Enchanted Wing
The History of the New Mexico Wing Civil Air Patrol
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The T-34 (N422NM) arrived in the vicinity shortly before midnight and proceeded to perform a DF on the ELT signal. The dramatic find was relayed real-time by air-ground communications and telephone, as the pilot of the T-34, Harold Roberts, fighting the high winds and turbulence, reported that he and observer Ron ‘Jake’ Jacobson were able to locate the position of the ELT and were circling what appeared to be a small fire. The survivors used a flashlight to signal and Roberts used his landing light to acknowledge that they had indeed sighted them. Roberts noted some 35 years later, “This was the most severe turbulence that I ever flew into deliberately. Jake and I both made frequent contact on the canopy with our heads, and were truly exhausted by the time we returned home.”
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
The Civil Air Patrol, like most volunteer organizations, takes on the persona of its people to create a distinct culture. While the cast of characters changes over the years, the enduring qualities of those who have gone before remains a legacy for those who follow.
The New Mexico wing has been fortunate to have had people from many walks of life who have contributed to the organization. This is their story.
About the Author
Ted Spitzmiller first joined Civil Air Patrol New Jersey Wing, on Jan. 31, 1958. He attended summer encampment in 1959 at McGuire AFB and had his first orientation flight that year in an Aeronca. He became cadet commander by 1960, and kept his CAP affiliation until joining the Army in 1963. After his discharge in 1966, Ted worked for IBM and later at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Attaining his commercial pilot’s license and flight instructor rating, he rejoined CAP in 1973 and for 20 years was an instructor and check pilot for the Los Alamos Composite Squadron. He took a break from CAP while earning his bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer information systems, then again renewed his membership in 2002 after his retirement. Ted has served the Rio Rancho—Falcon Composite Squadron as deputy commander for cadets, providing aerospace education, character guidance, and leadership, as well as arranging field trips and providing orientation flights. Ted has also contributed to CAP’s Teacher Training and School Enrichment Program, speaking in schools and to organizations in the Albuquerque area. He is a wing check pilot with over 4300 hours in more than 62 different types of aircraft. Gwen D. Sawyer grew up in a CAP family in New Mexico. She became a cadet the first day she was eligible (age 14) and stayed in the program until the last day she could (age 21). After rising through the ranks, she had the honor of being the first cadet in New Mexico Wing to earn the Carl A. Spaatz Award. She attributes her time in CAP with helping her be successful in her career as an FAA air traffic controller and manager. Now retired from the FAA after many years in Oklahoma City, Gwen and her husband, George Bakula, live in Albuquerque, where they are active in church work, enjoy traveling the country and make frequent visits to Texas to see their daughter and grandchildren.