Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol

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]

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 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.

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 8 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 AFB.

Delaware Wing coordinates with Maryland Wing and National Capital to hold Tri-Wing Encampment every year at Camp Frettard in 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]

Delaware Wing has ten typical squadrons registered to the state. Five are located in New Castle County, three in Kent County, one in Sussex County, and one in Cecil County, Maryland. There is one composite squadron, seven cadet squadrons, and two senior squadrons. 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.

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.

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.

Overall, Delaware Wing has had 35 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.

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]

• Delaware Air National Guard
• Delaware State Guard

• "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. pp. 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. pp. 24. ISBN 978-1-4042-3779-7.
• Hanes, Richard Clay; S. Hanes; B McNeill (2005). American home front in World War II. UXL. pp. 242. ISBN 0-7876-7651-9.
• 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. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2008-11-16.

• Official Delaware Wing Website