Maryland Wing Civil Air Patrol


Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in the U.S. state of Maryland. Its headquarters is located in Granite, Maryland on the site of a former Nike Missile Base. The Maryland Wing oversees 26 primary subordinate squadrons located throughout the state, including four school enrichment programs. The wing currently has a fleet of 11 aircraft made up of Cessna 172s, 182s, and a Gippsland GA-8 Airvan. More than 1,500 members serve in Civil Air Patrol’s Maryland Wing. Last year, wing members flew 13 actual search and rescue missions. Overall, the Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland, flying 2,245 hours in all mission categories, and was credited with four finds.

Mission

The Maryland Wing performs the three missions of Civil Air Patrol: providing emergency services; offering cadet programs for youth; and providing aerospace education for both CAP members and the general public.

Emergency services

Civil Air Patrol provides emergency services, which includes performing search and rescue and disaster relief missions; as well as assisting in humanitarian aid assignments. CAP also provides Air Force support through conducting light transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys. Civil Air Patrol can also offer support to counter-drug missions.

Cadet programs

Civil Air Patrol offers a cadet program for youth aged 12 to 20, which includes aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership.

Aerospace education

Civil Air Patrol offers aerospace education for CAP members and the general public, including providing training to the members of CAP, and offering workshops for youth throughout the nation through schools and public aviation events.

History

Two Maryland Wing aircrew members die in search of military jet

On April 6, 1954, at 1:05 p.m., Capt. Anthony J. Synodinos, CAP, and Chaplain Edward G. Conrad, CAP, died when their open-cockpit Ryan PT-22 airplane crashed into the water near Havre de Grace, Md. The two men, both members of the East Baltimore Squadron, were conducting a search and rescue mission for a missing T-33 military jet that was reported as missing and was never found. The search area was long, stretching from Long Island, N.Y., to Langley Field, Va. Synodinos, serving as mission pilot, and Conrad, mission observer, had been searching the upper Chesapeake Bay in heavy fog.
In 1960, Maryland Wing dedicated a plaque in Havre de Grace, Md., to memorialize these two Civil Air Patrol members who died in service to their country.
On April 3, 2004, the Harford Composite Squadron relocated the marker and established a new plaque which commemorated the 50th anniversary of their deaths. Commanded by Lt. Col. Gerard W. Weiss, the Harford squadron held a ceremony installing the new plaque at the War Memorial in Millard Tydings Memorial Park near Commerce Street at S. Washington Street in Havre de Grace, Md..
The plaque reads:
In memory of Capt. Anthony J. Synodinos, CAP
Chaplain Edward G. Conrad, CAP
They died April 6, 1954, in an airplane crash off this point while performing a search and rescue mission. Service like theirs with thoughts more for others than themselves will lead to a far better world to live in.
Original plaque dedicated by the Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol, 1960
New plaque dedicated by Harford Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary.

Buzz One Four - B-52 Bomber Crash – January 13, 1964

A B-52 Strato-Fortress carrying nuclear weapons and its five-man crew crashed near Lonaconing, Md., near the Appalachian Mountains of Western Maryland. The aircraft left Westover, Massachusetts on its way to Turner Air Force base in Albany, Georgia, but disappeared from contact. It was determined the B-52 crashed due to a blizzard resulting from two storm fronts converging while flying over Maryland. During the turbulence created by the fronts, the aircraft’s tail fin snapped off the plane, hitting the left horizontal stabilizer and tail gunner’s pod and leaving the plan unbalanced. This resulted in the aircraft rolling onto its back and descending into a spin.
Civil Air Patrol was alerted and Maryland Wing aircrews spotted the B-52s co-pilot who had ejected, Capt. Parker Peedin, about two miles from Grantsville, Md., and directed ground teams to rescue. The pilot, Maj. Tom McCormick, also ejected and, after walking nearly two miles, was located and transported to Cumberland for medical treatment. Sgt. Mel Wooten, gunner, ejected but was injured by parts of the aircraft and landed near the Casselman River near Salisbury, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately he did not survive. Maj. Robert Payne, navigator, parachuted from the aircraft but fell into a partially frozen stream where his body was found by rescuers. The fifth crew member, Bombardier Robert Townley, died in the plane.
Maryland State Police took command of the area due to the two, 24-megaton nuclear bombs the aircraft was carrying. The bombs were recovered and taken to Cumberland Municipal Airport for transport.
Memorials have been erected in memory of the crew members. A large memorial can be seen along U.S. Route 40, about a mile east of Grantsville, Md. The Grantsville Community Museum has artifacts on display from the crash.

