NORTHEAST REGION - A PROUD HISTORY

Gill Robb Wilson (1893 - 1966) was a pilot in the famed Lafayette Escadrille in World War I. A Presbyterian minister in the 1920s, he later became one of our nation's foremost advocates of aviation. He co-founded the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, headed the New Jersey Aeronautics Commission and the National Aeronautic Association, and was editor and publisher of Flying magazine. As war drew near in 1941, it was he who conceived the idea of a Civil Air Patrol to augment America's air power on the home front. Gill Robb Wilson was also the first commander of the Civil Air Patrol's 1st and 2nd Regions (northeast US), and served in that capacity until April 1942.

A 1916 photo of Cord Meyer (left). Born to a prominent New York family in 1895, he first soloed in 1912. He later flew pursuit aircraft in the 103rd Squadron in France during World War I. Colonel Meyer commanded the Northeast Region 1952-1956.

Engaging the Enemy	Sleeve Emblem for Coastal Patrol

As the Civil Air Patrol was coming into existence in 1941, the consensus was that there should be an echelon between the 52 wings and National Headquarters. The founders of the CAP decided to mirror the nine existing Army Corps Areas. In each one, a Region Commander would coordinate wing activities. During this formative stage, this concept proved to be helpful in getting the new organization up and running.

CAP Pilot Wings 1942 - 1948

The six New England wings formed the 1st Region, with headquarters in Boston. The New York, New Jersey and Delaware Wings formed the 2nd Region with headquarters in New York. The 3rd Region area had the Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, National Capital, and Puerto Rico Wings, with headquarters in Baltimore.

Cockpit view of a Stinson 10A

Until April 1942, Gill Robb Wilson himself commanded both the 1st and 2nd Regions. Only five of the nine regional commands were ever actually filled, three by Army officers. The Army often found it necessary to send these officers on military missions outside their regions. These shortfalls at the regional level necessitated more and more direct contact between the wings and National Headquarters. The Office of Civilian Defense (then the parent body of the CAP) abolished the regional commands on August 14, 1942.

A CAP Fairchild 24. To avoid being confused with enemy aircraft, the CAP soon omitted the red three-bladed propeller from the roundel on Coastal Patrol aircraft.

In the postwar years, there were eight Areas of Responsibility (AORs). In the northeastern states, the AOR consisted of the six New England wings, and the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and National Capital Wings.  On the National Executive Board, there were eight officers, each with responsibility for his AOR, with a ninth serving as chairman. In September 1951, Colonel James L. Biggs, the NEB member from the Northeast, was concurrently designated as Regional Director. Effective January 1, 1952, CAP formally reestablished the regional echelon, and reconstituted the old AORs into eight new regions. The new Northeast Region now consisted of the six New England wings, and the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Wings.  At that time, Colonel Cord Meyer became Regional Director. On May 27, 1955, Regional Directors became Region Commanders.

CAP Search & Rescue - 1950s style

Edwin Lyons (in cockpit) with his business partners circa 1953. A flight instructor, he co-founded Zahn's Airport in eastern Long Island in 1945, and also founded the resident Amityville Flying Service. By the 1950s, Zahn's was one of the busiest general aviation airports in the northeast, boasting over 200 resident aircraft, an ANG squadron, and a CAP squadron. Colonel Lyons commanded the Northeast Region 1961 - 1970.

The gray NER "flash," worn on the left shoulder, was approved by Region Commander Colonel Edwin Lyons in 1962. For decades, this was the only official regional patch in all of CAP. In the 1990s, the other regions followed suit with their own patches, based on the original Northeast Region design.

NER’s official emblem was created in early 1970.  This distinctive design was the work of Colonel Jack Herbert, USAF and Major (later Colonel and National Historian) Leonard Blascovich. Colonel Edwin Lyons approved the design in September, 1970.

The Northeast Region is unique. We boast nine wings, including two of the nation's largest (New York and Pennsylvania), and two of the smallest (Vermont and Rhode Island).  The Northeast Region includes the Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas, yet it is also the most forested of all the regions.

When terrorists attacked New York on September 11, 2001, the Northeast Region led the rest of CAP in providing much-needed disaster relief. Like our forebears who guarded America against enemy submarines and saboteurs, we remain Semper Vigilans. 

NORTHEAST REGION COMMANDERS

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Maj Peter Jensen
Northeast Region