June 2006
THE NEWSLETTER OF MAINE WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AUXILIARY
2006 Maine Wing Conference A Success
Bangor Brewer Squadron hosts
2006 Maine Wing Conference
NER Commander Col Robert
Diduch presents the Maine Wing
Flag to our New Maine Wing Com-
mander Col Chris Hayden as Col
Mitch Sammons smiles with relief.
The Four Point Hotel at the Bangor
International Airport was the site of
the 2006 Maine Wing Conference.
Master of Ceremonies, Maj Chris
Hayden, brought the conference to
order at 0900. The St. Croix Com-
posite Squadron posted the colors of
the United States and the Maine Wing
flag. Capt Al Henderson of the Ban-
gor Squadron gave the invocation.
Col Robert Diduch, NE Region Com- cepts Distinguished Service
mander, and Lt Col John O Connell,
NE CAP-USAF Liaison Commander
gave greetings.
tional Room, where the Governor of
The first presenter of the conference the State of Maine, the honorable
was Lt Col Bruce Brown, NE Region John E. Baldacci, made a presenta-
Safety Officer. He spoke of the role tion thanking the members of the Civil
of safety in CAP. He stated that Air Patrol for their valuable contribu-
safety is not the most important con- tion to the citizens of Maine and the
sideration, but completion of the mis- United States. The Governor was
sion is. If safety was most important, presented with a framed lithograph of
we would never get into an airplane, Distinguished Service painted by
because flying is by its nature is a artist Steve Tack.
risky activity. Ms. Bobbi Tourville,
Education Program Manager at NHQ
updated the conference attendees on
current events. Ms. Tourville, who
has roots and relatives in Maine, gave
an interesting account of her time
spent while here. Col Robert Bernard
followed with a presentation explain-
ing the role of the Air Force National
Security Emergency Preparedness to
the Civil Air Patrol.
The afternoon session started with
The conference shifted to the Interna- Col Linden Christie challenging the
audience and a select group of cadets
with questions of aerospace knowl-
edge. For a few of the cadets, their
knowledge paid great dividends. Maj
Chris Hayden introduced the critical
incident stress management team
and their role in providing assistance
during actual missions or training ex-
ercises. Capt Donald Davidson Jr.,
from the NH Wing gave a presenta-
tion Garmin G 1000 glass cockpit,
Maine Governor John Baldacci ac- which was followed by a hands-on
demonstration of the panel in the NH
painting from Maine Wing com- Wing Skylane N360CP, which was on
mander, Col Mitch Sammons. the ramp at Bangor International. The
(Continued on page 3)
1
 Important Information from tiation of Teen Drinking. American D. LOOK JONESBORO, ME
Drug Demand Reduction Program Journal of Preventive Medicine, 30(4): Christopher received public acknowl-
277-283. edgement from the Commanding
Here's something you might want to J. Jan Hoffman General, BG James H. Shwitters.
be aware of. Study Says Youth Who Assistant Program Manager, COL Jay W. Chambers Jr. (2nd in
Own Alcohol-Branded Items More Drug Demand Reduction Program command) personally presented this
Likely to Drink. A study of 2,000 mid- Civil Air Patrol award during the absence of General
dle-school students concluded that Shwitters. PV2 Look shall be immedi-
adolescents who owned alcohol- ately reporting to Fort Eustis in Vir-
branded t-shirts and other items were CAP Members in the NEWS ginia to helicopter repair school for
more likely to drink than those who the H-60 Blackhawk . Upon success-
didn't own such merchandise, UPI ful completion of this next stage of
reported March 20. Dartmouth Medi- training in June of this year, Christo-
cal School researchers said the study pher will report for duty to the 112th
was the first to examine the relation- Medical Co. located in Bangor Me. In
ship between alcohol merchandise the fall, he will continue ROTC and
and drinking. "Our research found that his studies in Engineering at the Uni-
students who owned an alcohol- versity of Maine, Orono.
