Vol. 7, No.

3
SUMMER 2009

AIR SHOWS
AND CAP GO
TOGETHER

1 • Wheels Up!
 Col. KENNETH ANDREU

In the Left Seat

BE EXTRA VIGILANT

Ah...Summer is here! From the sweltering heat and evening

Wheels Up! cultural events in the cities, to the ocean breezes at the best
SUMMER 2009 beaches, to cool nights in the lush, forested mountain villages in
New York Wing the wilderness parks…..nothing beats it.
Civil Air Patrol Summer always means an intense increase in activity going
U.S. Air Force Auxiliary back to the origin of the species. Which, of course, translates
Commander into increased opportunities for things to go wrong.
Col. Kenneth Andreu We have multiple NY Wing encampments happening in paral-
lel, and activities in fast succession throughout the Region and
Vice Commander
nationally. One incident can create a domino effect that has an
Lt. Col. Mark Caiello
impact on the resources available for the next activity.
Chief of Staff Hopefully and with good presence of mind you have success-
Lt. Col. Tom Carello fully negotiated all the activities on your Summer 2009 wish list
Editor/PAO without mishap. And…you have assisted others in smoothly ac-
1st Lt. Robert Stronach complishing their tasks without incident, as well.
EditorRob@yahoo.com Mishaps are an entropic force, as air creates drag on an airfoil,
acting to diminish efficiency and ultimately negate the achieve-
Wing PA Director
ment of your objective.
Capt. James A. Ridley Sr.
Watch your airspeed and don’t let the wing stall. Use
Wing Headquarters safety briefings and follow your checklists. Be aware of the
Westchester County Airport hazards you may face in the field before you get to them and
24 Loop Road, Bldg 1 have a plan to surmount them.
White Plains, NY 10604-1218 The five P’s are a good mantra….Prior Planning Prevents
Phone: 914-683-1000 Poor Performance. That should include listing obstacles, limi-
Fax: 914-683-10056 tations (emotional, mental, physical and mechanical), and the as-
www.nywg.cap.gov
sessment of unique variables of the specific activity. That would
include in summer flying, altitude, humidity, temperature and
runway length, and at an encampment, properly tying your com-
fortable boots before a run and flexing your knees in formation.
Pack your summer with a plethora of activities and new chal-
lenges. Remember the “Summer of 2009” as the time you incor-
porated heightened awareness into your tasking skills, overcame
complacency and sidestepped entropic mishaps.

Wheels Up! • 2
Contents
4 Wing Gets Outstanding Evaluation

5 Color Guard Team Grabs National Title

6 LI CAP & Thunderbirds at NY Air Show

9 Sussey Squadrons Picks Up for Earth Week

10 Central NY Group at Ft. Drum Air Show

12 Teachers Take to the Air in NY Wing

14 Emotional 3 Weeks for CNY Squadrons

16 Busy Holiday for LIG Squadron

COVER:
Air Shows and CAP
17 WWII Member Catches Up on CAP
Where there’s an air show,
chances are Civil Air Patrol
cadets and senior mem-
18 Canadian Cadets Join in ELT Search bers are there providing
support, and getting an

19 Squadron Gets 1st Woman Commander

upclose view of a myriad
of aircraft -- such as these

20
three cadets standing in
Marine Aviators Host CAP the mouth of the nose
doors of a C-5 Galaxy at
21 CAP Important to His Career, AF Pilot Says the Fort Drum Mountain-
fest Air Show. The cadets

23 NY Places 3rd in Northeast SARCOMP

are, from left, Joseph Maier
of Syracuse Cadet Squad-

25
ron, Cayla Askew of Rome
Special Honors for Cadet & Commander City School District Cadet
Squadron, and Schuyler
26 Wing Conference Theme: NY Has Heart
Strough of Utica Cadet
Squadron. See Pages 6 &

28 Cadet Heads to Air Force Academy

10 for more on air shows.
Photo by
1st Lt Robert Stronach

3 • Wheels Up!
WING EARNS HIGH PRAISE FROM AF EVALUATORS
By Capt. JAMES RIDLEY, SR.
HOLBROOK, NY -- The U.S.
Air Force conducted a week-
long evaulation of New York
Wing’s mission capabilities
in June, and rated the wing as
“outstanding.”
The evaluation exercise
simulated homeland security,
search-and-rescue and disaster
relief missions that are critical
for proper response to natural or
man-made disasters. Practice
searches were conducted from
the air and on the ground all
across the wing. The exercise
included air-to-ground com-
munications, ground-to-ground
communications, and flight
planning and ground team op-
erations.
Mission base for the exercise
was Long Island Group Head-
quarters at Long Island Islip
MacArthur Airport, with Group
Commander Lt Col Jack Ozer
serving as the incident com-
mander. The South East Group
was designated as the secondary
mission base; and, at one point,
when the AF evaluators “shut
down” communications at LIG,
SEG seamlessly took over com-
munications, which impressed
the evaluators along with the
wing’s other efforts.
c/SSgt Matthew
Merlino, c/2d
Lt Kory Gatley,
c/SSgt Raymond
MacQuill and
c/SMSgt Ryan
Calviello man
the communica-
tions center.
Capt Joe Pizzo
(second from left)
and members
of his flight line
crew meet be-
fore marshalling
aircraft at the
evaluation.
When the evaluation ended, received an “Outstanding” score
the staff at the Long Island base, for the entire evaluation and was
along with New York Wing described as a “benchmark” for
Commander Col Ken Andreu, other wings to emulate.
awaited the Air Force evalua- Colonel Andreu and Lt Colo-
tors’ findings and they weren’t nel Ozer said they were “very
disappointed with the results. proud of the results.”
The wing received an “Out- “The staff worked very hard
standing” score in every cat- to achieve this success and it
egory with the exception of two shows the level of training that
areas which received an “excel- we are accomplishing in the
lent” rating. Overall the wing New York Wing,” said Ozer.
Wheels Up! • 4
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
By Capt. JAMES
RIDLEY, SR.

McMINNVILLE,
OR – They came close
the last two years,
but the third time’s a
charm as the NorthEast
Region’s Color Guard
team took first place
overall at the Civil Air
Patrol’s National Cadet
Competition held at
Linfield College and
the Evergreen Aviation
& Space Museum in
McMinnville, OR.
The 2009 NER color
guard champions, who NY Wing’s Color Guard Team from Academy Cadet Squadron in New
hail from New York York City Group, during the outdoor practical event at the national com-
Wing’s Academy Cadet petition in July. The team represented the NorthEast Region and took
Squadron (NY-147) in the national title as well.
New York City Group, nounced. to compete nationally. least, the NER Color
competed against teams “The team took first Some even begin the Guard team can lay
from seven other re- in many categories,” journey by competing claim to being the very
gions. Events included said Colonel Diduch, in a group-level com- best.
an inspection, mile run “and number one over- petition. The team includes:
and both indoor and all in the competition. The day showcased • Junior Rifleman:
outdoor events such as We’re very proud of some of the best teams C/SSgt Albaro Pillco.
posting and retrieving them.” in both the color guard • Senior Flag Bearer:
of the colors. The NER The national cadet and drill team catego- C/SMSgt Thomas Ma-
region commander, Col competition is held ries from around the crini.
Robert Diduch, was annually after teams nation. Every team • Junior Flag Bearer:
present at the awards compete at both the worked and practiced C/A1C Jason Chan.
banquet July 12 when wing and region levels hard to get this far and • Senior Rifleman:
the winners were an- before earning the right for the next year, at C/MSgt Zin Han.

