The Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary |
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| Associated Branches | |
|---|---|
| United States Air Force | |
| Executive Staff | |
| Commander | Col Sandra E. Brandon |
| Vice Commander | Lt Col Gary Fleming |
| Current Statistics | |
| Squadrons | 71 |
| Cadets | 1128 |
| Seniors | 1222 |
| Total Membership | 2350 |
| Statistics as of 16 February 2012[1] | |
The Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the highest echelon of CAP in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Wing headquarters is located at Fort Indiantown Gap near Harrisburg, PA.
Pennsylvania Wing is abbreviated as "PAWG", and is often referred to by its members as "PA Wing". A Pennsylvania keystone is a symbol commonly used in patches and designs of PAWG.
For CAP radio communications, PAWG call signs have the "PennCAP" prefix. Pennsylvania Wing is the 31st wing, but equipment identification numbers and unit charter numbers begin with the prefix 37. For example, a CAP aircraft in Pennsylvania Wing uses the callsign CAP 37##, where ## is the number of the aircraft.
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Pennsylvania Wing is one of the original 48 wings in Civil Air Patrol.
In the spring of 1942, the Pennsylvania Wing conducted a 30-day experiment with the intention of convincing the Army Air Forces that they were capable of flying cargo missions for the nation. PA Wing transported Army cargo as far as Georgia, and top Army officials were impressed. After the 30 day trial period, the War Department gave CAP permission to conduct courier and cargo service for the military, often flying mail, light cargo, and important military officials between USAAF bases.
One of the Civil Air Patrols very first "Aviation Cadet Programs" was established at the Pittsburgh Army Air Field in the Spring of 1943. Accepting young men as "Aviation Cadets" in a delayed enlistment program for the Army Air Forces, the Pittsburgh Squadron trained these boys (as young as 15) in Aerospace and Military subjects and vetted them for service as Army Air Force Pilots. Graduating a total of 16 Aviation Cadets for the Army in less than ten months, the Pittsburgh Squadron model was copied by units in Philadelphia, New York City and as far south as Florida. Today, the current Squadron with direct lineage to that Aviation Cadet Unit is the CAP's second longest, continually operated unit on a Military Installation.
On December 31, 1999, PA Wing units were put on stand-by in case of any problems arising from the Y2K bug.
During the September 11 attacks, Pennsylvania Wing was ordered to a stand-by state. Although not officially tasked with any missions in direct support, PAWG radio communications centers were operational and prepared to offer assistance.
In 2006, PA Wing was activated to fly reconnaissance missions during the 2006 flood. PAWG aircraft flew over major waterways to provide detailed photographs of flood-affected areas and to monitor floodwaters as they moved downstream.
31 CAP Rangers from Pennsylvania Wing traveled 28 hours to Pascagoula, Mississippi to aid in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. PAWG Rangers went door-to-door ensuring that local residents had adequate food, water, and medical care.[2]
In August and September 2011, all CAP emergency service teams in Pennsylvania Wing and CAP members from Maryland,West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana Wings were activated to assist communities affected by Hurricane Irene (2011) and Tropical Storm Lee (2011).
During the time between September 1, 2010 to December 1, 2011, the Pennsylvania Wing saved eleven lives, provided emergency response in Pennsylvania during the 2011 flooding and severe winter storms.
10 Michael F. S. Hanford 14 Feb 1966
47 Kenneth B. Hibbert 12 Sep 1967
62 Ramon L. Bennedetto 16 May 1968