Squadrons

GroupDesignationSquadron nameLocationNotes-
MD-001Maryland Wing Headquarters SquadronGranite-
MD-999Maryland Legislative SquadronAnnapolis-
Group 1MD-071Bethesda - Chevy Chase Composite SquadronGaithersburg2012 CAP Squadron of Distinction Award
Group 1 Squadron of the Year 2015, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2015, 2011, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2000
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2010, 2007
MER Squadron of Distinction 2007, 2012		-
MD-065Cumberland Composite SquadronWiley Ford, WVUnit Citation Award
Group 1 Squadron of the Year 2019, 2017, 2018
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2017, 2018
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2018
MER Squadron of Distinction 2018		-
MD-003Frederick Composite SquadronFrederickGroup 1 Squadron of the Year 2016, 2014, 2013
MD-879Granite Cadet SquadronGranitechartered in 2020
MD-004Hagerstown Composite SquadronHagerstownMDWG Squadron of Merit 2004, 2002
MD-038Howard Composite SquadronLaurel-
MD-073Montgomery Senior SquadronGaithersburgUnit Citation Award -
MD-091Mount Airy Composite SquadronMount AiryUnit Citation Award
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2008, 1998
MD-801Parkland Middle School Cadet SquadronRockville-
MD-332Upper Montgomery Composite SquadronGermantown-
Group 2MD-039Carroll Composite SquadronWestminsterUnit Citation Award
Group 2 Squadron of the Year 2013, 2010, 2008, 2004
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2010, 2004
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2006
MER Squadron of Distinction 2006
MD-079Easton Composite SquadronEastonMDWG Squadron of Merit 2017
MD-140Fort McHenry Composite SquadronHalethorpeUnit Citation Award
Group 2 Squadron of the Year 2009, 2006
MD-031Glenn L. Martin Composite SquadronMiddle RiverUnit Citation Award
Group 2 Squadron of the Year 2018, 2015, 2011
MD-008Harford Composite SquadronBel AirGroup 2 Squadron of the Year 2019, 2016, 2007
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2019
MD-022Osprey Composite SquadronDundalkGroup 2 Squadron of the Year 2017
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2017		-
MD-013Towson Composite SquadronTowson-
MD-086Wicomico Composite SquadronSalisburyGroup 2 Squadron of the Year 2014
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2005
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2013, 2006
MER Squadron of Distinction 2013		-
MD-808The SEED School of Maryland Cadet SquadronBaltimore-
Group 3MD-028Col. Mary S. Feik Composite Squadron
EdgewaterGroup 3 Squadron of the Year 2016, 2015
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2016, 2015
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2016
MER Squadron of Distinction 2016		-
MD-085Apollo 1 Senior SquadronFort Meade-
MD-023Arundel Composite SquadronGlen Burnie1994 CAP Squadron of Distinction Award
Group 3 Squadron of the Year 2018, 2017
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2019		-
MD-052Bowie Composite SquadronBowieGroup 3 Squadron of the Year 2009, 2008
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2009
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2009		-
MD-007Calvert Cadet SquadronPrince FrederickGroup 3 Squadron of the Year 2014, 2010
MDWG Squadron of the Year 2014
MDWG Squadron of Merit 2015		-
MD-019Charles Composite SquadronIndian Head-
MD-011College Park Composite SquadronCollege ParkUnit Citation Award
Group 3 Squadron of the Year 2007		-
MD-890Esperanza Middle School FlightLexington Park-
MD-089St. Mary's Composite SquadronCaliforniaGroup 3 Squadron of the Year 2019, 2013, 2011, 2006
MDWG Squadron of the Year 1982, 1984, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2006, 2012, 2013
Squadron of Merit 2001, 2003, 2005
1986 Unit Citation Award

