Mountains, Mountains, Mountains

By 1st Lt Karin Hollerbach

Another busy weekend for Squadron 188 members.  Five members of our squadron showed their dedication to continuous improvement in their skills by participating in Northern and Southern California training opportunities.

As flying in the mountains brings additional risk factors beyond other flying that many of us who live near the coast normally do, it requires special skills to stay safe.  California Wing (CAWG) Groups provided 2 different training opportunities for mountain flying this past weekend.

Lt Rugroden (3rd from left) among his graduating class at the Mountain Flying Clinic

Lt Roberts, Mission Safety
Officer-Trainee in AUN

Congratulations to 1st Lt Gene Rugroden, who attended the Mountain Flying Clinic and joined the ranks of Mountain Flying Certified Mission Pilots.

Congratulations to 2d Lt Tim Roberts, who obtained his Mission Scanner (MS) rating and trained as Mission Safety Officer (MSO) at the Group 5 exercise in AUN.

Lt Stevulak planning his AP sortie
 

In addition, Maj Jeff Ironfield, 1st Lt John Stevulak, and Lt Hollerbach participated in the Group 5/2 exercise and practiced their Mission Pilot (MP), Airborne Photographer (AP), Mission Observer (MO) and mountain flying skills.

Maj Ironfield is ready to fly

A huge thank you to 1st Lt Eric Choate for flying to SAC to pick up Maj Ironfield and Lts Stevulak and Hollerbach on Saturday evening.

Aircrew planning their sorties in AUN

In Memoriam - Brigadier General Warren J. Barry, CAP

By Lt Col Juan Tinnirello, photos by Lt Col Tinnirello

View of the Holy Cross Cemetery

Brigadier General Warren J. Barry, CAP was buried this morning at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Antioch, CA. Brigadier Barry became a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) member in 1952 and after progressing through the ranks in California and Pacific Region, he became National Commander for the years 1990-1993. A mass was celebrated this morning at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Antioch, were he was an usher and a respected parishioner for more than 50 years.

Father Roberto Corral, OP, Pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Antioch, Addressing the Participants

National, Pacific Region, State and local members of CAP were present to give their respect and condolences to family members. United States Armed Forces Veterans were present as well and accompanied the caravan carrying the ashes to Holy Cross Cemetery in their motorcycles. Cadet Rodriguez played Taps as everybody saluted.

Col Kenneth Parris, Lt Col Brett Dolnick, Group 2 Commander and Captain Douglas Perreira, Squadron 188, among several others CAP members attending the event

United States Armed Forces Veterans Saluting while Taps is Being Played

Cadet Rodriguez from Squadron 37 at Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, Plays Taps

Congratulations, Maj Steven DeFord

By 1st Lt Karin Hollerbach, photo by Capt Georgios Michelogiannakis

Congratulations to Maj Steven DeFord, for completing his IFR Form 5.  Out of 9 powered aircraft pilots, with Maj DeFord, Squadron 188 now has 5 pilots who have completed their IFR Form 5. In addition, the squadron has 2 glider pilots.

Also, thanks to Maj Jeff Ironfield for helping Maj DeFord with his training and to Capt Michelogiannakis, who was the IFR Form 5 check pilot.

Maj Steven DeFord after his successful IFR Form 5

The History of the Squadron 188 Patch

By Lt Col Juan Tinnirello, CAP

Squadron 188 original patch

Squadron 188 was started by Maj Paul Groff back in the year 1988.  Prior to starting the Senior Squadron, he was with Cadet Squadron 18, which was at the time also located at the Oakland Airport North Field.  Both squadrons operated out of the same building, where now all the car rental companies are located.

Time went by and the squadron grew. Some time in late 1991 Maj Groff challenged the cadets of Squadron 18 to design a patch for the Senior Squadron. The original chosen drawing was handmade. Where it went is history, and the writer never found it, even though he saw it when it was presented to the squadron for approval.

Squadron 188 new patch artwork

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The name of the cadet that designed the patch has also been lost. However, a picture of the first edition of the embroidered patch is here for your viewing.   Also enclosed is the letter dated 29 Feb 1992 from Maj Groff requesting the approval of the patch by the Group 2 Commander. The letter requesting the approval explains the symbolism behind the design of the patch.

In 2010 the Squadron ran out of the original patches. With the electronic era in full swing, then Capt Noel Luneau electronically updated the patch's design.  At the writer’s request, he changed the shape to conform to the regulations for a squadron patch.

Well, the details of the new design are substantially better than the original handmade version, and the embroidering machines of that time were not as sophisticated as the

Squadron 188 new patch picture

 current ones.  So, the details are significantly improved.

Both the drawing and a photograph of the current patch are included for your comparison.

The squadron has patches available for sale to any non-CAP individual for $10.00 each. You can contact the writer, if interested – or please leave a comment in this blog.  Of course, CAP members get a discount.  The current and old versions of the patch are scattered around the nation in some CAP displays and private patch collections.