74 Michael A. Allen 22 Nov 1968
79 Richard B. Smith 07 Jan 1969
88 James I. Heald 15 May 1969
104 Paul S. Draper 14 Jan 1970
105 Harry Z. Mertz 14 Jan 1970
116 Gary J. Kirkpatrick 14 May 1970
166 Roy K. Salomon 11 Apr 1972
171 Marie E. Stutz 28 Jun 1972
174 Donald P. Flinn 24 Jul 1972
205 Mark L. Sweeney 15 Mar 1973
220 George S. Rose 18 Jun 1973
230 Robert P. Pelligrini 02 Aug 1973
299 Gary p. Standorf 07 Nov 1974
314 Keith D. Kries 07 Mar 1975
423 Konrad J. Trautman 14 Feb 1977
445 Robert Mattes 02 Oct 1977
452 Lawrence L. Trick 22 Nov 1977
463 Jerrold Warthman 01 Mar 1978
480 Richard Magners 03 Jul 1978
484 Richard Graves 22 Aug 1978
495 James Kraftchak 02 Jan 1979
510 William Snee 01 May 1979
532 Bryan Watson 13 Nov 1979
533 Robert Atwell 16 Nov 1979
534 Terry Hawes 19 Nov 1979
553 Jeff Riley 08 Aug 1980
554 Terry Friend 03 Sep 1980
558 Tim Hawes 27 Oct 1980
570 Richard Yingling 06 May 1981
583 R. Steven Rickert 07 Oct 1981
613 Edward Czeck 25 Jun 1982
625 Sean Neal 13 Dec 1982
626 Anthony Sodano 17 Dec 1982
691 Walter Garnett 01 Apr 1984
738 Kurt Hack 28 Feb 1985
783 Robert Lutz 22 Jan 1986
797 Daniel Weston 08 May 1986
815 David Mertes 05 Sep 1986
882 Paul Andrew 06 Apr 1988
889 John Angeny 01 Jul 1988
935 Lawrence L. Stouffer 18 Apr 1989
950 John Talaber 08 Aug 1989
957 Henry Lutz 29 Aug 1989
1007 William Davis 12 Jun 1990
1043 Kerim Yasar 16 Jan 1991
1073 Joseph Shirer 27 Aug 1991
1074 Randy Lentz 27 Aug 1991
1081 Isaac Zortman 21 Nov 1991
1083 Richard Gray 09 Dec 1991
1101 Nathaniel Szewczyk 25 Feb 1992
1153 Kara Grimaldi 18 Jan 1993
1173 Timothy Cheslock 29 Jun 1993
1174 Sarah Ferdinand 29 Jun 1993
1236 Julian Rivera 12 Jan 1995
1282 Julius Armstrong 22 Dec 1995
1286 Joel A. Martin 03 Dec 1995
1287 Broderick A. Jones 03 Dec 1995
1383 Michael T. Bauer 19 Jul 1998
1409 Jason Secrest 16 Jul 1999
1432 Sean T. Conroy 09 Jun 2000
1480 Joshua Plocinski 21 Dec 2002
1497 Shawn M. Cressman 13 Mar 2003
1590 Erin M. Nelson 21 Feb 2006
1631 David J. Spillane 21 Apr 2007
1658 Robert A. Nolt 26 Jul 2007
1662 Matthew J. Postupack 28 Aug 2007
1677 Thomas P. Carr 22 Dec 2007
1748 Courtney Gallagher 23 Dec 2009
1767 Dane V. Carroll 19 Aug 2010
Source: http://www.spaatz.org/mbr/list.php
Pennsylvania Wing is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in Pennsylvania. PA Wing reports to Northeast Region CAP, who reports to CAP National Headquarters.
Pennsylvania Wing Headquarters is located in a renovated World War Two Post Exchange (PX) and Non Commissioned Officers Club (NCO Club) at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville, Pennsylvania. Offices, classrooms, a communications center and an emergency operations center are located inside the Headquarters. Additionally, the headquarters building is located approximately one mile from Muir Army Airfield.
Reporting to the Wing level, Pennsylvania is divided into six geographic groups and one School Group (Group 800). Each group conducts training, activities, classroom learning and programs, with actual missions assigned to a group from the Wing. Originally, the state was divided into three groups (western, central, and eastern); but with an increasing number of squadrons, PAWG divided split each group into northern and southern sections, creating six groups in 2007.[6]
Reporting to each group are 76 squadrons. Squadrons are the local level of organization and serve the local community, and squadrons meet weekly to conduct conducts training, activities, classroom learning and programs to carry out the three missions of Civil Air Patrol - Emergency Services, Cadet Programs, and Aerospace Education.
There are three types of Civil Air Patrol squadrons.
As of December 1, 2011, the PA Wing operates 76 squadrons, in seven groups, 15 aircraft, 43 ground vehicles and a state-wide radio communications network that is operational 24/7 and is part of a national network.