5 • Wheels Up!
LENDING A HAND TO THE NATION’S BEST PILOTS
LIG UNIT ASSISTS THUNDERBIRDS, EARNS THANKS FROM A NATIVE SON
By 1st Lt. WILLIAM J. MCGEE
For so many members of the
Civil Air Patrol, the desire to
serve often starts with a young
person’s desire to fly. It turns
out this is as true for some of
the very best fighter pilots in
the country as it is for CAP
cadets.
This past Memorial Day
weekend, nearly half a million
visitors attended the 2009 Beth-
page Federal Credit Union New
York Air Show at Jones Beach
on Long Island. The performers
this year included the New York
Air National Guard Search and
Rescue Team, the U.S. Army
Golden Knights parachute
team, and the Canadian Forces
Snowbirds. But there’s no
question the highlight was the
Thunderbirds, known officially
as the U.S. Air Force Air Dem-
onstration Squadron.
As the crowds scanned the
skies, the Thunderbirds’ red-
white-and-blue Lockheed Mar-
tin F-16 fighter jets engaged
in such acrobatic displays as
the Delta Roll, the Arrowhead
Loop, the Opposing Knife
Edge, and their signature
Bomb Burst. But what very
few of those air show attendees
knew was that — once again
Thunderbirds on the tarmac.
— members of the Long Island
Senior Squadron (NY-207)
were unobtrusively providing
security and logistical assis-
tance behind the scenes.
Quiet But Critical Support
Since 2004, both the Thun-
derbirds and the U.S. Navy
Blue Angels have participated
on an alternating basis in the
New York Air Show. And for
the fourth consecutive year, the
Long Island Senior Squadron
participated as well, by provid-
ing quiet but critical security
and support for aircraft and
personnel staging at nearby Re-
public Airport, the facility that
serves as the squadron’s home
base in Farmingdale.
This year, more than 20
Wheels Up! • 6
members of the Long Island
Senior Squadron reported for
duty, including 1st. Lt. Bill Dre-
schler, who has been serving his
country since he enlisted during
World War II and spent several
years with the 78th Fighter
Group in Europe. Members of
other squadrons in Long Island
Group joined them, swelling
the ranks to 48 seniors and 21
cadets.
For the CAP personnel, this
mission was comprised of a
variety of tasks, ranging from
flightline support to crowd
control, as well as security both
inside and outside the terminal
and hangar facilities and along
the airport’s perimeter. In fact,
CAP assisted with directing vis-
itors, escorting VIPs, briefing
journalists on media tours, and
even providing bottled water for
the Thunderbirds. In total, CAP
provided 552 hours of service.
Laying the groundwork for
such an operation requires
months of interaction with a
host of federal, state, local, and
airport authorities, including
representatives from the Air
Force and FEMA. Over time,
however, the role of the Long
Island Senior Squadron became
clearly defined.
“This is one of the highlights
of our year,” said Capt. Joseph
Pizzo, Squadron Commander.
“We’re a busy squadron and we
perform a lot of missions, but
working with the Thunderbirds
and the Blue Angels is some-
thing pretty special. I’m really
proud of how our members
always step up and do such a
good job. The proof is in how
we keep getting invited back,
year after year.”
Home Is the Fighter Pilot
The Thunderbirds refer to
themselves as “America’s Am-
bassadors in Blue,” and like
most diplomats, they spend
much of their time away from
home. Currently in its 56th year,
the Air Demonstration Squadron
is an Air Combat Command unit
composed of 12 officers and 120
enlisted personnel performing in
more than 30 career specialties;
Capt. Joseph Pizzo and Capt. Chuck Montague on flightline.
this year, the team welcomed its
first pilots from the Air Force
Reserve and the Air National
Guard. The schedule for 2009
calls for performances at more
than 73 shows: They launched
back in February with Super
Bowl XLIII in Tampa, and after
a Far East Tour in September and
October, will finish the follow-
ing month with a finale at their
home at Nellis Air Force Base in
Nevada.
A key member of the team
is Maj. John Baum, who has
flown the No. 2 jet as the Left
Wing of the Thunderbirds since
January. For those attending
the Memorial Day show, seeing
him perform in the skies over
Jones Beach signified a reunion
of sorts: Baum is a Long Island
native who grew up in nearby
7 • Wheels Up!
Lake Ronkonkoma, just a few
aerial Diamond Rolls from
the air show site. Among the
distinctive achievements in his
14-year service career are serv-
ing as an F-16 instructor at the
USAF Weapons School, logging
more than 1,750 hours as an Air
Force pilot, and compiling 265
hours of combat experience.
Before the first air show per-
formance on Saturday morning,
Baum hosted more than 30 local
relatives and friends, and in a
touching but private ceremony,
the other Thunderbirds lined up
on the flightline for greetings,
photos, and autographs with all
those in Baum’s party. “Every
show is a thrill,” said Baum,
whose call sign is Slick. “But to
have everyone come out here at
home is very special.”
 Thunderbird smiled when he re-
called going up in a Cessna 152
at Long Island’s MacArthur Air-
port, where CAP’s Long Island
Group is headquartered. For
someone who always wanted to
be a pilot, it’s clear that Baum
relishes serving in the Thunder-
birds. “It’s just neat,” he said.
“One of our missions is to rep-
resent all the men and women
of the United States Air Force.
Many of these people who
come to see us have children or
grandchildren serving overseas
Capt. Paul Zuckerberg, guarding Maj. John Baum’s F-16 Fighter Jet. and they never get to see them
do their jobs. So we give them
Chief among the visitors was cer to have served in the enlisted some sense of what they do.”
John Baum Sr., the pilot’s fa- ranks: “I took advantage of the
ther, who said, “How do you put benefits of the G.I. Bill. I started Thunderbirds Tip Caps
it into words? He grew up here at Embry-Riddle on active duty Like other members of the
and went to school here and and then took a 16-month break Thunderbirds, Baum expressed
learned to fly here...I couldn’t from service in the inactive re- thankfulness to CAP: “We ap-
be prouder. I’m blessed to serves.” preciate all your assistance.”
have him.” That pride has been Those four and a half years Baum was not alone.
evident all year, as the elder Baum spent as an enlisted man Throughout the extended week-
Baum has traveled to various are not lost on the Thunderbirds end, personnel from the Air
air shows—”as many as I can team, which is comprised of Force, Republic Airport, and the
afford”—to cheer on his son. He ten enlisted members for every New York State Department of
laughed and said, “I am THE one officer. When asked about Parks (which sponsors the air
Thunderbirds groupie. They call Baum’s service record, one non- show) praised CAP. Members
me ‘Papa Slick’ now.” commissioned officer working even received kudos from the
Interestingly, the 33-year-old the flightline at Republic Airport bystanders who came to watch
pilot entered the Air Force as an smiled and said, “He was one of the Thunderbirds depart from
enlisted member in 1993 at age us first.” Farmingdale for test runs, media
17, before earning his commis- However, his rapid career flights, and the show itself.
sion from Embry-Riddle Aero- ascent began quite literally back Upon the conclusion of the
nautical University in 1999. on Long Island, when his father mission, Pizzo reflected on how
Baum acknowledged that it’s provided his first flight lesson well the Long Island Senior
rare these days for a senior offi- on the boy’s 16th birthday. The Squadron performed. He noted,
Wheels Up! • 8
“Several of the Thunderbirds
thanked me personally for our
efforts. By the fourth day, the
NCOs were palling around with
our guys like they were in the
same squadron. Maj. Baum said
it really would not be possible
without us. I know they sincere-
ly appreciated our presence.”
The air show itself took place
on Saturday and Sunday, but
Thunderbirds personnel were
at Republic Airport for nearly a
week, and CAP members were
on hand for several days as well.
For 1st. Lt. Linda Law of the
Long Island Senior Squadron,
the mission involved several
consecutive days of performing
the critical—yet tedious and
sometimes downright boring—
task of providing a security
detail outside the Thunderbirds’
briefing room and lounge in
the airport’s main terminal. But
that job was made much easier
for her just prior to the first air
show performance, when the
departing officers went out of
their way to personally offer
expressions of gratitude.
Lt. Col. Derek Routt, the
No. 7 pilot, introduced himself
and told Law to contact him
if she needed anything. Then
Baum came over and thanked
her profusely for volunteering,
to which she responded, “No,
thank YOU for joining.” Later,
Law recounted her reaction to
1st Lt. Linda Law on the flightline.
the unexpected display of appre-
ciation: “It just felt great to have
them recognize us.”
After the Thunderbirds de-
parted, Pizzo offered thanks to
his troops as well: “I don’t take
this lightly, because I know
what a sacrifice this is on a holi-
day weekend. The most valu-
able thing you can give anyone
is your time, because you only
have just so much of it.”
Then he added, “One cannot
even fully determine the fruit
that will be borne from a suc-
cessful performance like this.
Perhaps this will help our re-
cruiting, or maybe someone in
the crowd will secure us a larger
role in the Emergency Services
world. I don’t think I’ve ever
been more proud of this squad-
ron than I am now.”
9 • Wheels Up!
SUSSEY CADETS
DO THEIR PART
FOR EARTH WEEK
By Capt. MICHAEL KIELOCH
FULTON – Cadets with F.
R. Sussey Composite Squadron
did their part for Earth Week at
Oswego County Airport on Sat-
urday, April 18.
Cadets participated in a
clean-up of the airport grounds
and the surrounding areas,
picking up litter and debris that
could potentially harm aircraft.
The unit’s efforts were a part of
a campaign run by the Oswego
County Environmental Manage-
ment Council, encouraging the
community to pitch in during
Earth Week 2009.
“Oswego County celebrates
Earth Week every year. It is a
time to acknowledge our ap-
preciation for our earth and the
environmental successes that
sustain our healthy living,” said
Richard Drosse, Earth Week
coordinator.
C/SMSgt Austin Zappala,
cadet public affairs NCO, coor-
dinated the efforts.
“It’s important that we take
care of our part of the com-
munity,” said Cadet Sergeant
Zappala. “Supporting Oswego
County and local aviation is
simply a part of what we al-
ready do.”
CNY GROUP OUT IN FORCE FOR FT. DRUM AIR SHOW
By 1st Lt. BOB STRONACH