branded item were significantly more As a further note, Christopher is also
likely to have initiated alcohol use a current member of the Civil Air Pa-
than students who did not own one," trol / Machias Valley Squadron, the
said lead researcher Dr. Auden Jonesboro Vol. Fire Dept., and is a
McClure. "We recommend that par- PV2 Christopher Dean Look, son of member of Strike Team III, located in
ents discourage their children from Timothy and Nancy Look of Jones- Washington County. Strike Team III is
wearing these products and that boro, graduated boot camp on March a decontamination strike team and
schools limit the display of alcohol- 19 at the United States Army Training part of the Maine Emergency Man-
branded items among students." The Center, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. agement Agency s Response Plan to
study, which involved students ages Christopher is enlisted in the Maine hazardous materials accidents within
10 to 14, was published in the April Army National Guard and started boot the State of Maine.
2006 issue of the "American Journal camp on Jan. 6 2006. Training
of Preventive Medicine". McClure, A. learned at the Machias Valley Squad-
C., Dal Cin, S., Gibson, J., and Ser- ron of the Civil Air Patrol earned him
geant, J. D. (2006) Ownership of Al- the respect of his sergeants and his
cohol-Branded Merchandise and Ini- piers. His knowledge of firearms and
function earned him a range officer s
aide position during firearms qualifica-
Maine Wing Over tion. He earned his sharpshooters pin
Wing Commander during his first qualification trial with
Col Chris Hayden the M16 rifle. He is one of a total of
630 graduating recruits for this cycle.
Vice Commander
OUTSTANDING SOLDIER OF THE
Newsletter Editor CYCLE
Maj Dennis Murray
dmurray@mewg.cap.gov Each platoon of the graduating
Headquarters company nominates one individual
Maine Wing, Civil Air Patrol to appear before a board of cadre.
PO Box 5006 Bangor-Brewer s C/2Lt Chris Slin-
Augusta Maine, 04332-5006 Nominees are questioned on mili- inger receiving the General Billy
tary subjects and current events. Mitchell Award from Lt. Col. James
Editorial Office: 207/427-3421
Headquarters: 207/626-7830
They are also judged on personal Jordan. (story page four)
appearance and general knowl-
The Maine Wing Over is an unofficial newsletter edge. The Board selects the one Freedom is still expensive. It still costs
published quarterly in the interest of members of the money. It still costs blood. It still calls
Maine Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Any opinions soldier who has outstanding quali-
ties of leadership, competence and for courage and endurance, not only in
either expressed or inferred by the writers herein are
their own and are not to be considered official expres- soldiers, but in every man and woman
discipline. who is free and who is determined to
sion by the Civil Air Patrol or the Department of the
Air Force. F3-13 INF BN PV2 CHRISTOPHER remain free. -Harry S. Truman

2
(Continued from page 1) 2006 Wing Conference
last presentation of the afternoon,
was given by Capt Dan Gagnon and
Lt Robert Baker, of the Cumberland
County Composite Squadron. Their
topic was the Archer Program. They
did a great job at explaining the latest
high-tech tool in CAP s arsenal.
The cadets traveled to the YWCA for
an afternoon of swimming in the pool.
The evening session got under way
with the introduction of the head table
by Maj Hayden. The head table
guests included Col Sammons and
Bonnie Sammons, BG Don Reynolds
and Pattie Reynolds, Chaplain Rich-
ard Dickinson, Col, MEANG. Col
Robert Diduch, Col Robert Bernard,
Lt Col John O Connell, Capt Andrea
Hayden and Ms. Bobbi Tourville. Ca-
det MSgt Alex Parks explained the
significance of the POW/MIA table
followed by the banquet. Chaplain
Dickinson gave the keynote address.
His topic was self-control. A topic that
was timely and well received by the
audience. BG Reynolds spoke briefly
about the future role of the Civil Air
Patrol in the arena of homeland secu-
rity.