Disbanded squadrons

Charter numberSquadron nameLocation
18002Naval Academy Senior SquadronAnnapolis
18002Hyde Field Senior SquadronClinton
18006Chesapeake Bay Cadet Squadron
18007Foxwell
18010Fred V. Cherry Composite SquadronBaltimore
18012Great Falls
18014Harford
18014White Marsh Composite SquadronPerry Hall
18018Catonsville Composite SquadronCatonsville
18021Middle River Composite SquadronEssex
18021Chesapeake
18023Phoenix Composite SquadronJacksonville
18023Glen Burnie Composite SquadronGlen Burnie
18025Eastern Baltimore Squadron-
18026Gunpowder Composite SquadronFork
18031Group I
18044Gwynn Oak
18044Northwest Composite SquadronRandallstown
18045Odenton Cadet SquadronOdenton
18049Lanham Composite SquadronLanham
18053Deale Senior SquadronDeale
18054Suburban
18066Westside
18069Linthicum Cadet SquadronLinthicum
18072Rosedale Composite SquadronRosedale
18075Peninsular Composite SquadronSeverna Park
18077Reisterstown Composite SquadronReisterstown
18078Queen Anne's County SquadronCentreville
18084Calvert County
18086General Foulois
18087223rd Cadet
18088Salisbury Composite SquadronSalisbury
18088Wicomico County
18090Star-Trac
18090Indian Head Composite SquadronIndian Head
18091Tolchester Composite SquadronChestertown
18092Blackhawk
18092Francis M. Wood Cadet SquadronBaltimore
18092Southwestern
18093Patterson Park
18094Group 5
18095Emmitsburg-Liberty CompositeEmmitsburg
18105Group V
18141Chesapeake Bay Senior Squadron
MD-096Chesapeake Bay Senior SquadronBethesda
MD-800Southwestern
MD-802Spring RidgeLexington Park
Chesapeake Composite SquadronBaltimore
Peoria Cadet Squadron
Gray Manor
WaldorfWaldorf

Past Wing commanders

Mary Feik Achievement

The Mary Feik Achievement is awarded for successfully completing the requirements associated with Achievement 3 in Phase I of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program; it includes promotion to the grade of Cadet Senior Airman. Mary Feik, who was an active member of the Annapolis Composite Squadron, resided in Annapolis, Maryland, until her death in June 2016. Col. Feik was known for giving an aerospace education related presentation at the annual Tri-Wing Encampment sponsored by Maryland Wing, Delaware Wing, and the National Capital Wing.