WATERTOWN -- New York

Wing’s Central New York
Group turned out in force for
Fort Drum’s Mountainfest Air
Show June 27-28, setting up a
mission base and bivouac area,
providing traffic control, and
staffing a recruiting booth.
The air show served as an
official welcome home cer-
emony for 1,000 solders in the
10th Mountain Division, and C/Airman Cody Rupert of Syracuse Cadet Squadron was curi-
featured New York Gov. David ous about the ski-mounted LC-130 Hercules.
Paterson who said he was keep-
ing a promise he made while
visiting the troops in Iraq at
Christmas.
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
members got to watch the mili-
tary flyovers and aerobatic acts,
and saw up close the various
aircraft in the static display ar-

Photos by 1st Lt ROBERT STRONACH

eas -- from a World War II-era
B-17 that was restored to fly
as the Memphis Belle in the
movie of the same name, to a
KC10A tanker/cargo plane from
Maguire Air Force Base, to the
ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules,
which the New York Air Na-
tional Guard flies to the North
and South Poles.
“We had 48 cadets and 11
C/MSgt Scott Wolff and C/SA Faith Schreiber, both of Syra-
senior members,” represent- cuse Cadet Squadron, were intrigued by the Predator B, an
ing all of the Group’s six unmanned surveillance aircraft operated by U.S. Customs and
squadrons, including the newly Border Protection.

Wheels Up! • 10
formed Fort Drum-Watertown
Composite Squadron, Group
Commander Maj. Carl Anthony
said. The other participating
squadrons were: Rome City
School District Squadron, Utica
Cadet Squadron, Rome’s Mo-
hawk-Griffiss Senior Squadron,
Syracuse Cadet Squadron, and
F.R. Sussey Composite Squad-
ron from Fulton.
“This was a very well-orga-
nized and executed exercise,”
said Major Anthony, who
served as incident commander
with Maj. Robert Flynn as op-
erations officer. “Our tasking
Capt. Jeff Crippen and several of his Rome City School District
was to provide traffic direction
Cadet Squadron cadets watched an aerial act from the recruit-
in both the North and South ing booth at Fort Drum’s Mountainfest Air Show. The cadets are
parking areas, provide commu- (from left): C/A1C Alexander Makley, C/A1C Emmanuel Ander-
nications for all our members, son, and C/MSgt Wyatt Frazier.
provide a gate guard for the
Rapid Deployment Facility, and ficer; Maj. Gerald Marketos, were stationed, were: the CF-18
provide a recruiting booth in the communications officer; 2nd Hornet flown by the Canadian
static display area.” Lt. Robert Ormsbee, Fort Drum Air Force; two A-10 Thunder-
CAP “operated as a com- liaison officer; 2nd Lt. Penny bolt “Warthogs” flown by the Air
pletely self-contained unit,” Schreiber, director of support Combat Command’s A-10 East
Major Anthony said. “We set services, and 2nd Lt. Joanne Demonstration Team; the Lima
up our own kitchen, feeding Parisi-Haugen, medical officer. Lima Flight Team flying six yel-
all members three meals a day. As evening approached on the low T-34 Mentors from the 1950s
We brought the Wing Com- first day, the cadets got to play and 1960s; the Trojan Horsemen
munications Van and Generator, some football, and surprised flying six T-28 Trojans, also
providing our own power and Major Anthony’s son, Marshal, from the 1950s and ‘60s; the Iron
communications.” with a birthday cake to show Eagles bi-plane aerobatic team;
He noted: “Civil Air Patrol their appreciation for the fact and the Gary Rower Vintage Air
has the most dedicated cadets that he was spending the week- Show in a 1942 Army Air Corps
and senior members of any or- end cooking their meals instead Stearman PT-17.
ganization currently out there.” of going out with friends. “We had a great time,” Major
Other key staffers included: Among the air acts they got Anthony said, “and the cadets
Maj. Mark Cashin, safety of- to view, no matter where they loved it.”
11 • Wheels Up!
TEACHERS TAKE TO AIR AS AERO-ED MEMBERS
By Capt. JAMES A. RIDLEY, SR.

