The Newsletter of Minnesota Wing, Civil Air Patrol May 2007

CAP members marshalling an aircraft for a mission at Willmar Airport during the Group II SAREX.

Minnesota Training Days a Resounding Success

Minnesota Wing geared up for another busy summer season with a Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) held May 18-20
in Willmar. The hands-on exercise allowed CAP air and ground components to train together in a variety of search and
rescue missions. CAP is sometimes called upon by local, state and national authorities to assist during crises.

“This training exercise provided a cooperative environment for both CAP ground and air crews that met at the Willmar
Airport,” said Maj. Chet Wilberg, SAREX incident commander. “The training scenarios challenged participants to react to
potentially real life situations.”

CAP members, participating in the exercise, ranged from 12-year-old cadets to adult members. Participants used electronic
direction equipment finding, on-scene management, and land navigation skills developed and practiced throughout the year
as part of learning the fundamentals of search and rescue.

Continued on Page 3

In this Issue of WingTips:

• State Director Moves to New Office
• Member Recognition
• BlackCAP a Big Success
• Around the Wing and Much More!!!!!

Minnesota WingTips May 2007 Page 1

State Director Moves
Upstairs
Bill Willis hard at work in his new office.
The construction for Bill Willis’s office is complete and
he has moved in. Bill is now located at the Wing
Headquarters building, second floor, above the Wing
Administrators office.
One of his many amenities includes a lighted palm tree
on his veranda overlooking the Wing hangar and
maintenance facility. He has a room with a view of the
airport runway so when he is not busy he has time to
watch airplanes land. What more could a retired Air
Force pilot ask for? We are glad he is here!
Having the State Director in the same building as Wing
Headquarters will help with day to day activities and
workflow.
The moving team consisted of members of the CAP-
USAF North Central Liaison office, Lt Col John
Quilling, and Maj Jerry Rosendahl.
Bill’s phone and fax numbers remain the same but his
mail can now be directed to 6275 Crossman Lane, Inver
Grove Heights, MN 55076.
Minnesota WingTips
Minnesota Squadron
Provides Marshalling,
Security During Air Show
The Anoka County Composite Squadron provided all
flight line marshalling duties during the annual Blaine
Aviation Weekend, held May 19-20 in Blaine, Minn.
“This was an active fly-in with in excess of 150 to 250
take offs and landings per day as well as staging of
aircraft and flight ramp crowd safety,” said Capt. Andy
Bosshart, Anoka County Composite Squadron. “This
was a fantastic community event and CAP once again
showed that we lead the way with professionalism and
community service.”
A T-6 rolls down the tarmac to Cadet Cody McComber.
Nearly three-thousand spectators from all over the upper
Midwest were on hand to see the static display of 50
aircraft including vintage, experimental and general
aviation aircraft to include WW II T-6's, a P-51 Mustang
fighter, Soviet Yak fighters, Soviet MIG fighters, a B-25
bomber, and several liaison aircraft from WWII to
Vietnam.
The Minnesota Wing also had a topflight CAP display on
exhibit showcasing Emergency Services and the new
Gippsland GA-8 aircraft.
In addition to marshalling aircraft, CAP members also
protected and provided perimeter safety for an L-29
Delfin jet.
Bosshart said a highlight of the event was the CAP
cadets accepting a challenge from the local unit of the
Navy Sea Cadets to a push up contest. You will be
happy to hear CAP prevailed.
May 2007 Page 2
Group II SAREX
Continued from Page 1

Civil Air Patrol performs more than 95% of all federal

inland search and rescue missions directed by the Air
Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at Langley
Air Force Base, Virginia.

CAP members performing SAR missions save more than

100 lives every year.
1st Lt. Gordon Miller (St. Paul Composite Sqdn) refuels for
Minnesota Wing aircraft flew 70 air sorties in the another mission . . .
Willmar area while ground teams responded to another
eight calls for assistance during the exercise. Up to 10
aircraft and nearly 50 CAP members participated daily.

The wing routinely flies thousands of hours per year of

operational flights, and contributes some 10,000 +
person-hours to SAR, Counter Drug, Disaster
Preparedness, Homeland Security and other
humanitarian mission flying.