Spaatz Award Achievement

The General Carl A. Spaatz Award is the highest award in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program. The award honors General Carl A. Spaatz, who was the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and the second National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol.
First awarded in 1964, only 0.5% of CAP cadets ever earn the Spaatz award. Maryland ranks 8th among the 50 U.S. states in the number of Spaatz awards earned. Award recipients from Maryland include:
Award #Spaatz recipientAward dateUnit
85Linda L. Osterhoudt18-Feb-69Lanham Composite Squadron
95Lloyd Moroughan21-Oct-69Lanham Composite Squadron
172Raymond T. Hawkins11-Jul-72Frederick Composite Squadron
206James F. Babbitt15-Mar-73Prince George's Comp. Sq.
207Anne M. Skebirdis21-Mar-73Catonsville Composite Sq.
209Ronald P. Ward3-Mar-73Catonsville Composite Sq.
231Howard F. Eisingor2-Aug-73Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cadet Sq.
281Kevin A. Parks29-Jul-74Towson Composite Sq.
337Randy W. Hosselrode22-Aug-75Cumberland Composite Sq.
352Michael L. Smith17-Sep-75Middle River Composite Sq.
355Mark P. Hetterly2-Oct-75Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cadet Sq.
411William Trail16-Nov-76Apollo I Composite Sq.
569Mark A. Kukucka6-Apr-81Gunpowder Composite Squadron
646Cindy T. Shanabrook3-Jun-83Linthcum Composite Sq.
721John C. Kilgallon2-Nov-84Howard Composite Sq.
722Kevin Redman2-Nov-84Howard Composite Sq.
730Martin Strittmatter11-Jan-85Linthcum Composite Sq.
739Francis W. Moran13-Mar-85Prince Georges Composite Sq.
858Todd Shelton3-Sep-87Glenn L. Martin Composite Sq.
861Curt A. Klun3-Oct-87Bethesda-Chevy Chase Comp. Sq.
968Kevin B. Cooley8-Dec-89St. Mary's Composite Sq.
1021Tina Lumley16-Aug-90Whitemarsh Composite Sq.
1023Michael Britten21-Aug-90Apollo I Composite Sq.
1025Wesley Comerer27-Aug-90Howard Composite Sq.
1031Richard Benet2-Sep-90Frederick Composite Sq.
1040Thomas Single1-Jan-91Harford Composite Squadron
1155Charles R. Midkiff III26-Feb-93Prince George Composite Squadron
1204Shawn Fry18-Mar-94Wicomico Composite Sq.
1221Roxanne N. Landesman3-Aug-94Prince George Composite Squadron
1271Tori K. Steinmeier5-Sep-95Towson Composite Sq.
1291James A. Iacarino5-Mar-96White Marsh Composite Sq.
1292Brian S. Coats23-Mar-96Glenn L. Martin Composite Sq.
1293Matthew R. Heusser23-Mar-96Wicomico Composite Sq.
1298Gabrielle E. Lutz28-Jun-96St. Mary's Composite Sq.
1301Tammy J. Blevins1-Aug-96St. Mary's Composite Sq.
1304Alisha M. Cope7-Aug-96Howard Composite Sq.
1330James R. Logan7-Jul-97Indian Head Composite Sq.
1460Aaron J. Kleiman22-May-02Wicomico Composite Sq.
1463John F. Reutemann III10-Jul-02Bethesda-Chevy Chase Comp. Sq.
1505Abraham H. Phares2-Jun-03Hagerstown Composite Sq.
1562Emily K. Hudson18-Jun-05Arundel Composite Sq.
1563Rachel L. Gibbs18-Jun-05Carroll Composite Sq.
1586David Wainland31-Jan-06Howard Composite Sq.
1598Jacob A. Reed8-Apr-06Carroll Composite Sq.
1617Carl D. Bevard Jr.24-Oct-06Prince Frederick Composite Sq.
1621Grace M. Stapf18-Dec-06Mt. Airy Composite Sq.
1653Joanna S. Weiss9-Jul-07Harford Composite Sq.
1655Syed M. Karim13-Jul-07Bethesda-Chevy Chase Comp. Sq.
1666Elizabeth J. Peters15-Oct-07Harford Composite Sq.
1667Janice A. Watson15-Oct-07Easton Composite Sq.
1711Zachary T. Bowen31-Oct-08Mt. Airy Composite Sq.
1721Wayne S. Mowery Jr.15-Jan-09Osprey Composite Sq.
1737Victor R. Traven25-Jun-09St. Mary's Composite Sq.
1751Anna B. Bladey2-Feb-10Frederick Composite Sq.
1763Alice W. Chan12-Jul-10Howard Composite Sq.
1765John Brennan30-Jul-10Bowie Composite Sq.
1779Shaharazad Purvis13-Jan-11Osprey Composite Sq.
1789Todd P. O'Brien25-Mar-11Bethesda-Chevy Chase Comp. Sq.
1792Sascha R. Maraj20-Apr-11Bethesda-Chevy Chase Comp. Sq.
1806Robbert J. Olson11-Aug-11Calvert Composite Sq.
1807Elizabeth R. Roberts11-Aug-11Harford Composite Sq.
1808Jason O. LaPre11-Aug-11Calvert Composite Sq.
1885Kathleen P. Crockett7-May-13Frederick Composite Sq.
1905Christopher J. La Pointe27-Aug-13Mount Airy Composite Sq.
1915Eashan Samak27-Dec-13St. Mary's Composite Sq.
1923Robert J. Lewis23-Jan-14St. Mary's Composite Sq.
1960John S. Rowan8-Jun-14Bowie Composite Sq.
2052Emmy N. Hoyt1-Jul-16Col Mary S. Feik Composite Sq
2121Natalie A. Brace7-Aug-17College Park Composite Sq
2126Jessica G. Strauss25-Aug-17Col Mary S. Feik Composite Sq
2141Alexei L. Severnyak20-Dec-17Frederick Composite Sq
2232Matthew R. Fangio19-Jun-19Arundel Composite Sq
2243Wyatt J. Hartman17-Jul-19Glenn L. Martin Composite Sq

Legal protection

Civil Air Patrol Leave Act of 2010

Employers within the borders of Maryland are required by law to provide at minimum 15 days per calendar year of leave for Civil Air Patrol volunteer members to respond to emergency missions as authorized by the U.S. Air Force, Governor or political subdivision as a part of Civil Air Patrol. The member must provide documentation to the employer if requested. This law was signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley on May 20, 2010.