HOLBROOK, NY – It was
a picture -perfect April day for
flying, and five teachers from
three different schools took
to the air as part of Civil Air
Patrol’s Fly-A-Teacher Pro-
gram for Aerospace Education
Members. The teachers were
associated with the Long Island
and Middle Eastern Groups.
The program got a kick-start
when Maj Lou Fenech of the
Long Island Group contacted
teacher Sue Ohlinger who re-
cently joined CAP as an Aero-
space Education Member. Oh-
linger learned of the program
while attending NASA’s Educa-
tor Conference at the Johnson Capt. John Corcacas goes through a pre-flight inspection with
Space Center in Houston. teachers Sue Ohlinger (left) and Cynthia Falco.
“I was so excited to get Maj
Fenech’s call,” said Ohlinger, also coordinated a flight for the Emmanuel Lutheran School
“and in being invited to present three teachers from the Albany in Patchogue. They spent the
to his squadron and learn about area on the same day. next two-plus hours aloft with
the Fly-A-Teacher program.” Capt John Corcacas, pilot for one quick stop at Block Island
Shortly after speaking with Ms. the Long Island contingent, be- so that the two teachers could
Ohlinger, he contacted the New gan the day with a safety brief- switch seats. In the air Corcacas
York Wing project officer for ing; a ground school covering continued their aerospace edu-
the program, Maj Tom Vree- such topics as flight procedures cation while at the same time
land, to set things in motion. and take-off preparation, and providing some sight-seeing
The date was selected and the a detailed aircraft inspection. opportunities.
ground school and flights were He then took off in a Cessna “One of the best things about
scheduled for Ohlinger and an- 206 with teacher Ohlinger of this experience,” said Cynthia
other Long Island-based teach- the Burr Intermediate School in Falco, “was that John (Corca-
er, Cynthia Falco. Maj Vreeland Commack and teacher Falco of cas) answered every question

Wheels Up! • 12
Teachers Chris Thompson, Paul O’Brien and Glenn Devoti listen as Capt Bob Ellwood explains
facts about the aircraft they are going to fly in.
we asked to the fullest, and we
asked a lot of questions.”
The flight path took the
teachers east along Long
Island’s South shore past Mon-
tauk Point, then after the brief
stop-over, west along the North
Shore before landing back
at Islip. While in the air they
experienced the thrill of steep
turns and of gaining altitudes of
up to 3,000 feet.
Similarly teachers from the
Mount Everett Regional School
in Massachusetts took off from
the Albany Airport in a Cessna
182 with Captain Bob Ellwood
at the controls. Principal Glenn
Devoti along with the school
district’s Director of Technol-
ogy Paul O’Brien and teacher
Chris Thompson were Ell-
wood’s passengers for the day.
Upon the groups’ return they
were given a quick briefing by
Maj Vreeland and expressed
their interest in sharing the
knowledge they gained with
their students.
“This was awesome!” com-
mented Mr. O’Brien. “I am im-
pressed with the quality of the
CAP Aerospace Education ma-
terials we received and believe
that they will add significant
value to our science, technol-
ogy, engineering and math
(STEM) programs.”
Principal Devoti added: “I
am hoping that we can look
at whether the school-based
programs of CAP might be
appropriate for some of our
students.”
Sue Ohlinger was also very
excited and impressed with
CAP. “This trip has enthused
me more and more and made
13 • Wheels Up!
me more interested in learning
about the opportunities that
CAP has to offer, especially the
emergency services aspect.”
Both Ohlinger and Falco
expressed interest in changing
their membership to Senior
Member status to be able to
pursue mission scanner qualifi-
cations.
“The Fly-a-Teacher program
is an excellent vehicle to get
the word out about CAP,” said
Major Fenech.“I was happy for
the opportunity to provide two
enthusiastic teachers the chance
to experience the thrill of flight.
I also appreciate the support
the program received from
Major Vreeland, the NY Wing
Project Officer, and our pilots,
Captain Corcacas and Captain
Ellwood.”
CADETS WELCOME HOME 2ND FALLEN MARINE
EMOTIONAL 3 WEEKS FOR CENTRAL NY SQUADRONS
By 1st Lt. BOB STRONACH in Afghanistan. Both were 22. stan,” she said. “He was pretty
Because Geary’s brother, much in the middle of combat,
ROME, NY -- It was an Dillan, is one of her cadets, and had very little time on the
emotional three weeks for 1st Lieutenant Crippen found phone. I could hear gunfire in
Lt. Michelle Crippen and her herself practically camped out the background. He wasn’t con-
Rome City School District Ca- at the Geary home in Rome, cerned about himself. He want-
det Squadron, as well as for the helping to coordinate the wel- ed to know how the Geary fam-
members of Utica Cadet Squad- come-home military honors and ily was doing. I found out later
ron. They helped welcome the funeral. She also fielded that he had asked his mother to
home the body of fallen Marine numerous news media calls on attend the funeral.”
Lance Cpl. Daniel Geary on behalf of the family. Then, on April 8, Oleski was
March 26. Then on April 14, Another call she took was killed.
they returned to Griffiss Inter- from Lance Cpl. Oleski, who It wasn’t long before Rome
national Airport to welcome knew Geary and who had Mayor James Brown called
home the body of Marine grown up only ten miles away Crippen on her cell phone, ask-
Lance Cpl. Blaise Oleski, who, in the Town of Floyd. ing if she would work with the
like Geary, was killed in action “He called from Afghani- family and help coordinate the

Photo by HEATHER AINSWORTH/UTICA DAILY NEWS

(From left) Airmen 1st Class William Goodwin (partially obscured) and Rob Cohlbrenner, Cadet Sr.
Airman Joshua Goodwin (rear), Cadet Airman 1st Class Kayla Elmer and Cadet Staff Sgt. Dennis
Drake, all members of the Rome City School District Cadet Squadron, salute the casket of Marine
Lance Cpl. Blaise Oleski as it is carried into church for his funeral.
Wheels Up! • 14

