Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol

Last updated
Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol
DE WG Emblem 7F0F45E3CAFCC.jpg
Delaware Wing of Civil Air Patrol
Associated branches
United States Air Force
Command staff
Commander US-O6 insignia.svg Col Robert A. Hotchkiss Jr
Vice Commander US-O5 insignia.svg Lt Col John Lierenz (North) US-O5 insignia.svg Lt Col Kay Rudo (South)
Chief of Staff US-O3 insignia.svg Lt Col Mark Rudo
Command NCO CAP-OR-8.svg SMSgt Paul Shavack
Current statistics
Cadets137
Seniors247
Total Membership384
Awards CAP Unit Citation Award (Streamer).png
Unit Citation Award
Website dewg.cap.gov
Statistics as of 29 April 2024

Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in the state of Delaware. Delaware Wing headquarters is located at Dover Air Force Base. It comprises seven squadrons from Claymont to Georgetown, and a unit just over the border in Elkton, Maryland. Delaware Wing is abbreviated as DEWG. As a federally chartered organization, CAP has 3 primary missions as instructed by Congress. The missions include providing aerospace education and training for all of its members, teaching leadership skills to Delaware youth, and performing various domestic emergency services for the United States of America in a noncombatant capacity.

Contents

History

Delaware Wing has a long CAP history since CAP's inception in 1941. Delaware is home to one of the original "Coastal Patrol" units, based in Rehoboth Beach. [1] Using private aircraft, the "Flying Minute Men" patrolled the Atlantic Ocean for German submarines. They operated off of a small, unpaved airport near Airport Road in Delaware. [2] Civil Air Patrol planes that crashed in the line of duty while patrolling the United States East Coast during World War II were hauled to the historical Dover Post building, which was an aircraft hangar at the time. [3]

Missions

CAP officers collect uniforms donated to Delaware and Pennsylvania CAP units by the Delaware National Guard. Officers from CAP pick up uniforms donated for Delaware and Pennsylvania units.jpg
CAP officers collect uniforms donated to Delaware and Pennsylvania CAP units by the Delaware National Guard.

Delaware Wing works in all three CAP missions: Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services. Most notably, Delaware Wing regularly assists DelDOT through the use of CAP planes, including Cessna 172 Skyhawks and Cessna 182 Skylanes. Delaware Wing has 5 corporate aircraft. For example, CAP aircraft monitor traffic during the Sprint Cup Series at Dover International Speedway in Dover, DE. In addition, CAP aircraft monitors daily traffic volume and reports to DelDOT road blockages from downed trees or a major accident, street and highway flooding, collapsed or washed-out bridges, and weekend beach traffic. [4] By working closely with DelDOT, responders can be dispatched promptly and road crews can be summoned to block off accident sites while rerouting traffic if necessary. [5]

Delaware Wing Cadet Advisory Council

Delaware Wing Cadet Advisory Council (CAC) consists of 12 cadets from across Delaware Wing to promote and further cadet activities in Delaware. Each of the 6 cadet and composite squadrons in Delaware Wing elects one primary representative and one alternate representative to attend the monthly CAC meetings. In addition, the CAC representatives elect the Chair, Vice Chair, and Recorder, who heads the monthly meetings and writes the agenda and minutes. Also, the Delaware Wing CAC elects members to the Middle East Region Cadet Advisory Council. The CAC organizes the extremely popular Cadet Ball, held annually at Dover Air Force Base.

Encampment and National Cadet Special Activities

Delaware Wing coordinates with Maryland Wing and the Virginia Wing to hold Tri-Wing Encampment every year. Delaware Wing is one of the few wings who does not have its own encampment due to its small population and area.

In addition, Delaware Wing cadets frequently attend National Cadet Special Activities, which gives cadets a diverse experience of military installations across America. Activities focus on career exploration, leadership development, search and rescue skills, aeronautical training, Air Force familiarization, government, and a variety of other topics. [6]

Squadrons in Delaware Wing

Delaware Wing has eight typical squadrons registered to the state. Four are located in New Castle County, two in Kent County, one in Sussex County, and one in Cecil County, Maryland. There is two composite squadrons, four cadet squadrons, and one senior squadron. There are also three non-standard squadrons (000, 001, and 999) under Delaware Wing Headquarters.

Lt. Col. Mildred Pagan-Perez (left) and Staff Sgt. Mark Metzelaar, 512th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, simulate first response treatment of a Delaware Civil Air Patrol cadet Sam Rundle during a training exercise. Lt. Col. Mildred Pagan-Perez (left) and Staff Sgt. Mark Metzelaar treat Delaware CAP cadet.JPG
Lt. Col. Mildred Pagan-Perez (left) and Staff Sgt. Mark Metzelaar, 512th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, simulate first response treatment of a Delaware Civil Air Patrol cadet Sam Rundle during a training exercise.