Receiving the awards for their accom-
plishments during the previous year
were. Commander s Commenda-
tion Award: Lt Col Jim Jordan, Maj
Ed Lower, Capt Gary Partnow, 1LT
Edward Hukki and 2LT Cathy
Spaulding. Lt Gerald Folster Model
Rocketry Award: Cadet Amn Mike
Lane. Major Calvin W Maddox Com-
municator of the Year Award: Maj
Mike Pellerin. Guy P Gannett Public
Affairs Officer: Capt Daniel LeClair.
Safety Officer of the Year: Lt Col
James Greenlaw. Professional De-
velopment Officer of the Year: Capt
Dick Jackson. Richard A Mac-
Donald Emergency Services
Award: Capt Merrie Knightly. M
Robert Cantor Service Award: 1LT
Joshua Cutara. Wing Staff Member
of the Year: Capt Mark Brunelle.
Squadron Commander of the Year:
Lt Col Scott Higgins. Cadet of the
Year: Cadet/1st Lt Katherine Knight.
Senior Member of the Year: 1st LT
Steve Higgins. Squadron of Merit of
the Year: County Composite Squad-
ron. Sustained Excellence Award:
Lt Col Pearl Bender. Gifts of Appre-
ciation and Esteem: Wayne McKin-
ney, and Cadet 1st LT Steven Lin-
coln. Meritorious Service Awards:
Lt Col Rich Grover, Maj Chris Hay-
den, Maj Wayne Merritt, Maj Dennis
Murray, Capt Merrie Knightly, Capt
Peter Goss, Capt Ted Kryzak. The
Eagle Award: Capt Ted Kryzak. The
conference ended with Col Sammons
turning over command of the Wing to
Maj Chris Hayden. Col Jim Linker
presided and presented Col Mitch
Sammons the Distinguished Service
Medal.
Thanks to all of the Bangor-Brewer
Squadron members who contributed
to the success of this conference.
James R. Jordan, Lt Col
Commander Bangor-Brewer
On April 22nd, 2006 the Maine Wing
held a Change-of-Command cere-
mony at the Sheraton Hotel at Bangor
International Airport.
The ceremony
marked the moment
Colonel Mitchell
Sammons of Wa-
terville handed over
command of the
Wing to Colonel
Christopher Hay-
den of Cape Eliza-
beth. After the ceremony, Colonel
Hayden stated that thanks to the su-
perb leadership of Colonel Sammons
over the past four years the Wing is in
such good shape there is only one
direction to take and that is onward
and upward . Colonel Hayden is the
first new Wing Commander from
Cape Elizabeth since Lieutenant
Colonel Guy P Gannett held the po-
sition from 1942 until 1955. Gannett
was one of the three original founders
of the Civil Air Patrol and was the
founder and owner of the Portland
Press Herald and WGME-TV in Port-
land. By coincidence, Colonel Hayden
is also in the media business and is
3
the founder and owner of Millennium
Television, a documentary production
company originally based in Califor-
nia. Each year Maine Wing presents
the Guy P. Gannett Public Affairs
Award to the outstanding PAO in the
Wing. Throughout the period of Lt Col
Gannett s command, the Maine Wing
Headquarters was based at Fort Wil-
liam, Cape Elizabeth. During the pe-
riod 1942-1943 the newly formed Civil
Air Patrol squadrons based in Port-
land and Trenton, Maine held back
the German attacks on allied shipping
by searching out and destroying their
submarines off the coast of Maine.
