The Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the highest echelon of CAP in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Wing headquarters is located at Fort Indiantown Gap, an Army National Guard installation near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Wing is abbreviated as "PAWG", and is often referred to by its members as "PA Wing". A Pennsylvania keystone is a symbol commonly used in patches and designs of PAWG.
See also: History of the Civil Air Patrol. Pennsylvania Wing is one of the original 48 wings in Civil Air Patrol.
In the spring of 1942, the Pennsylvania Wing conducted a 30-day experiment with the intention of convincing the Army Air Forces that they were capable of flying cargo missions for the nation. PA Wing transported Army cargo as far as Georgia, and top Army officials were impressed. After the 30 day trial period, the War Department gave CAP permission to conduct courier and cargo service for the military, often flying mail, light cargo, and important military officials between USAAF bases.
One of the Civil Air Patrol's very first "Aviation Cadet Programs" was established at the Pittsburgh Army Air Field in the spring of 1943. Accepting young men as "Aviation Cadets" in a delayed enlistment program for the Army Air Forces, the Pittsburgh Squadron trained these boys (as young as 15) in Aerospace and Military subjects and vetted them for service as Army Air Force Pilots. Graduating a total of 16 Aviation Cadets for the Army in less than ten months, the Pittsburgh Squadron model was copied by units in Philadelphia, New York City and as far south as Florida. Today, the current Squadron with direct lineage to that Aviation Cadet Unit is the CAP's second longest, continually operated unit on a Military Installation.
On December 31, 1999, PA Wing units were put on stand-by in case of any problems arising from the Y2K bug.
During the September 11 attacks, Pennsylvania Wing was ordered to a stand-by state. Although not officially tasked with any missions in direct support, PAWG radio communications centers were operational and prepared to offer assistance.
In 2006, PA Wing was activated to fly reconnaissance missions during the 2006 flood. PAWG aircraft flew over major waterways to provide detailed photographs of flood-affected areas and to monitor floodwaters as they moved downstream.
31 Members from Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol traveled 28 hours to Pascagoula, Mississippi to aid in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. PAWG Ground Teams went door-to-door ensuring that local residents had adequate food, water, and medical care.[1]
In August and September 2011, all CAP emergency service teams in Pennsylvania Wing and CAP members from Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana Wings were activated to assist communities affected by Hurricane Irene (2011) and Tropical Storm Lee (2011).
During the time between September 1, 2010 to December 1, 2011, the Pennsylvania Wing saved eleven lives, provided emergency response in Pennsylvania during the 2011 flooding and severe winter storms.
In November 2012, CAP Pennsylvania Wing emergency services air crews and ground teams were activated to assist communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware during flooding and high wind of Hurricane Sandy.
During Late December 2017 and early January 2018, CAP Pennsylvania Wing emergency services ground teams were sent to help dig out Erie Pennsylvania.
In March 2021, as a part of Civil Air Patrol's response in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Pennsylvania Wing provided support at a vaccine point of distribution.[2]
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20100921024555/http://www.spaatz.org/mbr/list.php
Pennsylvania Wing is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in Pennsylvania. PA Wing reports to Northeast Region CAP, who reports to CAP National Headquarters.
Pennsylvania Wing Headquarters is located in a renovated former World War Two Post Exchange (PX) and Non Commissioned Officers Club (NCO Club) complex at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville, Pennsylvania. Offices, classrooms, a communications center and an emergency operations center are located inside the Headquarters. Additionally, the headquarters building is located approximately one mile from Muir Army Airfield.
Reporting to the Wing level, Pennsylvania is divided into six geographic groups. Each group conducts training, activities, classroom learning and programs, with actual missions assigned to a group from the Wing. Originally, the state was divided into three groups (western, central, and eastern); but with an increasing number of squadrons, PAWG divided split each group into northern and southern sections, creating six groups in 2007.[5]
Reporting to each group are 60 squadrons. Squadrons are the local level of organization and serve the local community, and squadrons meet weekly to conduct conducts training, activities, classroom learning and programs to carry out the three missions of Civil Air Patrol - Emergency Services, Cadet Programs, and Aerospace Education.
