Amelia Earhart

Senior Squadron 188 THE LOGBOOK

Newsletter of AMELIA EARHART SEN10R SQUADRON ISS-Oakland Airport-North Field P. O. BOX 1596 San Leandro, CA. 94577-1596 //1 California Wing (Unit 04452)

Vol. 4 NO.3 15 December 1992 - 2ILT Juan Tinnirello, Editor

My Reflections SQUADRON 188 by Lt. Col. John Copley, CHRISTMAS PARTY C.A.P. Chaplain.

Thanksgiving is the time when our thoughts turn to our forefathers who were searching forreligious free­

dom. Freedom from what, we may ask. The native American already lived in total freedom from all forces . Their knowledge of morals and ethics were of a simple fonn which also governed their freedom and lifestyle. Morals set the limits and boundaries of personal behavior and etrucs teaches social behav­ior or the way individuals order their behavior with one to another.

Maintaining the proper balance is necessary to obtain our freedom . This is what our American Puritans forefathers were seeking when they landed on the shores of America. We should give thanks to God for the abundance tills land has produced on that first Thanksgiving. We view the native Ameri­cans and the Puritan forefathers in several paintings and other works of art in American History.

Have a Merry Christmas and a very, very Happy New Year 1993 to all of you, from the Chaplain.

The Annual Christmas Party will be held Satur­day, December 19,1992. This year it will be a potluck party. Please, plan on joinning us for a fun filled evening. This is a perfect time to get to know your fellow C.A.P. members. Bring your significant other with you. For more infonnation contact 1 st Lt. Priscila Mason.

See you on the ] 9th !!!.

High Altitude Training at Bishop by 2Lt Juan Tinnirello

Bishop Squadron 66, Eastern Sierra Group 9 conducted a very well organized and professionally run SAR Exercise. It was designed to teach pilots the skills of high altitude flying, and it was held from Friday, 9 October through Sunday, II October 1992.

On Friday, the base opened at 0800 hrs. with Mentor Training and Refresher Courses. I arrived at 1300 hrs. after a very smooth and scenic flight over the Sierras. The base was crowded with people performing all the different activities required for the occasion.

Friday morning and early afternoon were basically the portion devoted to the mentors. Volunteers from the CAP as well as the Sheriff Rescue Team gave rides to and from the airport to all the attendees through the duration of the exercise.

At 1930 hrs. the general briefing for " A" Flight took place. All the pilots that arrived Friday were on the " A" Flight. The training class for the High Altitude Search Flying was from 2000 to 2200 hrs. 1be material presented was very relevant and an eye opener to the hazards of high altitude search flying. 1be emphasis was to remind us of some very basic fundamen­tals and concepts that were either forgotten or incorrectly learned. As we arrived, a brochure was given to the partici­pants. It contained all the information presented during the class, as well as the explanation for the four different flight courses designed for training.

The next morning, after a good night sleep at the motel, we were assigned mentors for the actual flight training. Before the flight, a complete review of the selected course with the mentor took place. I flew High Sierra Ridge Course, starting with a 9,000 ft. contour flying and then climbing to about 10,200 ft . for proper ridge approach and crossing. We continued to do close flying to the ridges and up-rising terrain to demonstrate the technics learned the night before. The flight took us all the way to 13,500 ft . elevation, with descent and climbs as the terrain changed. My mentor coached me all along the course, to make sure I did not put myself in a position which could present a safety hazard. Also, it gave me the opportunity to feel how the aircraft reacted at 90 kt. airspeed and flying at close proximity to the very high altitude terrain. After 1.8 hrs. of flying, we returned to the base, where my mentor reviewed what we did and answered any questions I had. Flying over John Muir Wilderness was an experience that I will recall for years to come, mainly for the beautiful panorama and the close proximity.

In the afternoon, I attended a FAA Flight Safety class and then another one about Physiological Effects of High Altitude Flying. At 1800 hrs. the base was closed, so we could attend a banquet at the Elks Lodge. After dinner, awards were given

to all the mentors that participated in the SAR exercise, with one person receiving an award for 14 consecutive years of participation on this program. Also, several of the volunteers that helped in the base received awards for their contribution.

The following morning, the base opened at 0630 hrs. All the " B" Flight pilots who arrived on Satu rday, took their training flights on Sunday. I departed close to noon time, with a very good feeling about the training received. I know that one flight only will not make me an expert in high altitude search and rescue, but it gave me a base to build upon. I am planning to attend the next exercise offered so I can gain more experience and proficiency. I recommend attending this exercise to anyone that plans to fly in California.