Thereafter the local squadrons pro-
vided the Department of Defense with
pilot training and aircrew screening,
anti-aircraft searchlight and gunnery
aerial target towing, transportation,
communications and search and res-
cue. Following the end of the war, the
United States Congress honored the
Civil Air Patrol by making the organi-
zation a Congressionally Chartered
Corporation with three missions:
emergency services, aerospace edu-
cation and the cadet program. Then in
1948, with the formation of the United
States Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol
was officially designated the civilian
auxiliary of the United States Air
Force. Today the Maine Wing Head-
quarters is located at Camp Keyes in
Augusta. The volunteers of Maine
Wing s nine squadrons operate eight
aircraft and provide the State and
Federal Government with homeland
security, disaster relief, and search
and rescue and counter drug support
missions. Over the past year the Wing
has flown escort for frigates heading
for sea trials out of BIW, anti-terrorist
reconnaissance flight long the borders
and search and rescue missions look-
ing for overdue aircraft and missing
personnel. The Maine Wing Cadet
Program turns out high-end candi-
dates for the military academies each
year and provides a flow of candi-
dates heading for careers in the aero-
space and airline industries.
Maj Dennis Murray, PA
Maine Wing, CAP

Downeast Patrol promotions. Cadet Jeremy Pillsbury
Since the last update, Downeast has
been active at both the squadron and
wing levels. In April, we participated in
the Maine Wing Airman's Academy.
C/CMSgt Elise Pusey was Cadet
Commander, and C/SMSgt Tina
Davis and C/MSgt Stefan Blanchard
were flight commanders. Two Cadets
from Downeast attended as basics, C/
Amn Ben Souders, and C/Amn Han-
nah Pusey, who received the out-
standing cadet award for her exem-
plary conduct at the academy. We
have had several promotions in the
last few months, the most exciting
being C/CMSgt Elise Pusey's promo-
tion to C/2Lt upon receiving her
Mitchell award. Lieutenant Pusey has
worked tirelessly in her capacity as
Cadet Commander to raise the stan-
dards for Downeast. Not only has she
raised the standards, but also by pro-
viding training and leading by exam-
ple, she has ensured that the cadets
can meet them. In the same cere-
mony, C/Amn Steven Ashcroft re-
ceived his Arnold achievement and
was promoted to C/A1C. C/A1C Ben
Souders received a community ser-
vice ribbon for completing 260 hours
of community service as a volunteer
fire fighter in his town. Other recent
promotions include C/SMSgt Tina
Davis to C/CMSgt, and C/SAmn Matt
Williams to C/SSgt. Our squadron
has recently begun to choose a cadet
each month to be recognized as
Cadet of the Month. In considering
cadets for this award, we look at their
dedication to the program, atten-
dance, uniform, attitude, and motiva-
tion. So far, C/Amn Alex Deprenger,
C/SSgt Matt Williams, C/A1C Hannah
Pusey, and C/Amn Ben Souders have
been recognized.
C/CMSgt Tina Davis. DCC
Downeast Patrol Composite Sq.
Sundown Composite
Squadron
Sundown Squadron is proud to an-
nounce a record-breaking amount of
has been promoted to Airman First
Class, Jonathan Kuhl to Senior Air-
man, Brennan Kroger to Staff Ser-
geant and Meg Arsenault to Master
Sergeant. Congratulations! In the
spirit of cooperation Dixfield Congre-
gational church joined the American
Legion and Sundown for a benefit
supper for Homes for Our
Troops. Homes for our Troops reha-
bilitates homes for our wounded sol-
diers so the homes can be handi-
capped accessible. All three groups
worked together for the logistics, food
and publicity. The Grover s get the
dedication award. They were on their
way to the high brow Bethel Inn to
celebrate Captain Grover s birthday,
remembered the fundraiser and did a
U turn to Rumford to enjoy Chili at the
American Legion! They enjoyed talk-
ing with Leslie Skibitsky, the chief or-
ganizer of the event, whose son Scott
recently got his pilot assignment for
the Air Force Academy. Cadets were
busy before Memorial Day putting
flags at veteran s graves. We also
marched in the parade on Memorial
Day. Cadets participating received
certificates of appreciation from the
American Legion. Randy Autry did an
excellent presentation on Angel
Flights. The volunteer pilots transport
people needing medical care. The
video focused on a little girl from rural
Maine who goes to Shriner's Hospital
in Massachusetts. Randy left with a
CAP application in his hand!! Toes in
the water, lying on the dock, enjoying
ice cream at a local store this de-
scribes our wonderful assignment at
the last SAREX. Sundown s respon-
sibility was to show up at the public
beach at Bryant Pond, and call in to
Waterville ICP when we saw a CAP
plane. With suntan lotion, a cell
phone, legal pad of paper, and pen
we were successful with our part of
our mission! Thank you Major Merritt
for this assignment.