First Lt. Michelle Crippen wipes a tear near the casket of Marine Lance Cpl. Blaise Oleski.
arrangements again.
That meant that a contingent
of Marines would escort the
body from the chartered plane
to the hearse, followed by a
procession through lines of
military personnel, 45 CAP ca-
dets, veterans, police, firefight-
ers and the public. Then calling
hours at the same funeral home
and services at the same church
where Lance Cpl. Geary was
mourned. And finally a com-
mittal service and military
honors at Ft. Stanwix National
Monument, adjacent to the
church in the heart of down-
town Rome -- with Marines
and Revolutionary War re-enac-
tors lining the fort’s parapet.
Some 20 of her cadets took
turns working traffic con-
trol and escorting over 2,000
mourners at Barry Funeral
Home, Lieutenant Crippen
noted, and then some 15 of
them showed up at St. Peter’s
Church the next day, on their
own, standing at attention at
the entrance and saluting as the
15 • Wheels Up!
Photo by HEATHER AINSWORTH/UTICA DAILY NEWS
casket was carried in.
“We are very proud of these
cadets,” said Lieutenant Crip-
pen, advisor to the squadron
commander. “These cadets
never cease to amaze me with
what they are capable of.”
The second funeral had an
overflowing crowd of 1,500 at
the church and at Fort Stanwix,
she noted.
“Lance Corporal Oleski was
a phenomenal kid,” she said.
Tears welled.
“This one hit me hard.”
BUSY HOLIDAY FOR LIG SQUADRON
By Capt. JAMES RIDLEY, Sr.
PATCHOGUE, NY – May
25, 2009. While Memo-
rial Day traditionally means a
weekend off for most people,
the members of the Col Francis
S. Gabreski Squadron do their
part to honor those who gave
their lives in service to their
country.
On Saturday, the weekend
began with over 20 cadets and
officers, led by Maj Cheryl
Dorfman, attending to their an-
nual tradition of decorating the
graves of veterans in section
14 of the Calverton National
Cemetery. This tradition be-
gan many years ago when
Col Gabreski made a light-
hearted deal and requested the
squadron’s care of his grave
on Memorial Day in exchange
for the use of his name as the
squadron’s namesake. After
a flag folding ceremony at his
gravesite, the squadron as-
sembled with other members
of the Long Island Group as
the Squadron Color Guard led
the procession of flags in a me-
morial ceremony.
At the same time, some 200
miles away, another contingent
from the Gabreski Squadron
led by Squadron Commander
NY Wing Ground Team (including Gabreski cadets) poses in front
of a C-5 Galaxy at Westover Air Reserve Base during NorthEast
Region’s Search-and-Rescue Competition (SARCOMP).
Maj Lou Fenech was in Chi- the colors at an event led by
copee, Mass. participating Capt Paul Ryan at the First
in the Northeast Region’s Baptist Church in Patchogue.
Search and Rescue Competi- On Monday, Memorial Day,
tion being held at Westover Air the squadron members from
Reserve Base. This team of all three activities gathered for
9 members included Capt. the Patchogue Memorial Day
Nate Hillard and 2Lt. Dennis Parade and were led by their
Woytowitz who commanded Long Island Group champion
the ground teams which in- color guard. When the parade
cluded six Gabreski cadets. was over they were told that
They were joined by members the squadron had won the tro-
of the Southeast Group and phy for the most patriotic unit
formed the team that took 3rd in the parade.
place in the Region. Two other “I am very proud of the offi-
Gabreski cadets worked on the cers and cadet members of my
PAO staff which was tasked squadron,” commented Maj
with covering the competition Fenech. “To do so much over
On Sunday the Gabres- a three-day holiday period is
ki squadron color guard was remarkable and a testament to
again called to duty to present our ability to get the job done.”
Wheels Up! • 16
WWII MEMBER CATCHES UP ON CAP AT FLY-IN
WAR TIME EXPERIENCE SPURRED HER TO BECOME PILOT
By Capt. CAROLYN FILLGROVE a master’s degree. We-
hhrung-Schmidt noted that
AKRON, NY – Alice We- women training as pilots
hhrung-Schmidt never expected during World War II were
to be reacquainted to her past somewhat of a novelty.
when she attended the annual She found the flight train-
Akron Memorial Day Fly-In ing exhilarating, but was
Breakfast recently. ever mindful that she had
The 91-year-old World War II to prove herself better than
Civil Air Patrol member spent men. When she went to
most of the day reacquaint- Rochester to take the writ-
ing herself with CAP’s current ten exam, others quickly
activities, its modern-day mem- completed the test and
bers, and even got one more left while she spent six
chance behind the yoke of a hours taking the exam and
Cessna. re-checking her answers.
“It was just a wonderful, The extra attention paid
wonderful day,” remarked We- off; she scored a 97. Then,
hhrung-Schmidt, one of the last Capt. Tom Baldwin and Capt. when she finally got her pilot’s
to leave the airport that day. Diane Rothberg, both retired Air license at the age of 25, she told
Wehhrung-Schmidt served as Canada captains. “She was just her mother. Her mother hugged
a CAP observer flying and train- amazing...She still thinks like a her tight and told her how proud
ing with a squadron in Tonawa- pilot...She is very sharp, “ Capt. of her she was. She was sur-
nda, NY from 1942 to 1946. Rothberg said. prised by this, but happy, too.
Squadron meetings were filled Born and raised in Buffalo, Wehhrung-Schmidt’s love of
with drill and subjects such as Alice, at a young age, told her flying rubbed off on her hus-
radio procedures. Her war time family that she wanted to fly band, Carl. While she studied
experience was what motivated airplanes. But the dream to fly in New York City, he earned a
her to pursue the flying les- took a back seat to formal edu- private pilot’s license as well.
sons she had always wanted, cation. She graduated from Buf- Then he surprised her upon
enabling her to earn a private falo State College with a degree graduation by saying that he
pilot’s license at the age of 25. in education in 1941 and began would come to New York and
Akron’s Memorial Day Fly- a long career as a teacher and fly her home. Married for 40
in Breakfast marked one more administrator for the Kenmore years, the couple mixed aviation
time for her to fly when she School District. Her service in with his automotive business.
was given an orientation flight the CAP ended when she left The couple owned ten different
in a private Cessna owned by for New York City to pursue airplanes through the years, to
17 • Wheels Up!
 CANADA CADETS
JOIN NEW YORK
COUNTERPARTS
IN ELT SEARCH
By 1st Lt. DOUG JUSTHAM