There are three types of Civil Air Patrol squadrons.
As of December 1, 2014, the PA Wing operates 60 squadrons, in six groups, 15 aircraft, 34 ground vehicles and a state-wide radio communications network that is operational 24/7 and is part of a national network.
Group 1 is responsible for operations in and around the Pittsburgh area.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 Headquarters | Allegheny County Airport | ||
| Squadron 601 | Washington Composite | ||
| Squadron 602 | Allegheny County Composite | ||
| Squadron 603 | Golden Triangle Composite | ||
| Squadron 606 | Greene County Composite | ||
| Squadron 704 | Beaver County Composite | ||
| Squadron 712 | Butler Composite | ||
| Squadron 1502 | Somerset Composite |
Group 2 operates around Harrisburg.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 2 Headquarters | Fort Indiantown Gap | ||
| Squadron 301 | York Composite | ||
| Squadron 302 | Capital City Composite | ||
| Squadron 304 | Jesse Jones Composite | ||
| Squadron 306 | Harrisburg International Composite | ||
| Squadron 307 | Lebanon Composite Squadron 307 | ||
| Squadron 308 | Gettysburg Composite | ||
| Squadron 811 | Reading Composite |
Group 3 operates in the greater Philadelphia area.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 3 Headquarters | Willow Grove JRB | ||
| Squadron 102 | Philadelphia Composite | Unit Citation Award | |
| Squadron 103 | Philadelphia Composite | Unit Citation Award | |
| Squadron 104 | Northeast Philadelphia Composite | ||
| Squadron 812 | General Carl A. Spaatz Composite | ||
| Squadron 902 | Willow Grove JRB Composite | Unit Citation Award | |
| Squadron 1006 | West Philadelphia Composite | Unit Citation Award | |
| Squadron 1007 | Delco Composite | ||
| Squadron 1008 | Chester County Composite |
Group 4 conducts operations in the 14 county area of Eastern Pennsylvania from Lower Bucks County to the PA/NY State Border.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 4 Headquarters | Quakertown Airport | ||
| Squadron 101 | Lower Bucks Squadron | ||
| Squadron 201 | Scranton Composite | ||
| Squadron 203 | Luzerne County Composite | ||
| Squadron 207 | Mt Pocono Composite | ||
| Squadron 251 | Hilltown Senior | ||
| Squadron 805 | Lehigh Valley Composite Squadron | ||
| Squadron 807 | Bangor Slate Belt Composite | ||
| Squadron 904 | Quakertown Composite | Unit Citation Award | |
| Squadron 907 | Doylestown Composite | Unit Citation Award |
The Group 5 region encompasses much of North Central Pennsylvania, including State College, Altoona, and Williamsport.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 5 Headquarters | State College | ||
| Squadron 065 | Williamsport Composite | ||
| Squadron 253 | Jimmy Stewart Composite | ||
| Squadron 258 | Cambria County Composite | ||
| Squadron 288 | Brush Mountain Composite | ||
| Squadron 338 | Nittany Composite | ||
| Squadron 522 | Columbia County Composite |
Group 6 is responsible for operations near Erie.
| Squadron Number | Name/Location/Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 6 Headquarters | Greenville | ||
| Squadron 124 | Tri City Composite | ||
| Squadron 125 | Armstrong County Composite | ||
| Squadron 332 | Mercer County Composite | ||
| Squadron 337 | Lawrence County Composite | ||
| Squadron 501 | Major Don Beatty Composite | ||
| Squadron 502 | Erie Composite | ||
| Squadron 503 | Crawford County Composite | ||
| Squadron 504 | Clarion Composite | ||
| Squadron 505 | Warren County Composite | ||
| Squadron 507 | Elk County Composite |