1Lt Barbara Arsenault
4
Bangor Brewer
Composite Squadron
The Bangor/Brewer Squadron is
pleased to announce that C/2Lt Chris
Slininger received his General Billy
Mitchell Award on June 7th from Lt.
Col. James Jordan during a regular
meeting with friends and family in at-
tendance. The following also pro-
moted to C/AMN: Victoria Boyle,
Brook Pacholski and Valene
Whitty. Amanda Rector and Keith
Larby promoted to C/A1C.
Lt. Col. James Jordan and Maj.
Richard Hunter chaired and co-
chaired the Squadron Leadership
School in March. This years format
required the twelve attendees to com-
plete approximately three hours of
course work at home allowing the
staff to complete the SLS in one
day. In April the Bangor/Brewer
Squadron hosted the 2006 Maine
Wing Conference at the Four Point
Sheraton in Bangor. The Bangor/
Brewer Squadron wishes to recognize
C/Maj. Scott Knightly on receiving a
$500 undergrad scholarship. C/
Knightly attends Lyndon State Col-
lege in Lyndonville, Vermont and
hopes to commission in the Air Force
as an officer and train as a naviga-
tor. Also to be recognized is C/2Lt.
Chris Slininger on being selected to
attend the National Flight Academy.
Cadets and Seniors alike have also
been very busy with recruiting and
fund-raising this quarter. The Cadets
sponsored a spaghetti dinner in May,
with a live radio remote with 104.7
The Bear, to benefit the Maine Wing
Cadet Programs. We have also at-
tended several events involving the
Harley Fat Boy.
Please join us in congratulating all
those that have shown their motiva-
tion in advancing in Civil Air Pa-
trol. Your hard work and dedication
reflects well for you personally as well
as your squadron and Maine Wing.
Cathie Spaulding, Lt. PAO

Cumberland County
Composite Squadron
Cumberland County Cadets visit
Togus and take part in the
Memorial Day Exercises
Cumberland County Cadets and
Color Guard took part in the annual
Memorial Day Ceremonies at the East
and West Cemeteries. After the Lay-
ing of Wreaths at three memorials,
the Memorial Salute was given by the
Maine State Select Honor Guard fol-
lowed by Three Volleys of Musketry
by the Maine National Guard. Taps
were played by a bugler from the
Maine National Guard. After the cere-
monies, the cadets were given a tour
of the Togus VA facility along with a
walking history lesson of the first fed-
eral facility for injured veterans. Fol-
lowing that, the cadets visited the vet-
erans at the hospital and then the vet-
erans nursing home. Cadets taking
part were Katherine Knight, William
Thibeault, Nail Belcher, Andrew
Rodgers, Benjamin St John, Chris
Drouin, Eric Madore, Christina Has-
sett, Julian Kingsley, Micah Get-
son, Steven Speckin, Alanna Smith
and Travis Smith. Lts Savage and
Higgins represented the senior mem-
bers.
Lt Steve Higgins
Stephen Lincoln with this year s Air (Continued from page 8) Commander s Corner
Force Association Award (AFA). of this very special Wing. You all put
in many hours and much effort to run
In the senior member area we had and support our organization. It is my
1Lt Maurice Boisvert earn his objective to make you proud of being
Certificate of Proficiency and Lt a member on the Maine Wing, Civil
Col James Greenlaw has earned Air Patrol and for you to get the maxi-
his Senior Level Rating in Aero- mum satisfaction from the areas of
space Education. our operation that best suit you.
