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.[citation needed]
One of the Civil Air Patrol's 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.[citation needed]
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 Members from Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol traveled 28 hours to Pascagoula, Mississippi to aid in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. PAWG Ground Teams went door-to-door ensuring that local residents had adequate food, water, and medical care.[1]
During the time between September 1, 2010 to December 1, 2011, the Pennsylvania Wing saved eleven lives,[citation needed] provided emergency response in Pennsylvania during the 2011 flooding and severe winter storms.
In November 2012, CAP Pennsylvania Wing emergency services air crews and ground teams were activated to assist communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware during flooding and high wind of Hurricane Sandy.
During Late December 2017 and early January 2018, CAP Pennsylvania Wing emergency services ground teams were sent to help dig out Erie Pennsylvania.
In March 2021, as a part of Civil Air Patrol's response in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Pennsylvania Wing provided support at a vaccine point of distribution.[2]
Pennsylvania Wing Commanders
CAP volunteers collect uniforms donated to Delaware and Pennsylvania CAP units by the Delaware National Guard.Lt. Cmdr. Tim Murphy, psychologist with the Navy Reserve Medical Service Corps at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, sprays fake blood on the bandages of a Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadet as part of preparation for a National Disaster Medical System Exercise.Cadet Tech. Sgt. Jessica Bower, with the Civil Air Patrol Harrisburg International Composite Squadron 306, listens on how to adjust a parachute harness.From left to right: Civil Air Patrol members Lt. Col. Jerry Patterson, Capt. Bob Thorn, and Capt. Frank Sattler, who are holding battle dress uniforms donated from the 512th Airlift Wing to Delaware and Pennsylvania CAP units at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware in January 2012Staff Sgt. Joseph Tremblay shows how to rig the combat equipment onto a parachute jumper with assistance from Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Dempsey, Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol.Members of the Civil Air Patrol Squadron 801 Honor Guard in Allentown, Pennsylvania, listen to instruction given by retired Tech. Sgt. Anthony Kearse.
Lt. Col. William L. Anderson — December 1, 1941 to August 18, 1945
Lt. Col. Philip F. Neuweiler — August 18, 1945 to March 26, 1946[3]
Lt. Col. Carl A. Reber — March 26, 1946 to August 15, 1947[3]
Col. Philip F. Neuweiler — August 15, 1947[3] to March 21, 1970
Col. Angelo A. Milano — March 22, 1970 to November 5, 1977
Temp. Col. Andrew E. Skiba — November 5, 1977 to June 28, 1978
Lt. Col. Edward T. Kelly (Int.) — June 28, 1978 to January 1, 1979
Col. Angelo A. Milano — January 1, 1979 to December 7, 1987
Col. Raymond F. Schuler — December 7, 1987 to February 16, 1990
Col. M. Allen Applebaum — February 16, 1990 to November 14, 1990
Col. Larry Kauffman — November 14, 1990 to November 20, 1993
Col. Joseph A. Guimond, Jr. — November 20, 1993 to August 19, 1995
Col. Jean-Pierre J. Habets — August 19, 1995 to August 15, 1999
Col. Fredric K. Weiss — August 15, 1999 to June 14, 2003
Col. M. Allen Applebaum — June 14, 2003 to September 29, 2007
Col. Mark A. Lee — September 29, 2007 to November 12, 2011
Col. Sandra E. Brandon — November 12, 2011 to May 16, 2015
Col. Gary Fleming — May 16, 2015 to May 18, 2019
Col. Kevin Berry — May 18, 2019 to May 1, 2023
Col William A. Schlosser — May 1, 2023 to Present [4]
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 former World War Two Post Exchange (PX) and Non Commissioned Officers Club (NCO Club) complex 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. 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.[5]
Reporting to each group are 60 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.
A cadet squadron focus primarily on providing for cadets (ages 12 to 21).
A senior squadron is a unit dedicated to allowing senior members to focus on CAP's missions.
Composite squadrons have both cadets and senior members working together.
As of December 1, 2014, the PA Wing operates 60 squadrons, in six groups, 15 aircraft, 34 ground vehicles and a state-wide radio communications network that is operational 24/7 and is part of a national network.
Groups and Squadrons
Staff Sgt. Joseph Tremblay tells Civil Air Patrol cadets that they need to yell “AIRBORNE!,” June 29 during training at the 193rd Special Operations Wing Pennsylvania Air National Guard Base.Cadet Senior Airman Jeremy Shaver, Pennsylvania Wing CAP, folds the free running end on the harness’ chest strap.Col. Gary Fleming, wing commander of the Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol Wing, takes a turn on a mobile zip line.Brig. Gen. David Wood, Pennsylvania National Guard, and Col. Gary Fleming, wing commander of the Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol Wing, present Cadet Col. Josiah Acosta with the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award.Shawn (left) and Kevin Utermohlen, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, conducted an inspection of a flight of Civil Air Patrol cadets.
Group 1
Group 1 is responsible for operations in and around the Pittsburgh area.
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