Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol

The 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 the New Castle County Airport. It comprises eight squadrons from Claymont to Georgetown, and a unit just over the border in Elkton, MD. 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.

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.^[2] 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.^[3] Civil Air Patrol planes that crashed in the line of duty while patrolling the East Coast during World War II were hauled to the historical Dover Post building, which was an aircraft hangar at the time.^[4]

Missions

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 six corporate aircraft, one of which is a state-of-the-art Cessna 182 with a Glass Cockpit. 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

Delaware Wing has excelled in the National Cadet Competition, where the top CAP cadets across the country compete. Diamond Flight Drill Team, Delaware Wing's team, has won one National competition and numerous regional competitions. Delaware Wing annually holds in a Wing Picnic held at Fort Dupont, Cadet Ball, Wing Conference, and Rocket Launch. Held in January, the annual Cadet Ball, hosted by the Delaware Wing Cadet Advisory Council, draws seventy cadets each year from Delaware and neighboring wings. The Delaware Wing Conference and Banquet, held in March, analyzes the accomplishments of the previous year and sets goals for the upcoming year. Notable guest speakers make the conference worthwhile to attend and various awards are presented during the day. During the 2006 Wing Conference and Banquet, Mary Feik and Judge M. Jane Brady, a Superior Court judge, were the guest speakers. At the banquet in the evening, major CAP milestone awards are presented and select CAP members are promoted to new ranks. In May, CAP members assist the Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation in launching model rockets of various sizes (many as large as six feet tall) at Cape Henlopen State Park during Rockets for Delaware. Often, CAP cadets will choose to camp there the night before to enhance their skills in Emergency Services.

Delaware Wing Cadet Advisory Council

The Delaware Wing Cadet Advisory Council (CAC) consists of 10 cadets from across Delaware Wing to promote and further cadet activities in Delaware. Each of the 7 cadet 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. Recent accomplishments of the Delaware Wing Cadet Advisory Council include designing and sell hoodies to raise money to support various cadet activities. Also, the CAC organizes the extremely popular Cadet Ball, held at The Landings at Dover Air Force Base.

Encampment and National Cadet Special Activities

Delaware Wing coordinates with Maryland Wing and National Capital to hold Tri-Wing Encampment every year at Camp Frettered, Maryland. 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.^[7]

Squadrons in Delaware Wing

Delaware Wing has eight typical squadrons registered to the state. Five are located in New Castle County, one in Kent County, one in Sussex County, and one in Cecil County, Maryland. There are 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.

Past Wing commanders

Delaware Wing has had 21 Wing Commanders since the inception of Civil Air Patrol.

Recognition and accomplishments

Overall, Delaware Wing has had 34 Spaatz cadets.^[8]

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 very wide margin.^[9] In addition, they have earned one of the best compliance Inspection grades in the country over the past 5 years. Both Delaware's Diamond Flight Drill Team and their Color Guard won the Middle East Region competition in 2005, the first time Delaware Wing has ever won both in the same year. Delaware Wing has also earned the Counterdrug Wing of the Year for the 6th year in a row, and the Drug Demand Reduction Wing of the Year.

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. ^[10]

References

Further reading

• "November/December 2008 Volunteer Magazine" (PDF). Civil Air Patrol. 2008. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 2008-11-15. 
• Burnham, Frank (1974). Hero Next Door:Story of the Civilian Volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol. Aero Publishers. p. 208. ISBN 0-8168-6450-0. 
• Colby, C. B. (1958). This is your Civil Air Patrol: The purpose, Cadet Program and Equipment of the US Air Force Auxiliary. Coward-McCann. p. 48. ASIN B0007E553G. 
• Gonzales, Lissette (2008). Search and Rescue Specialists. PowerKids Press. p. 24. ISBN 1-4042-3779-8. 
• Hanes, Richard Clay; S. Hanes and B McNeill (2005). American home front in World War II. UXL. p. 242. ISBN 0-7876-7651-9.  Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
• Jacobellis, Nick (March 2003). Flying Minutemen of the Civil Air Patrol. Weider History Group. 
• Pineda, Antonio (2006). Civil Air Patrol History. Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-59652-191-0. 

External links

• Official Delaware Wing Website
• Diamond Flight Drill Team
• Tri-Wing Encampment