Col Chris Hayden,
Congradulations to all of these Maine Wing Commander
members on your promotions and
awards. The squadron continues to
learn with the monthly training mis-
sions and our participation levels
are high at most events. In June we
had a Cadet Change of Command
where C/2nd Lt Derek Farquharson
turned over the Cadet Commander
position to C/1st Lt John Cham-
bers. Cadet Farquharson will still be
involved with the squadron as he
heads off to college this fall. We all
wish him the best of luck.
Capt Judy Murray, PAO

St Croix C/Capt Stephen Lincoln, Jr. Shown

receiving the Air force Association
Composite Squadron Award from Lt Col Rich Grover,

This last quarter has been busy for

the squadron as usual. Promotions
included the following: Todd Clark to
C/CMSgt, Cadet Robert Oliver to C/
A1C, Kira Lane to C/A1C, Cadet
Kimberly Lane to C/Amn, Cadet
John Chambers to C/1st Lt, Cadet
Esther Oliver to C/TSgt, Cadet
Felicia Vincent to C/MSgt, Cadet
Chris Barbuto to C/MSgt and Cadet
Michael Lane to C/Amn. In addition
to promotions, we were fortunate to
have Lt Col Rich Grover at one of Airman Academy Photos
our meetings to present C/Capt By Maj Doug Grosso. Photo by Maj Doug Grosso

5

Model Rocketry atwillwork and busy with a customer I
not be able to answer my cell
A "make-up" date has been set
for Sunday, 13 August 2006 in
Bangor/Hermon at Bouchard
Field. This latest date change
was prompted by the
"International Parade" being
held in Calais at 11:00 am on
August 12th. All squadrons
through out the state are invited
to attend the model rocketry
contest and the International
Parade. Squadron command-
ers and Squadron AEO's
please respond to LTC
Christie's email on your partici-
pation in the rocketry contest.
More information on the Inter-
national Parade will be coming
soon.
-Editor
"Sentimental Journey" to
Visit Bar Harbor Again
Just a heads up to Civil Air Patrol
members for planning purposes only.
The B17G "Sentimental Journey"
will be visiting the Bar Harbor (BHB)
airport from 30 June through 27 July.
Those of you who had the opportunity
to visit/tour this aircraft last year can
attest to the opportunity to touch
"living history". This is a fantastic op-
portunity for our cadets to see, first
hand, how much aviation has ad-
vanced since 1939 and the war years
(WWII).
I will be assisting the CAF
(Commemorative Air Force) with
ground operations, I get to be a "tour
guide" through the airplane as well as
assisting with making the airplane
ready for take off and landing for the
tourist flights. If anyone is interested a
flight in Sentimental Journey will cost
(according to the latest information I
have) $450.00 a person.
For additional information please e-
mail me or call my cell phone. If I am
phone, please leave me a voice mail
IN A FLASH NASA HELPS SOLVE
and I will return your call as quickly as
I can.