Beale Air Force Base Saturday 14 November 1992

by I Lt Priscila Mason

AI Chavez, Mike Villamil, Juan Tinnirello, and I met at the Squadron by 7:00 a.m. and set out for the Open House and Air Show that would tum out to be a " one of a kind."

We arrived at Beale by 10: 15 and the Bcale Aero Club was in the air. The U-2 Dragon Lady followed at 10:30 and every 10 to fifteen minutcs another demo took to the air. It was great! Next in the line-up was a MiG-15, RF-4, P-51 Mustangs. AT-6, T-34, T-37,andaB-25 . A World War II Battlere-cnactment was next followed by a T-38 Talon 4-ship demo. The B-52 Stratofortress did a fly-over and demonstrated a Bomb drop. They followed that by an explosive ordnance disposal demo. A tribute to veterans was conducted by a Cessna 0-2B: THEN THE THUNDERBIRDS HIT THE SKY! And they were screaming. It was a site to behold and forgotten by none. They flew for 45 minutes and no one was disappointed.

The static disp!ays were numerous and well represented by all of the branches of the military. We spoke with a former CAP Cadet who now flies B-52's. We also spoke with the pilot of a C-5 and shared some jokes. Some ofthe other displays were: Boeing 707 AWAC, Stealth F1l7, Black Bird SR 71 , U-2 's (many of them!), Fill, and the BI Bomber. The Marines had a Cobra and the BroncoOBIO. The Navy had the Sea Dragon akaCH53.

There were many booths and lots of great food . The parking only set us back $1.00 and of course the Show was free . We all had a wonderful day and with exception to the line up to get out of the parking lot, (which our driver Al Chavez managed to avoid) we had no complaints.

The day served another purpose for all of us. It was Juan Tinnirello's birthday and thus it kept him out of the house long enough for his family to set the stage for his Surprise Birthday Party which we all attended later that evening along with over 50 other friends, co-workers, neighbors, and CAP Members.

Commander's Comments ...

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ...

As I am sitting here pondering on the best way I can extend my Christmas wishes to you ... Reality suddenly burst upon my thoughts. It was reality in the form of a ringing phone. On the other end of the phone was our Group Alerting Officer telling me that there is a plane missing, and we are on alert.

In a later message I was to receive details on just where the mission base will be established, and other details that are essential in order to activate and run a mission.

What a sobering moment!! One minute I am considering this special season of the year and the next, I am plunged into the real world, and the fact that four of my fellow human beings are in the midst of a personal disaster.

At a time like this, a prayer automatically marches across ones mind. But, another thought follows closely. As airmen, we are never really alone. Others are waiting to help in our hour of need.

The notice that a plane was missing has set the tremendous resources of the CIVIL AIR PATROL into motion. Highly trained specialists throughout this state have set in motion the program that will search the vast area this flight could have covered.

We will fly route searches as well as grid search patterns. Visual as well as electronic search methods will be employed by these VOLUNTEERS.

I can assure you that everything will be done to find these folks and hopefully, return them to their families. Yes, we are well-trained members of the United States Air Force Auxiliary ... and we gladly donate our time to this service, and to our fellow airmen and airwomen.

I do want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Of course, the best present, we at the Civil Air Patrol could hope for, is that these four people that are now missing, will be found and will be able to enjoy the holidays with their families ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR from your friends at Squadron 188, Civil Air Patrol

Major Paul F. Groff, C.A.P.

MAJOR RUSSELL W. READ, C.A.P.

25 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

Major Russell W. Read celebrated his 25 year anniversary with the Civil Air Patrol on the 31st of Mach. 1992. His fellow members presented him with a cake to celebrate the occasion and to wish him many more years.

LTC RENALDO BROWNE C.A.P., RECIPIENT OF THE

COMMANDER'S COMMENDATION AWARD

LTC. Renaldo Browne c.A.P., was awarded the Commander's Commendation Award on November 1992 for his contribution in writing the Training Manual for Administration and Personnel Officers of the California Wing. Congratulations for a job welJ done!

he opinions expressed herein are those of the editor/writers and are not the official views of the CAP

SQUADRON 188 (OAKLAND, CA.) MEETS EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AT 1930 HOURS (7:30 P.M.). MEETINGSAREHELDATTHE OAKLANDAIRPORT. CALL (510) 569-1028 FORMORE INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING CA.P.

FROM: AMELIA EARHART SENIOR SQUADRON 188 CIVIL AIR PATROL (04452) P.O. BOX 1596, SAN LEANDRO, CA. 94577-1596

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