“Each response component is highly qualified and has

varied expertise when it comes to responding to a Cadet Abdulraman Jahi (Valley Sqdn) works
request,” Wilberg said. “Bringing all of that expertise communications with Capt. Mari Lucas (Red Wing)
together in a setting like this allows for a free flow of
information and it strengthens our response
capabilities. This exercise was a resounding success.”

Capt. Greg Opdahl (SE Minnesota Composite Sqdn)

provides flight line pointers to Cadets Gabe Turner (Wesota)
and Collin Schaefer (Hutchinson)

Ground Team 4 after a successful find. Top row: Cadet Jeff

Dvorak (St. Cloud Composite), C/Gabe Turner (Wesota),
C/Hans Hibma (Hutchinson), Maj Adrian Ramler (St. Cloud
Composite). Bottom row: C/MacKenzie Johnson (Wesota),
C/Joshua Scott (Red Wing), C/Caleb Wilson (Red Wing),
C/Davis Peterson (Red Wing)

CAP pilots receive a mission briefing.

Minnesota WingTips May 2007 Page 3


Search and Ribbit?
Chaplain Lt Col Don Mikitta holds up a BlackCAP Frog
You wouldn’t think that frogs have anything to do with
Civil Air Patrol or with Emergency Services, but at Red
Wing Composite Squadron of Minnesota Wing, at least
once every year, frogs play a major role in an event
called BlackCAP Emergency Services College.
BlackCAP attendees are issued their frog upon arrival
and held responsible for the frog during a weekend of
Emergency Services and Cadet Program type activities.
On Friday evening, the flight staff is chosen and
attendees are assigned into flights. Sometimes Officers
are integrated into the flights with Cadets, sometimes
they have their own separate flight – it depends because
every year at BlackCAP is different.
A Ground Team searches for its objective at BlackCAP
BlackCAP is a creation of past Red Wing Squadron
members and has been of an institution in Minnesota
Wing for 23 years. The founders of the college are
members who still live in the Red Wing area and are still
active in Civil Air Patrol; Chaplain, Lt. Col. Donald
Mikitta and Col. Dale Hoium. Current squadron
members keep BlackCAP fresh, but still honor the
traditions of the past, such as the Polecat competition.
Each year at BlackCAP is different from every other
year, though the curriculum has always been centered on
Ground Team Training. The Polecat competition; which
includes a frog jumping contest and a drill down, has
been held now for the past 20 of the 23 years.
Minnesota WingTips
Teamwork is stressed at BlackCAP, as well as
creativeness and the ability to make training and learning
Fun.
BlackCAP has always been a Red Wing squadron
activity, but has been open to Minnesota Wing, as well
as the surrounding states. BlackCAP has had attendees
from several other Wings, including Nebraska, North
Dakota, and South Dakota.
Capt. Joel Stepanek leads his team after finding their objective.
Much like an Encampment, BlackCAP generally ends
with a Pass & Review and a graduation ceremony.
Members who attend a BlackCAP at least 3 times are
considered BlacCAP Cadre and receive a special
certificate, BlackCAP patch for their BDU’s, and a pink
flash that they can wear on their activity headgear, which
is a special black cap.
There were 128 frogs in residence, along with their
protectors at the 2007 BlackCAP Emergency Services
College. Members trained in Ground Teams (Flights)
comprised of Officers and Cadets. Each team had the
opportunity to participate in several training missions
throughout Saturday. Sunday, the weather did not
cooperate for the formal pass and review, so an
innovative version was conducted inside the hangar.
Special thanks to Major Mari Lucas, Capt Joe Bradfield,
Capt Rich Sprouse, Capt. Janelle Gates, Capt. Paul
Pieper and Kirsty McCracken for their contributions to
this month’s WingTips.
WINGTIPS is a publication of the
Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
6275 Crossman Lane Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
www.mncap.org wingtips@mncap.org
The views expressed, either written or implied, are not necessarily
those of the U.S. Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol or Minnesota Wing.
Submissions should be sent to the above email address. Electronic
edition and archives available at www.mncap.org/wingtips.cfm
Wing Commander: Col. Stephen Miller
Wing Public Affairs Officer: Capt. Al Pabon
May 2007 Page 4

