air organization was needed to support the United States. The late mayor of New York, Fiorello La DESIRE Guardia, in his capacity as director of the newly formed Office of Civilian Defense, signed the order which made CAP a very real part of the war effort. Its wartime exploits are sagas of volunteer pilots and AND their light aircraft seeking out and, at times, destroying Nazi U- boats. In the 18 months it operated during World War II, CAP PATRIOTISM was credited with spotting 173 enemy submarines, and was actually given credit for sinking two. CAP pilots also patrolled borders, acted as special couriers, spotted forest fires, and towed aerial targets for antiaircraft ground batteries. They offered their time, their airplanes, and their talents. Sixty -four CAP members had given their lives for their country by V -J Day in 1945. "Sighted Sub — Sank Same" World War II 46- 6, 4 6." The mission of the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol DUTY HAS is to employ voluntarily its resources of manpower and equipment in search and rescue, to provide relief to disaster strickened areas, to assist other relief agencies, to carry ITS out airlift mercy missions, to cooperate with civil defense agencies, to promote safety in flying, to motivate the youth of Texas to the highest ideals of leadership and public service, and to further the aerospace education of the state. R ESPONSI EMERGENCY RELIEF SERVICES To accomplish its role of providing emergency relief BILITIES services to the state, the Texas Wing of CAP is organized into 118 squadrons located throughout the state. Its mem- bership includes approximately 1700 senior members and about 1600 cadets. Over 900 of the senior members are pilots. The remaining members provide such vital functions as those of observ- ers, radio operators, aircraft maintenance, drivers, ground rescue, first aid, education, training and administra- tion. The Wing maintains 60 corporate aircraft and it is sup- , ported by an additional 300 member -owned aircraft. In accordance with the Texas Emergency Operations Plan, the Texas Wing responded to 29 missions in 1969. In 1970 this number increased to 91 missions and in 1971 this increased to 99. By the end of the first half of 1972, the Wing had already responded to 45 calls. The total of these missions represent more than 3000 � c. - �� 4 , .:::f.'...;.'-‘ ' • / a. Some of Texas Wing's Civil Air Patrol members examine the damage left by Hurricane Celia in 1972. w M flying hours and over 15,000 hours of work by the ground crews. In addition, during this same period, members spent hundred of thousands of hours training and maintaining equipment in readiness for any emergency call -up. Hurricane Relief— At the time of Hurricane Celia, which devastated Corpus Christi, the Civil Air Patrol was the first on the scene. CAP radio equipped vehicles were made available to the local police force to replace those destroyed. The CAP also furnished all the communications facilities required by the Red Cross and provided airlift for the most urgent situations. It played an important role in the search and rescue of survivors. Winter Operations — During the 1971 winter storm in the Amarillo area, hundreds of stranded motorists were located and aided by CAP flying patrols. The CAP has also helped the farmer by flying feed to stranded cattle. Search and Rescue — A recent statewide search for a miss- ing Air Force F -111 saw the Texas Wing around the clock for 18 days in a row. Over 750 personnel were on duty at all times...volunteers taking time off from their work, many forfeiting pay, to answer the call for help. These are but a few examples of the many ways in which the CAP renders aid. No other organization in the state of Texas, private or government, is qualified, ready and equipped to perform this service. X _ L - In a society torn by permissiveness, lacking in guidance C ADET and challenged by defiance to law and order, the Cadet Program of the Civil Air Patrol becomes an important tool at the disposal of responsible citizens. P ROG RAM The purpose of the program is simple...to create respon- sible citizens trained to be the leaders of tomorrow. The Cadet Program, which is open to boys and girls ages 13 through 17, gives the cadet a goal which can be reached through education in the home, school, church and the CAP. It teaches the young person discipline and responsibility giving them a sense of accomplishment through the many achievements and activities offered. Senior members donate their time, experience and re- sources working with the cadets training them to assume the role of good and participating citizens...the kind that made this country great. The Cadet Program also plays a secondary, but important, role. It assures the state of Texas of a continuing supply of manpower, knowledge and dedication that maintains the CAP in its role of service to the state. 4 • r 3 k„- \ . - , 1 g� z ✓ r .-- m ''i;',', iffge„,(1:' . r rte' II C IVIL AIR Patrol members participating in an Emergency Services Search and Rescue Mission prepare their aircraft for an early start on their flight. TEXAS CIVIL AIR PATROL D. Harold Byrd Dallas Jerry Puckett Fort Stockton Frank T. Cox C OMMISSION George E. Haddaway Dallas Claude L. Chambers Dallas Luther C. Bogard Tyler W. I. Williams Tyler J. A. Goolsby Brownsville Louis C. Ways Dallas TEXAS WING Commander — Colonel Joseph L. Cromer Deputy Commander LTC Horace A. Plummer Inspector — LTC James H. Warren STAFF Safety Officer — LTC Jack E. Casida Logistics — Captain John C. Gandy Operations — Captain Ernest W. Evans Emergency Services — LTC William I. Williams Communications — LTC John R. Roberts Aerospace Education — Major Ronald E. Eidson Senior Programs — LTC David Floyd Cadet Program — LTC Melvin D. Atkinson Ranger Program — ILT Gaines Reynolds Personnel — ILT Susan J. Cromer Administration /Finance — SM Ruth Fuller Information — ILT Lynn Cromer Legal — Major Louis C. Ways Chaplain — Major William C. Pruitt Medical LTC William O. Finch • TEXAS WING I AND II SEARCH, RESCUE AND DISASTER CIVIL AIR PATROL GOALS An intensified training program to strengthen the pro- fessional approach toward perfection search, rescue and PROGRAM disaster relief operation is being implemented. With the limited funds available, a training staff has accomplished a satisfactory prototype training program, centralized at Ellington AFB because of existing facilities available, with STRUCTURE staff assignment throughout the state to further implement and coordinate training of all personnel. Efforts are being made to secure adequate funding from the State of Texas 197 3 _ which are essential to carry this program to all personnel throughout the Texas Wing. { AIRCRAFT UPGRADING 1975 In 1971 and 1972, the Texas Wing has upgraded approxi- mately 30% of the corporate aircraft through efforts of the membership with local support. A continuing emphasis to further upgrade the corporate aircraft in Texas will be an item of priority to enhance the capability of equip- ment to support the accelerated personnel training programs. COMMUNICATIONS The Texas Wing has organized and implemented the Hurri- cane Communication net to provide quick reaction of mo- bile, fixed and remote communication capability. We sup- port all disaster relief agencies for the Western coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the event of Hurricanes or natural disasters. Efforts are being made to expand the Commu- nications Systems with the addition of radio teletype capabil- ities to augment the present voice command network. AEROSPACE EDUCATION PROGRAM The Texas Wing has successfully established a cadet pilot training program through a matching funds plan. Due to limited funding, the Texas Wing has not been able to con- tribute adequately toward this program. However, a num- ber of cadets have completed solo training. Further pilot training to include private licensing is planned for the fu- ture. Additional funding from the State will provide the necessary participation to utilize the tremendous potential inherent in our youth for future development of required manpower for continuing the Emergency Services Program. 17 Missions 205 Flights 970 hours • For Additional Information, Write: Commander, Civil Air Patrol Texas Wing Headquarters P.O. Box 3353 Tyler, Texas 75701 Telephone: 214 593 -8822 Z°-` - �... ,..,.,. m. s,