JAMESTOWN – Even
though it isn’t a meaningful oc-
currence in their own country,
Alice Wehhrung-Schmidt poses with her late husband, Carl which observes its own Re-
Wehhrung, in front of their Piper Cherokee at Akron, NY Airport, membrance Day every Nov. 11,
sometime in the 1960s. The photo was found at the airport ear- May’s Memorial Day weekends
lier this year, shoved in between some old newspapers. Nobody in the U.S. have become special
at the airport knew who the couple was until Mrs. Wehhrung-
for the Royal Canadian Air
Smith identified the photo for airport management.
Cadets of Kitchener-Waterloo,
include Piper Cubs, Pacers, Tri- on her own, taking care of her Ontario.
Pacers, and a Cherokee 180. Mr. home and mowing the lawn. For the last 10 years, the ca-
Wehhrung did his own mainte- These days Alice owns a dets have traveled south to New
nance. They even built a hangar home in Florida, but comes York to march in the Lakewood
at the Akron Airport themselves. home to Cheektowaga every Memorial Day Parade. This
Alice and Carl personally year before hurricane season year, though, the visit proved
knew Bill Piper, Sr., owner of starts. “The hurricanes dance even more significant.
Piper Aircraft Co., Lock Haven, around down there,” she noted, Maj. Ellen Maternowski,
PA. They attended a celebration indicating she didn’t like the commander of Jamestown
at Piper Aircraft when the com- storms one bit! Composite
pany had built 320,000 planes. Alice is a musician and plays Squadron,
Alice has flown twice to Mex- seven instruments. She speaks was asked to
ico in a Piper Cherokee (made English and French. Ever the host an elec-
in Florida). She has flown to educator, she continues to work tronic loca-
Alaska and many other places. in a child day care center, com- tor transmit-
She stopped flying in 1986 bining her love of music with ter (ELT)
when Carl had to have open humor in a little band with chil-
search for
heart surgery. Alice has 3,000 dren and “old people.”
the visi-
hours in her log book. She laughed when noting
tors. Such
Carl Wehhring passed away the “old people” think she’s
exercises
in the mid-1980s. That hasn’t younger than they are because
are routine
stopped Alice. She loves life she knows so many old people
and lives it to the fullest; living jokes. for Civil Air Maj. Maternowski,
Wheels Up! • 18
Patrol members, but not for their Canadian
counterparts.
Maternowski asked 1st Lt. Tom Joneson,
communications officer, and Capt. Marvin
Hillicker, emergency services officer and
ground team leader, if they would be will-
ing to arrange an ELT search with a com-
bined team of Canadian and CAP cadets.
Jumping at the chance, Joneson conducted
a one-hour training session on the reasons
and methods for an ELT search.
Following the preliminary training ses-
sion, about 30 Canadian Air Cadets and
their senior mentors headed out on the
search, along with 10 Jamestown cadets
and senior members. The practice ELT was
located within 90 minutes and silenced, as
required.
The squadron’s public affairs officer
and safety officer, 1st Lt. Doug Justham,
helped with field-training the cadets on the
types of equipment used to track ELTs.
“We use a wide variety of tracking units,
from very expensive Doppler mini-trackers
to homemade Yagi antenna units attached
to scanners and amateur radio handheld
units,” Justham said.
The squadron “has close to a 100 percent
success rate within 60 minutes of begin-
ning the search,” he added. “But today is
more education than it is practice, so we
are not worried about the amount of time it
takes as long as the cadets get a good feel
for what we do.”
Afterward, Maternowski pronounced the
weekend “a great international success, as
the two groups got along well and enjoyed
searching, marching and just getting to
know each other.”
19 • Wheels Up!
HOLDREN IS FIRST WOMAN
TO COMMAND SQUADRON
IN CENTRAL NY GROUP
FULTON -- 1st Lt. Jennifer T. Holdren became
the first woman commander of F.R. Sussey Com-
posite Squadron following
a change-of-command cer-
emony May 27 at Oswego
County Airport.
“Lieutenant Holdren also
is the first woman to com-
mand a squadron in Central
New York Group,” noted
Group Commander Maj.
Carl Anthony, who offici-
ated at the ceremony.
Sussey Squadron operates
programs for both senior
members and cadets, and
trains for air and ground search and rescue, emer-
gency services and disaster relief.
Holdren succeeds Capt. Dale Masters as com-
mander. She joined the squadron in 2005, has
served as administrative officer and public affairs
officer, and has participated in aircraft orientations
for youth, cadet bivouacs, a missing person search
mission.
“I plan to focus on three main goals,” the new
commander said. “First, I will work to retain the
cadet members and their interests, while building
on the strengths of the program. Secondly, I want
to see more recognition of the squadron and Civil
Air Patrol by getting us involved in outreach activi-
ties in the community. Lastly, I intend to boost our
recruiting efforts for senior members as well as
cadets.”
She resides in Fulton with her husband, Earl
Holdren III, a Civil Air Patrol pilot.
MARINE CORPS AVIATORS HOST CAP
SUFFOLK CADET SQUADRON 10 MEETS 25TH REGIMENT
By 2nd Lt. ROBERT CALVIELLO
GARDEN CITY, NY - The
US Marine Corps’ 2nd Battalion/
25th Regiment earlier this year
hosted Suffolk Cadet Squadron
10 cadets, seniors and fam-
ily members at their Nassau
County base.
“You [once] welcomed me
in your house…welcome to
ours,” said Col. James Rooney,
USMCR. After brief opening
remarks, the colonel introduced
two Marines who would lead
question-and-answer sessions
on Marine Aviation training,
experiences and careers.
Capt. Daniel M. Nolan, a
12-year Marine veteran, served
in Iraq and also in Indonesia
(Tsunami Relief) as a “Sea
Knight” (HMM165) flying twin
rotor CH46 helicopters. Nolan
discussed the Marine aviation
pipeline and its advanced pro-
grams. He stressed the competi-
tive academics and the physical
and psychological demands of
the training each aviator must
complete, and noted how a
candidate must be a self-starter
and self-motivated. Captain
Nolan acknowledged that
CAP activities [e.g. orientation
flights, flight-line training, and
aerospace education] will give
Col. Jim Rooney, USMCR, addresses Squadron 10.
cadets “a leg up on other candi-
dates…Familiarity with air and
flight operations and communi-
cations is a plus.”
Capt. Luis E. Martinez, Ad-
vertising Officer for 1st Marine
District, is a graduate of the US
Naval Academy at Annapolis,
and served in Afghanistan as a
VMAQ-3 “Moondog” -- flying
Prowler aircraft in a Marine
Tactical Electronic Warfare
Squadron. After describing the
role of Forward Air Control-
ler (FAC) -- which requires
ground-to-air communications,
map reading and navigation
skills – Martinez was asked
to comment about the train-
ing CAP members receive and
execute during SAREX mis-
sions. “It is expected that every
[Marine] 2nd Lieutenant can plot
a course and get to a destina-
Wheels Up! • 20
tion..,” Capt. Martinez said. “It
is up to them to know how to
get to an X on the map without
being told how to get there.”
A martial arts demonstra-
tion was led by Sgt. Richard D.
Vergara, a Garden City native,
a Martial Arts Instructor Trainer
(MAIT) and black belt instruc-
tor for the 25th Regiment. The
sergeant stressed how training is
part of continuous improvement
no matter what a Marine’s spe-
cialty might be. “Everyone has
a role and a part to play when
fulfilling the mission,” Vergara
said. “[We] work in teams and
partner on tasks.”
Colonel Rooney closed
the open house by present-
ing Squadron 10 commander
Capt. Benjamin Nodar with
two framed posters of Marine
aircraft.
CAP IMPORTANT TO AIR FORCE CAREER
FIGHTER PILOT SPEAKS AT CENTRAL NY GROUP BANQUET
By 1st Lt. BOB STRONACH for the Air Force and Air Guard,
to participating in search and
WHITESBORO, NY -- Air rescue operations, to assisting in
Force Maj. Richard Lubey disaster relief in hurricanes and
grew up in the Civil Air Patrol floods, “it’s pretty amazing.”
ranks, in love with aviation. He “On behalf of my bosses”
attained the rank of Cadet Lt. at NEADS, one of two North
Colonel and learned how to fly American Aerospace Defense
a Cessna 172 before going off (NORAD) sectors, “thank you.”
to the U.S. Air Force Academy “Thank you for your passion
to fulfill his dream of becoming for leadership, for your passion
a fighter pilot, eventually flying for aviation... for your passion
an F-16 in combat in Iraq. AF Major Richard Lubey for excellence.”
Guest speaker at Central New Recalling his time as a CAP
York Group’s Awards and Rec- join Utica Cadet Squadron at cadet, Major Lubey said: “We
ognition Banquet at Hart’s Hill the age of 12, the Civil Air Pa- didn’t go on camp-outs and sing
Inn on April 21, Major Lubey trol (CAP) not only fueled his campfire songs. We went on
related how he was only 8 years dream, but gave him an advan- bivouacs, stayed in tents, and
old when he fell in love. It hap- tage, made him better prepared, learned survival skills.” Like
pened when his parents brought in his future Air Force career, today’s cadets, he also got to fly
him to the open house and air Major Lubey told the crowd of in airplanes and was immersed
show at the former Griffiss Air 115 senior members, cadets and in aerospace education.
Force Base, and he got to climb family members representing “The spectrum of experience
up the ladder to the cockpit of the Group’s five squadrons. you get in CAP, you’re not go-
an F-106 Delta Dart fighter Now, in his position as chief ing to find anywhere else.”
interceptor. He looked inside of Current Operations at the Recognizing he was a former
and smiling back at him was the Northeast Air Defense Sector member of Utica Cadet Squad-
pilot. (NEADS) at Griffiss Interna- ron, the current squadron com-
“Do you believe they pay tional Airport in Rome, NY, mander, Capt Chuck Hereth,
me to fly this thing!” the pilot site of the former Air Force presented Lubey with a squad-
beamed. Base, Lubey said he “has been ron challenge coin. Prior to the
The young Lubey scrambled enlightened as to what CAP talk, Captain Hereth, who was
down the ladder and announced does for national defense and in master of ceremonies, received
to his parents, that’s what he disaster relief.” a surprise himself when Group
wanted to do. Fly fighter jets. From providing reliable, cost- Commander Maj. Carl Anthony
When he was able to finally effective training alternatives presented him with two Group
21 • Wheels Up!
awards, Senior Member of the
Year and Cadet Orientation Pi-
lot of the Year.
Squadron of the Year honors
went to Rome City School
District Cadet Squadron, com-
manded by Capt Jeff Crippen,
who also was named Cadet
Program Officer of the Year.
Captain Crippen took the op-
portunity to present an award
himself -- a special certificate
of recognition for Rome City
School District, which he gave
to School Superintendent Jef- Capt Chuck Hereth, receiving Senior Member of Year Award from
frey Simons, for the district’s Central New York Group Commander Maj Carl Anthony (right)
and New York Wing Vice Commander Lt Col Mark Caiello (left).
outstanding support of the CAP
cadet program. Pray of the school district’s “They were with these fami-
Another special guest, Rome JROTC program. Noting that lies from day one.”
Mayor James Brown, who re- the Rome area lost two of its Members of the Geary fam-
marked that “the world would own in the past month -- Lance ily were at the banquet, and the
be a better place” if “all kids Cpl. Daniel Geary and Lance mayor, on behalf of a grateful
could experience CAP,” got into Cpl. Blaise Oleski, both killed community, thanked them for
the act, too, awarding city me- in action in Afghanistan -- the their sacrifice, prompting a
dallions to Captain Crippen, his mayor lauded the trio for help- standing ovation for the fallen
wife, First Lt Michelle Crippen, ing the families of the fallen Marine’s mother, grandmother
and Air Force Master Sgt. Della Marines. and brother (a CAP cadet).