Active Chartered Units

Squadron NameDesignationLocationWebsitePrevious Names
InactiveDE-000No specific location
Wing HeadquartersDE-001 New Castle, DE Website
Brandywine Cadet SquadronDE-004 Claymont, DE
Dover Composite SquadronDE-006 Dover, DE Dover Senior Squadron
Delaware Air National Guard (DANG) Cadet SquadronDE-008 Newark, DE Website Bear-Glasgow Cadet Squadron, Newark Cadet Squadron
Coastal Patrol Base 2 Memorial Composite SquadronDE-019 Georgetown, DE Sussex Cadet Squadron
North Chesapeake Cadet SquadronDE-020 Elkton, MD Website
New Castle Senior SquadronDE-022 Newark, DE
Middletown Cadet SquadronDE-025 Middletown, DE Website
Legislative Senior SquadronDE-999Dover, DE


Inactive Chartered Units

Squadron NameDesignationRemarks
New Castle Cadet SquadronDE-011Disbanded 2011 - Personnel merged with DE-008
Eagle Cadet SquadronDE-007Located Dover AFB - as of 2019
Fred T Johnson Memorial Cadet FlightDE-015Located PAL Center 3707 N Mkt St, Wilmington - as of 2019

Past Wing commanders

Senior Airman Greg Meyer applies makeup to a Delaware cadet in preparation for a mass casualty exercise. Senior Airman Greg Meyer applies makeup to Delaware CAP cadet.JPG
Senior Airman Greg Meyer applies makeup to a Delaware cadet in preparation for a mass casualty exercise.
Master Sgt. Robert Burns demonstrates to a Delaware Wing CAP cadet how to play a victim during a mass casualty exercise. Master Sgt. Robert Burns shows Delaware CAP cadet how to be a victim.JPG
Master Sgt. Robert Burns demonstrates to a Delaware Wing CAP cadet how to play a victim during a mass casualty exercise.

Delaware Wing has had 22 Wing Commanders since the inception of Civil Air Patrol. A list of each commander and their years of service are listed below.

Commanders of the Delaware Wing
Commander's NamePeriod of Service
Maj Holger Hoiriis Dec 1941 - Aug 1942
Maj Herman S. MillerAug 1942 - Jun 1943
Maj Don SeeversJun 1943 - Oct 1944
Maj James P. HanleyOct 1944 - Dec 1944
Col William J. SimpsonDec 1944 - Dec 1946
Col Walter A. CaskieDec 1946 - Mar 1951
Col Frank J. LynchMar 1951 - Sep 1953
Col Louisa S. MorseSep 1953 - Jul 1976
Col William H. EverettJul 1976 - May 1977
Col Howard N. PrattMay 1977 - Dec 1980
Col James W. KeenerDec 1980 - Dec 1982
Col Herbert M. WoodDec 1982 - Dec 1984
Col Larry D. TaskerDec 1984 - Oct 1986
Col Herbert M. WoodOct 1986 - July 1989
Col David C. DriscallJuly 1989 - Jan 1993
Col James H. TazelaarJan 1993 - Jan 1997
Col Robert L. VawterJan 1997 - Jan 2002
Col Raymond E. HarrisJan 2002 - Aug 2003
Col Russell M. OplandAug 2003 - Sept 2007
Col Eugene L. EgrySept 2007 - Sept 2011
Col William S. BernfeldSep 2011 - Jun 2014
Col Michael R. MoyerJun 2014 - June-2018
Col Robert MooneyJune 2018-June 2022
Col Robert A Hotchkiss Jr.June 2022-Present

Recognition and accomplishments

Overall, Delaware Wing has had 37 Spaatz cadets. [7]

In 2006, Delaware Wing received a Unit Citation. In the fiscal year 2005, they had the highest number of hours flown per aircraft than any other wing in Civil Air Patrol by over 60%, a wide margin. [8] In addition, they have earned one of the best compliance Inspection grades in the country over the past 5 years.

Delaware Wing's Lt Col John McGaha was featured in the Nov/Dec 2008 edition of CAP's Volunteer Magazine. He was named National Senior Member of the Year this past August. The story speaks of his lifelong dedication to the cadet program. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol</span>

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References

  1. "Introduction to Civil Air Patrol CAPP 50-5" (PDF). Civil Air Patrol. 2002-08-01. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  2. "State of Delaware archives". State of Delaware. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  3. Jim Flood Sr. (2008-12-23). "Dover Post building was an airport, skating rink and more". Dover Post. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  4. "State of Delaware Press Release". State of Delaware. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  5. "January–February 2009 Volunteer Magazine" (PDF). Civil Air Patrol. January–February 2009. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  6. "TODAY'S CADETS, TOMORROW'S AEROSPACE LEADERS" (PDF). 2006. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  7. Matt Johnson (2008). "Master Spaatz Award Recipient Listing". The Spaatz Association. Archived from the original on 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-01-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "November/December 2008 Volunteer Magazine" (PDF). Civil Air Patrol. 2008-03-16. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 2008-11-15.

Further reading