Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala. (December 1, 2021) – Civil Air Patrol members in 52 wings and in overseas squadrons are celebrating CAP’s commitment to serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
Dec. 1 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the organization, which became part of the U.S. Air Force “Total Force” in 2015. Over 56,000 members embody the organization’s core values of integrity, volunteer service, excellence, and respect as they serve—strengthening their communities and the nation with over $280 million worth of volunteer hours in fiscal 2020 alone.
Jenks, Okla (September 17, 2021) – Two Tulsa area squadrons of the Oklahoma Wing Civil Air Patrol partnered together to conduct a multi-unit search and rescue training on Sept. 11 with ground teams and aircraft. Fourteen Jenks-based Riverside Composite Squadron senior officers and cadets joined five senior officers from Tulsa-based Council Oak Senior Squadron in the training exercise, performing a variety of tasks.
“We train so we can respond,” stated 1st Lt Yolanda Daves, Riverside’s squadron commander. “We do this so we can create the skills necessary to save lives in a moment’s notice.”
Jenks, Okla (September 16, 2021) – On Sept. 11, 2021 Civil Air Patrol’s Riverside Composite Squadron members assisted with this year's annual Tulsa Flight Night Gala, benefiting Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance at Tulsa Technology Center’s Riverside Campus, home of the squadron itself, at RL Jones Airport.
The cadets and adult members assisted aircraft departing the flight ramp as they were taxiing before takeoff. They also maintained a security perimeter around the active flight line, to keep the guests of the gala and the planes present safe.
Jenks, Okla (September 16, 2021) – In 1956 then 18-year-old Civil Air Patrol Cadet Maj. Robert N. Barger was selected as the only representative from among the 50,000 cadets in the CAP cadet corps to participate in the joint Navy-Air Force Operation Deep Freeze in the Antarctic.
Jenks, Okla (September 15, 2021) – From an early age Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell knew she wanted to be a fighter pilot. Now retired, the Air Force Lieutenant Colonel knocked down a racial barrier by becoming the first black female fighter pilot.
Jenks, Okla (September 14, 2021) – After time as a CAP cadet in 1943, Lt. Gen. Julius Becton Jr. joined the Army Air Forces in July 1944, commissioned in the infantry in 1945 via OCS, and served with the 93rd Infantry Division in the Philippines until the end of the war. He separated from the Army in 1946 but returned to active duty after the desegregation of the Army.
Altus, Okla (September 13, 2021) – Colonel Aaron Oliver, Civil Air Patrol’s wing commander for Oklahoma, set forth a goal of 100 cadet orientation flights completed within his first 60 days of office, making cadet airtime a priority within the wing. Just over one month later the wing topped that goal with a group of flights taking the total to 102.
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla (August 17, 2021) – Civil Air Patrol pilots and operations staff from across the state united together at two launch locations, Prague Municipal Airport and Pryor’s Mid-America Industrial Airport, to help provide cadets their first orientation flight experiences. Combined both locations hosted over 50 members at the event, which yielded 63 flights in total.
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla (August 19, 2021) – A. Scott Crossfield was born Oct. 2, 1921, in Berkeley, California. He took his first flight at age 6 in an oil company airplane, an experience that hooked him on aviation for life. He began flying lessons at 12, in return for delivering newspapers at the Wilmington airport. By the time he graduated from high school, he had resolved to emulate such famous test pilots as Jimmy Doolittle and Boeing’s Eddie Allen.
CAMP GRUBER, Okla. (July 25, 2021) – “We are stronger together,” Civil Air Patrol’s Col. Aaron Oliver stated to a packed room of members. Oliver took command of the Oklahoma Wing less than a week ago and has already raised aspiration levels.
“One hundred orientation flights in 60 days,” Oliver stated from a podium at the wing’s annual conference. “It won’t be easy, but I believe our passion for this program will bring us to do great things.”