35-YEAR-OLD COSMIC MYSTERY
Thanks,
Scientists have solved the 35-year-
Lt Col K. Goldstein
old mystery of the origin of powerful,
split-second flashes of light known as
short gamma-ray bursts. These
Emergency flashes, brighter than a billion suns,
Services Missions yet lasting only a few milliseconds,
have been simply too fast to catch --
Thanks to all that responded to the until now. Through the unprecedented
call to assist the USCG in locating a coordination of observations from
406-ELT that was registered to a Pan several ground-based telescopes and
America company. The device which NASA satellites, scientists determined
sends a data burst with Lat/Log infor- the flashes arise from violent colli-
mation was found in a metal transfer sions in space. The clashes are either
station located in S. Portland. Need- between a black hole and a neutron
less to say with yard filled with canis- star or between two neutron stars. In
ters of scrap metal it was not an easy either scenario, the impact creates a
find. With great determination our new black hole. In at least one burst,
ground team was successful in finding scientists saw tantalizing, first-time
and silencing the locator. evidence of a black hole eating a neu-
Aircrew--- Dan Gagnon & Michael tron star. The neutron star was first
Coyne stretched into a crescent, then swal-
Ground team James Connors & lowed by the black hole. Two recently
Joe Washuk detected bursts are featured in four
Base staff Steve Higgins & An- papers in this week's Nature maga-
drew Rogers zine. These observations could en-
Donald Saucier Maj. CAP able direct detection of exotic gravita-
MEWG DOV tional waves that have never before
been seen. "Gamma-ray bursts in
At 0110L I received a call from general are notoriously difficult to
AFRCC to support NHWG with a GT study, but the shortest ones have
to locate and silence an ELT believed been next to impossible to pin down,"
to be at the Bethel airport. NHWG said Dr. Neil Gehrels, principal inves-
initiated the mission since the first tigator for the Swift satellite at NASA's
SarSat merges were near Berlin, NH. Goddard Space Flight Center, Green-
Lt Col Scott Higgins and Cadet belt, Md. "All that has changed. We
Cory Higgins deployed to Bethel to now have the tools in place to study
assist, reporting an audible signal at these events," he said. Gamma-ray
0310L. By 0340 our GT had disabled bursts, first detected in the 1960s, are
the offending ELT on a transient C150 the most powerful explosions known.
parked on the ramp. Thank you to They are random, fleeting and can
Scott and Cory for answering the call occur from any region of the sky. Two
and doing a great job! years ago, scientists discovered
Capt M Brunelle longer bursts, lasting more than two
CAP MEWG seconds, arise from the explosion of
Director of Operations very massive stars. About 30 percent
of bursts are short and under two sec-
By a stroke of the Delete button at onds. The Swift satellite detected a
the wrong time other missions short burst on May 9, and NASA's
were lost. Sorry. Editor (Continued on page 7)
6

(Continued from page 6)
High-Energy Transient Explorer
(HETE) detected another on July 9.
The May 9 event marked the first time
scientists identified an afterglow for a
short gamma-ray burst, something
commonly seen after long bursts. "We
had a hunch that short gamma-ray
bursts came from a neutron star
crashing into a black hole or another
neutron star, but these new detec-
tions leave no doubt," said Dr. Derek
Fox, assistant professor of Astronomy
& Astrophysics at Penn State Univer-
sity, State College, Pa. Fox is lead
author of one Nature report detailing a
multi-wavelength observation. Fox's
team discovered the X-ray afterglow
of the July 9 burst with NASA's
Chandra X-ray Observatory. A team
led by Jens Hjorth, a professor at the
University of Copenhagen identified
the optical afterglow using the Danish
1.5-meter telescope at the La Silla
Observatory in Chile. Fox's team con-
tinued studying the afterglow with
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and
ground-based telescopes of the Car-
negie Institution, the National Astro-
nomical Observatory of Japan, and
the National Radio Astronomy Obser-
vatory. "The July 9 burst was like the
dog that didn't bark," said Dr. George
Ricker, HETE principal investigator at
the Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology, Cambridge, and co-author of
another Nature article. "Powerful tele-
scopes detected no supernova as the
gamma-ray burst faded, arguing
against the explosion of a massive
star. Also, the July 9 burst, and proba-
bly the May 9 burst, are located in the
outskirts of their host galaxies, just
where old merging binaries are ex-
pected," he added. Mergers create
gravitational waves, ripples in space-
time predicted by Einstein but never
directly detected. The July 9 burst
was about 2 billion light-years away.
The National Science Foundation s
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-
Wave Observatory (LIGO) could de-
tect a big merger closer to the Earth.
If Swift detects a nearby short burst,
scientists could go back and check
the data with a precise time and loca-
tion.
New Cessna 182T
"This is good news for LIGO," said Dr. Arrives in Maine
Albert Lazzarini, Data & Computing
group leader at the California Institute
of Technology LIGO Lab, Pasadena.
"The connection between short bursts
and mergers firms up projected rates
for LIGO, and they appear to be at the
high end of previous estimates. Also,
observations provide tantalizing hints
of black hole-neutron star mergers,
which have not been detected be-
fore," he said.