Tuskegee Airman Presents
Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award
To Minnesota CAP Member
Former Tuskegee Airman, Col. Kenneth Wofford (USAF
ret.), recently visited the Anoka County Composite
Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to present the
Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award to Capt. Andy Bosshart.
The Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Award is given to CAP
members who complete Level Two of the Senior
Member Professional Development Program. It
recognizes those members who have dedicated
themselves to leadership and personal development in
the CAP.
Retired Air Force Col. Kenneth Wofford speaking at Anoka
Squadron. Lt Col Tom Kettell, Vice Wing Commander and Maj
Don Sorenson, Commander Anoka Sqdn looking on.
As the member progresses through the program, he or
she completes five increasingly complex training levels.
Each level requires the member to become more
involved in CAP activities, master skills in one of 23
technical areas, and develop leadership ability. As he or
she completes these levels, the member receives awards,
chances for promotion, and selection for more important
roles within CAP. The second milestone is the Davis
Award.
Col. Wofford, who lives in Golden Valley, served under
Gen. Davis, one of his heroes. Gen. Davis commanded
the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and later
became the first African-American general in the US Air
Force. During the presentation, Col. Wofford gave a 15-
minute talk on the Tuskegee Airmen.
The Tuskegee Airmen were 1,000 young African-
Americans, who over the objections of much of the
military establishment of that period, trained as Army
Air Corps fighter pilots at an air base in Tuskegee, Ala.
They eventually were sent to fight in the air war over
Minnesota WingTips
Europe, providing fighter escort to bombers. Initially
scorned, their marvelous combat record proved them to
be highly effective air warriors. Col. Wofford did not fly
in Europe, but was poised for action in Japan under the
command of Gen Davis, when the war ended.
Col. Wofford is a Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame
member, active in the US Air Force Association, and
extremely active in the community working with kids.
Wofford is a friend of the Anoka Squadron and a
frequent guest over the years, telling the Tuskegee story.
He has also established a scholarship fund for cadets of
the squadron.
Surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen recently
received the Congressional Gold Medal, the country's
highest civilian award, during a ceremony at the Capitol
Rotunda in Washington, D.C. During the ceremony
President Bush saluted the airmen, stating that he offered
the gesture “to help atone for all the unreturned salutes
and unforgivable indignities” they endured while they
fought for America.
St. Paul Cadets Complete
“Camp Curry”
Maj. Cliff Tamplin, St. Paul Composite Squadron Commander
congratulates C/Airman Daniel Rehbein on his completion of
Camp Curry.
On May 3, 2007 St. Paul Squadron graduated its latest
class of cadets from its Camp Curry Program.
Camp Curry is a training program for new cadets of the
squadron. Over a period of weeks the cadets learn what
it takes to be a cadet. Subjects include drill and
ceremonies, uniform wear and cadet general knowledge.
On completion of the training the cadets take the
achievement one tests and if they pass they are promoted
to Cadet Airman and join the unit’s cadet corps.
May 2007 Page 5
Cadet Leadership Changes at Pomerleau Soars
Anoka Squadron

Air Force ROTC Cadet (and CAP Captain) Mark Pomerleau

gets ready to board an F-16 for an incentive flight as part of
the ROTC program at Arizona State University.

Member Recognition
Anoka County Composite Squadron conducted a Cadet
Change of Command on April 24th, C/2nd Lt. Andy Haus Cadet Awards
(left) accepts the guidon from Lt. Col. Adrian Sanchez
the squadron’s Deputy Commander for Cadets while Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell Award
C/SSgt Cory Bosshart (guidon bearer) looks on. Shashona Lucas, Red Wing
Wright Brothers Award
Alex Bee, Viking
Worthington Members Take
to the Sky in a KC-135 Senior Awards
Benjamin O. Davis Award
Jerome Karels, St. Paul
Gary Isker, Owatonna
Grover Loening Award
James Hetherington, Viking
Daniel Jorgenson, Viking

Senior Promotions
Second Lieutenant
The view from the business end of a KC-135. Jay Spreitzer, Anoka County
Russell Olson, Valley
On May 6th Minnesota Wing and South Dakota Wing
members participated in an orientation flight aboard a Captain
Iowa Air National Guard KC 135 Stratotanker. Nathan Wozniak, Northland
The KC-135 refueled F-16s at 32,000. Each member
learned about the operations of the aircraft and got to go Major
to the picture pod to watch and take pictures of the Jotham Blodgett, Wing HQ
refueling operations.
Mari Lucas, Red Wing
More images from this flight can be seen at
www.mncap.org/worthington

Minnesota WingTips May 2007 Page 6