Photos by 1st Lt ROBERT STRONACH

FROM LEFT: Air Force Master Sgt Della Pray, CAP Capt Jeff Crippen, and CAP 1st Lt Michelle
Crippen received accolades from Rome Mayor James Brown (right).

Wheels Up! • 22
 C-5 Galaxy towers above CAP aircraft at Westover Air Reserve Base
NY WING TAKES 3RD PLACE IN NER SARCOMP
By Capt. JAMES RIDLEY, SR.
CHICOPEE, MA – New
York Wing senior members
and cadets competed against
some of the best Emergency
Service teams the Northeast
Region (NER) has to offer at
the region’s Search And Rescue
Competition (SARCOMP) held
at Westover Air Reserve Base
on Memorial Day Weekend,
taking third place overall.
The 20-member New York
Wing contingent was led by
Maj Darren Cioffi, incident
commander, and comprised a
complete Incident Command
staff, two air crews and aircraft,
and a 9-person ground team
with two vehicles. They were
tasked with many events, each
team had its own specific chal-
lenges and was judged against
competition from wings such as
New Jersey, New Hampshire,
Pennsylvania and composite
teams made up from other
wings. In addition, seven of the
nine-member Public Affairs
team covering the exercise were
from New York Wing.
While the air crews searched
for targets, ground teams
searched for ELTs and per-
formed line search tasks while
the incident command staff
organized, communicated and
tracked all team activity. The
competition took place over the
entire Memorial Day weekend
but the actual events began and
ended on Saturday the 23rd of
May.
“This was a great exercise
for the New York Wing,” said
Major Cioffi. Members went
up “against some of the best
23 • Wheels Up!
Photo by SUSAN ROBERTSON / CAP NHQ
the Civil Air Patrol has to offer,
and this competition couldn’t
have come at a better time.”
Indeed, the New York Wing
was preparing for an official Air
Force evaluation of its Emer-
gency Services capabilities and
the SARCOMP was an excel-
lent primer for that evaluation,
where the wing received high
grades.
Seven cadets participated
in the competition as part of
the ground team and two other
cadets were part of the SAR-
COMP’s Public Affairs team.
The wing supplied numerous
staff officers and cadets that
were involved in the planning
and execution of the event such
as c/Col Natasha Cohen, who
was Aid-de-Camp to the SAR-
COMP architect and incident
commander, Lt Col Joe Abegg.
 On Sunday the team learned how they fared
and was very happy with the outcome. Maj Alan
Gibbs, Operations Section chief, commented that
while the team would have liked to have come
in first or second, “getting third place the first
time we competed in this type of competition is
fantastic and will only serve to make us better the
next time.”
The next time might come sooner than anyone
on the team expected as the wing is tentatively
planning to hold a SARCOMP of its own in May
2010.

SARCOMP PARTICIPANTS FROM NEW YORK WING

INCIDENT COMMAND TEAM
Gibbs, Alan Maj NER-NY-251
Cioffi, Darren Maj NER-NY-118
Brana, Sharon Capt NER-NY-118
Fenech, Lou Maj NER-NY-117
Wuestman, Michele 1st Lt NER-NY-251

Photo by SUSAN ROBERTSON / CAP NHQ

GROUND TEAM
Gatley, Kory CDT NER-NY-117
Grosshandler, Kevin CDT NER-NY-117
Hillard, Nathan Capt NER-NY-117
Woytowitz, Alexander CDT NER-NY-117
Ozyilmaz, Zeki CDT NER-NY-117
Woytowitz, Dennis 2nd Lt NER-NY-117
Becerra, Annie CDT NER-NY-147
Pan, Willie CDT NER-NY-147
Derr, Joshua CDT NER- NY-189

AIR CREWS
Falcon, Ron Capt NER-NY-219
Silverman, Jill Capt NER-NY-219
Stern, Peter 1st Lt NER-NY-219
Cipriano, Rocky 2nd Lt NER-NY-219
Smith, Steve 2nd Lt NER-NY-219
Levy, Roger 1st Lt NER-NY-379
PAO TEAM COVERING SARCOMP
Ridley, James Capt NER-NY-001
Barry, Kevin Maj NER-NY-035
Fairchild, Rick 1st Lt NER-NY-414
Lee, Michael 1st Lt NER-NY-147
Ridley, James CDT NER-NY-117
Wheels Up! • 24
NY Wing Cadets Tatyana Lopez and Lydia
Fairchild, shown prior to takeoff in the cockpit
of a CAP aircraft, got to view the SARCOMP
from the air as part of the PAO Team.
Lopez, Tatyana CDT NER-NY-117
Fairchild, Lydia CDT NER-NY-414
OTHER NY MEMBERS helping on SAR-
COMP staff: Lt. Col. Steve Perta, Lt. Col.
Andy Liddle, Lt. Col. Joe Goldman, Maj. Judy
Hewett, C/Col. Natasha Cohen, C/Lt. Col.
Bethany Hewett.
SPECIAL HONORS FOR CADET AND HER COMMANDER
By Sr. Mbr. MADELEINE COHEN observer before finding
her niche as squadron
WHITE PLAINS, NY – Over commander. Her legions
130 area members of Civil Air of cadets have provided
Patrol gathered to congratulate outstanding service to
New York State’s first Spaatz America; they now hold
Award recipient since 2005, positions of influence in
Cadet Col. Natasha Cohen of both civilian and mili-
Dobbs Ferry, NY, in a ceremony tary careers, counting
at Wing Headquarters at the among them graduates
Westchester County Airport of the finest universities,
in White Plains on Friday, as well as the various
C/Col. Cohen Lt. Col. Pantanelli
May 29. Named for a former military academies.
Air Force general, the Carl A. State Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer Lt Col Richard Debany, US
Spaatz award is CAP’s highest and retired US Air Force Brig. Army, who flew in from Ft
cadet honor. In a surprise an- Gen. John F. Flanagan, a noted Bragg in North Carolina, took
nouncement, the evening also author, aviator, and business the podium and said: “There
celebrated the lengthy career of executive, who presented the is no finer developer of young
Lt Col Johnnie Pantanelli and Spaatz Award to Cadet Cohen. adults than Lt Col Pantanelli. I
culminated in the renaming of Lt Colonel Pantanelli, com- believe that I speak for all the
North Castle Composite Squad- mander of the squadron since cadets when I say that every ca-
ron in her honor. 1963, is a pioneer herself. She det who’s ever walked through
Wing Commander Col. Ken- served in the Marine Corps in the doors of North Castle
neth Andreu hosted the cer- WWII, and joined CAP in 1944, Squadron is better because of
emony, featuring special guests flying aircraft as a scanner and it.”