Be advised that following the arrival in
the Wing of the new Cessna 182T
aircraft, tail number N740CP the CAP
radio Call Sign for same aircraft has
been designated to be Cap Flight
1740.
Above image: Hubble Space Tele-
scope image of the sky surrounding
the afterglow and host galaxy of the
HETE short burst of July 9, 2005. The
circle indicates the region of sky that We made it back from KS and I did
HETE saw the burst from; according take few pictures. Cessna had a great
to the HETE team we would find the training program in place for us we
burst within this region. The box, in- started each day at 0800 and didn t
set, indicates where the X-ray and finish most nights until 2000. Some
optical afterglow of the burst was ulti- long 12 hour days, we started with 4
mately found. The colors indicate the hours of ground school each day then
intensity of red light (814 nm) as seen the flight training in the afternoon.
by the Advanced Camera for Surveys They wouldn t let me take pictures
instrument on HST. inside the factory but it was pretty
Credit: Derek Fox/Penn State Univer- cool to see the line of Cessna s being
sity built. They say they are sold out for
the rest of the year. See you soon.
Donald Saucier, FRO
Pictured left is the new cockpit that
hopefully all pilots will become skilled
at using in the near future. Training
funds are available to the Wing to help
train all interested pilots. Cadets
should try and get up close when CAP
Flight 1740 in in the area.
7
 Headquarters NONPROFIT ORG.
Civil Air Patrol, Maine Wing U.S. POSTAGE
PO Box 5006 PAID
Augusta, ME 04332-5006
PORTLAND ME
PERMIT NO 203

next few months, now the weather is During my recent meetings

Commander s Corner improved, to meet you and get to with State officials, I have empha-
know you all. I wish to share my vi- sized the value of our ground teams
sion of Maine Wing and learn how and aircrews as trained volunteers
Our Wing conference in
you want the Wing to shape over the operating under a professional com-
April marked a change of
next four years. mand structure. This quickly sepa-
command for Maine
It is now two months since rates us from just volunteers and
Wing. Col Mitchell
our change of command and several makes us valuable trained assets
Sammons, who has com-
of the initiatives taken by Col ready to serve. With a 7% chance of a
manded our Wing so ad-
Sammons have come to fruition. In hurricane hitting the Northeast this
mirably for the past four years,
May we took possession of the first of summer, we all need to prepare to be
passed the Wing flag to me as
two brand new Cessna 182T NavIII called. Now is the time to check
your new commander. Under Col
aircraft. These aircraft are classified ground team kit and/or your aircrew
Sammons command, the Wing has
as Advanced Technology Aircraft. In kit. Take advantage of the SAREX s
flourished and built depth into our pro-
other words, the old steam gauges of over the next months and volunteer to
fessionalism. This is evident at meet-
the past been replaced by two elec- participate in the many Rapid Re-
ings, exercises and especially during
tronic display panels, a 2 axis autopi- sponse exercises being planned.
live missions. Col Sammons has set
lot and twin GPS. In June we received Your taking advantage of our training
this Wing on a course that has only
word of proposed Maine Wing crew is also essential if we are to continue
one direction for me take: onward and
training for the new ARCHER system to find new missions such as our re-
continue upward.
and the Gippsland GA8 aircraft. His connaissance work for the US Navy,
As your new commander I am
month we received word that we will intercept and time-on-target missions
honored to serve you. During the nine
be receiving additional funds for train- for the 1st Air Force and our participa-
years I have been a member of Maine
ing. So be prepared to participate in tion in numerous Homeland Security
Wing I have meet and worked with
SAREX s in July, August and Sep- exercises for MEMA and several
most of you. However, there are still
tember. Also we will be holding Rapid county EMA s.
many I have not yet had the pleasure
Response exercises throughout the Thank you all for being a part
of meeting. I intend to correct this by
same period. (Continued on page 5)
visiting all of the squadron over the