Group 1 is responsible for operations in and around the Pittsburgh area.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 Headquarters | Southwest Pennsylvania | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 601 | Washington Composite | squadron601.us |
| Squadron 602 | Allegheny County Composite | capsqd602.com |
| Squadron 603 | Golden Triangle Composite | sqd603.org |
| Squadron 605 | Rostraver Eagle Composite | rostravereaglecap.com |
| Squadron 712 | Butler Composite | capbutler.org |
| Squadron 1407 | Delmont Cadet | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 1501 | Johnstown Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 1502 | Somerset Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
Group 2 operates around Harrisburg.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 2 Headquarters | Fort Indiantown Gap | pawingcap.com/gp2 |
| Squadron 202 | Bedford Composite | bedfordcap.org |
| Squadron 301 | York Composite | home.earthlink.net/~nerpa021 |
| Squadron 302 | Capital City Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 304 | Jesse Jones Composite | squadron304.us |
| Squadron 306 | Harrisburg International Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 307 | Lebanon VFW Cadet | squadron307.us |
| Flight 506 | Perry County Flight | pawg.cap.gov |
Group 3 operates in the greater Philadelphia area.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 3 Headquarters | Willow Grove JRB | pawingcap.com/gp3 | |
| Squadron 101 | Lower Bucks Cadet Squadron | capsquadron101.com | |
| Squadron 102 | Philadelphia Composite | pawingcap.com/gp3/102 | |
| Squadron 103 | Philadelphia Composite | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 104 | Northeast Philadelphia Composite | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 105 | North Philadelphia Senior | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Communications Flight 312 | Meets via CAP Radio | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 811 | Reading Composite | squadron811.webs.com | |
| Squadron 812 | General Carl A. Spaatz Composite | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 902 | Willow Grove JRB Composite | sqdn902.org | Unit Citation Award |
| Squadron 907 | Doylestown Composite | pawg.cap.gov | Unit Citation Award |
| Squadron 1001 | Composite 1001 | squadron1001.org/ | |
| Squadron 1006 | West Philadelphia Composite | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 1007 | Delco Composite | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 1008 | Chester County (Coatesville) Composite | capsquadron1008.org |
Group 4 conducts operations in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 4 Headquarters | Quakertown Airport | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 201 | Wayne Composite | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 203 | Hazleton Composite | caphazletonsqdn203.webs.com | |
| Squadron 207 | Mt Pocono Composite | cap207.com | |
| Squadron 251 | Hilltown Senior | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 801 | Allentown Optimist Composite | capsquadron801.shutterfly.com | |
| Squadron 805 | Lehigh Valley Composite | jmgil.tripod.com/ | |
| Squadron 807 | Bangor Slate Belt Composite | pawg.cap.gov | |
| Squadron 904 | Quakertown Composite | pawg.cap.gov | Unit Citation Award |
The Group 5 region encompasses much of North Central Pennsylvania, including State College, Altoona, and Williamsport.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 5 Headquarters | State College | gp5.pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 239 | Mid-State Composite | midstatecap.org |
| Squadron 338 | Nittany Composite | 338.gp5.pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 339 | Grand Canyon Composite | squadron339.org |
| Squadron 401 | Williamsport Composite | williamsportcap.org |
| Squadron 522 | Selinsgrove Cadet | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 1504 | Keystone Country Cadet | pawg.cap.gov |
Group 6 is responsible for operations near Erie.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Group 6 Headquarters | Group 6 | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 122 | Mercer County Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 123 | Lawrence County Composite | squadron123.org |
| Squadron 124 | Tri City Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 125 | Armstrong County Composite | sqdn125.org |
| Squadron 501 | Major Don Beatty Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 502 | Erie Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 503 | Crawford County Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 504 | Clarion Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 505 | Warren County Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 704 | Beaver County Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
| Squadron 714 | Jimmy Stewart Composite | pawg.cap.gov |
Pennsylvania Wing conducts a number of schools as a part of its cadet programs. These schools provide instruction and hands on experience to members in a variety of areas, ranging from aviation to search and rescue.
Pennsylvania Wing operates the longest continuously operating school of search and rescue in the United States.[7] Hawk Mountain Ranger School is funded and operated by the Wing both as a cadet program and also to instruct CAP members in emergency services operations. HMRS typically conducts training once a month, and offers a 10-day course during the summer as a National Cadet Special Activity.
Often referred to only as 'Encampment,' this school is a 9 day condensed version of the Air Force's Basic Training program, modified for cadets age 12-17. The encampment teaches basic cadets the fundamentals of followership and discipline in both an academic and applied environment. This course is traditionally taught at Fort Indiantown Gap.[8]
CLS is also a 9 day course, offered a few weeks before basic encampment. CLS is similar to Air Force ROTC's Field Training program, focusing on developing cadet's leadership potential. This course involves both classroom instruction and applied leadership skills.[8]
Glider Flight Encampment instructs cadets in the principles of flight, culminating in several rides in an unpowered glider.[8]
Powered Flight Encampment instructs cadets in the basics of aviation. Cadets learn about ground and air procedures, as well as fly in CAP owned Cessna 172s and 182s. Cadets that do well during the program may earn their solo wings.[8]
BCOP is a weekend course to teach new cadets about the fundamentals of Civil Air Patrol. Topics covered include uniform care, basic drill instruction, opportunities available to cadets, as well as fun and fellowship. This course is typically offered in the early spring.
Squadrons are the local unit of Civil Air Patrol, and this course covers material related to the successful operation of a Civil Air Patrol squadron.
PA Wing CAP Headquarters
Building 3-108
Fort Indiantown Gap
Annville, PA 17003
Pennsylvania Wing Headquarters is normally staffed between 0830 to 1700 Local time on business days, and occasionally on weekends and other times as required.[9]
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