A SPAATZ AWARD THAT BECAME SO MUCH MORE

By 2nd Lt. JESSICA ANDREU
Current and former cadets
and officers of the North Castle
Composite Squadron, NY-238,
came together May 29 to cel-
ebrate not only a new Spaatz
cadet, C/Col. Natasha Cohen,
but also to witness a unique
honor ceremony. Attendees
included members from South-
east Group, New York Wing,
the Northeast Region, and per-
haps one of the most important
people of all, Lt Col. Johnnie
Pantanelli, the North Castle
Composite Squadron’s com-
mander since 1963.
The ceremony was led by
CAP 1st Lt and Air National
Guard TSgt Noah Stebbins,
himself a former cadet com-
25 • Wheels Up!
mander under Lt. Colonel
Pantanelli, back in the 1990s.
Capt. Richard Johns assisted
in reading a roll call of former
cadets and friends of North
Castle who came from near
and far to join in the festivities.
Guest speakers included New
York State Sen. Susan Oppen-
heimer and Brig. Gen. John F.
Flanagan, USAF Ret., author of
 Vietnam Above the Treetops, who came to congratulate
C/Col. Cohen on her achievements. It seemed to be an
event that was completely dedicated to celebrating Ca-
det Cohen and first Spaatz Award earned by a NY Wing
cadet since 2005.
It was during Cadet Cohen’s Thank You speech that
the ceremony began to shift in focus from her accom-
plishments to that of Lieutenant Colonel Pantanelli and
her decades of leadership.
Wing Commander Col. Kenneth J. Andreu, himself
a former cadet in Colonel Pantanelli’s old White Plains
squadron, stood and announced: “Cadet Colonel Cohen
will be the first and last Spaatz cadet to come out of
North Castle Composite Squadron.”
He went on to explain: “This morning, North Castle
Composite Squadron ceased to exist with a key stroke.
From now on, Charter unit NY-238 will be known as
the Lieutenant Colonel Johnnie Pantanelli Squadron.”
The assembled crowd gasped and broke into ap- Wing Commander Col. Ken Andreu
plause. and Lt. Col. Johnnie Pantanelli

‘NEW YORK WING HAS HEART’

Acknowledging the nation’s
economic slump, Wing Com-
mander Col. Kenneth Andreu
told attendees at April’s Wing
Conference in Lake George that
“tough times demand heart,”
and if there’s one thing New
York Wing has, it’s heart.
He encouraged units “to
make a difference in 2009” by
partnering with local relief mis-
sions, finding “a mission that
needs us,” and recruiting “mem-
bers to help us help.”
He went on to list the wing’s
2008 successes, such as:
• being credited with saving
three lives.
• starting six new squadrons
in four different Groups.
• developing and executing
new leadership training, the
New York Wing Group Com-
manders’ Course.
• flying more hours than ever
before -- 3,340 hours, ranking
New York Wing as sixth in the
nation.
• flying 490 counter drug
hours and locating 65 sites with
$30 million in plants eradicated.
• flying volunteer hours that
alone are valued at $6.8 million
to New York State (not count-
ing the counter drug eradication
results).
• offering a value to the
citizenry of New York that is
“priceless”!
Colonel Andreu announced
incentive awards for flying and
membership growth:
• Aviation Excellence Award
to Long Island Group.
• Most Cadet Orientation
Flights Award to Finger Lakes
Group.
• Overall Membership

Wheels Up! • 26

Group commanders and other attendees at the Wing Conference.
Growth Award to Broome-
Tioga Composite Squadron
(NY-292).
• Cadet Membership Growth
Award to Brooklyn Technical
Cadet Squadron 1 (NY-384).
• Group Membership Growth
Award to Mid-Eastern Group
(NY-043).
• Membership Retention
Award to Nassau Cadet
Squadron 8 (NY-288).
The wing commander and his
staff then honored outstanding
members and units. including:
• Senior Member of the Year:
Lt. Col. Charles Miller, Finger
Lakes Group.
• Cadet of the Year: C/Maj.
Heather Nelson, Mid-Eastern
Group.
• Cadet NCO of the Year:
C/SMSgt Joseph L.T. Smith,
Rochester Composite Squadron.
• Cadet Programs Officer of
the Year: Capt. Ellen J. Mater-
nowski, Western NY Group.
• Check Pilot of the Year:
Maj. Brian Benedict, Mid-
Eastern Group.
• Outstanding Emergency
Service Program: Finger Lakes
Group.
• Aerospace Education Of-
ficer of the Year: Capt. Thomas
Baldwin, Western NY Group.
• Sr. Chaplain of the Year:
Chaplain (Capt) Douglas A.
Brock, Wing staff.
• Squadron Chaplain of the
Year: Chaplain (Capt) John
E. Capen, Catskill Mountain
Group.
• Character Development
Instructor of the Year: Maj. An-
drew S. Berry. New York City
Group.
• Inspector of the Year: Maj.
Daniel Brodsky, Central New
York Group.
• Safety Officcer of the
Year: 1st Lt. Lawrence Wenz,
27 • Wheels Up!
Photo by Maj. KEVIN BARRY
Catskill Mountain Group.
• Logistics Officer of the
Year: Lt. Col. Anita Martin,
Mid-Eastern Group.
• Communicator of the Year:
1st Lt. Dwight Smith, Wing
staff.
• Incident Staff Member
of the Year: Lt. Col. William
Hughes, Wing staff.
• Legislative Officer of the
Year: Lt. Col. Diane Wojtow-
icz, Finger Lakes Group.
• NorthEast Region Govern-
ment Relations Officer of the
Year: Lt. Col. Andy Liddle,
Wing staff.
• Public Affairs Officer (PAO)
of the Year: Maj. Kevin Barry,
Catskill Mountain Group.
• NorthEast Region PAO of
the Year: Maj. Kevin Barry,
Catskill Mountain Group.
• Squadron of Merit: Condor
Composite Squadron, Finger
Lakes Group.
 NEW YORK WING IN ACTION
CADET-OF-YEAR HEADS UNIT ATTENDS
TO AIR FORCE ACADEMY 4 MEMORIAL
DAY ACTIVITIES
By Capt. JAMES A. she was promoted to
RIDLEY, SR. cadet commander of By 2nd Lt. ROBERT
her squadron, and more CALVIELLO
CLIFTON PARK recently at the New
– Since she was a York Wing Conference FARMINGVILLE
young girl, Cadet Maj. held in Lake George in – Suffolk Cadet Squad-
Heather Nelson, the April, she was named ron 10 honored the
outgoing cadet com- the New York Wing courage and sacrifice of
mander for Mid-East- Cadet of the Year. veterans by participat-
ern Group’s Vedder “It’s been awe- ing in four Long Island
Composite Squadron, Memorial Day events.
some,” she said. “I’ve
On Saturday May 23,
has wanted to earn an loved every minute
cadets and senior mem-
appointment to the U.S. I’ve spent in CAP. My
bers met at Calverton
Air Force Academy in seniors have been great
National Cemetery
Colorado Springs, CO. role models and have
and rendered honors
In June Cadet Nelson helped me out a lot.” by placing graveside
saw her dream turn into “Everyone who American flags.
reality when she report- knows Heather, knows Later that day Squad-
ed to the academy as a how much this meant ron 10 cadets were at
member of the class of to her,” said her squad- Republic Airport, join-
2013. ron commander, Maj. ing other CAP units to
The appointment Adam Candib. “We are provide gate and flight
highlighted what has all excited for her” -- a line security for the Air
been a short and suc- sentiment shared by her Force Thunderbirds
cessful CAP cadet group commander, Lt. and Royal Canadian
career so far. Last sum- Col. Anita Martin. Snowbirds.
mer Nelson saw anoth- While at the academy Squadron 10 attended
er goal accomplished Heather will join the its first Centereach
when she was assigned fencing team. She is an Memorial Day parade
as the Group First Ser- accomplished fencer on Sunday. On Monday,
geant at the 2008 New who has traveled all Squadron 10 joined
York Wing Leadership over the world earning the Lake Ronkonkoma
Encampment, then medals. C/Maj. Heather Nelson Memorial Day parade.

Wheels Up! • 28