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.

Cord Meyer in 1962

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.

Edgar Bailey (1922 - 1989) was a sergeant in the Marine Corps during World War II. Joining the CAP in 1948, he commanded the Rhode Island Wing (1966 - 1979) and the Northeast Region (1979 -1986). He went on to become National Chief of Staff, and was subsequently elected as National Vice Commander. He was the first holder of this office to be accorded the rank of Brigadier General.

David Braun became a CAP cadet in 1954, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1956. He reentered CAP as an officer in 1980. Colonel Braun commanded the Maine Wing (1982-1990) and the Northeast Region twice (1990-1992, and 1993-1995). He went on to senior assignments at the National level including the chairmanship of the National Commander's Counterdrug Committee. Colonel Braun is a qualified incident commander with expertise in large scale disaster relief.

Colonel Joseph "Skip" Guimond served as an infantry officer during the Vietnam War, and received the Bronze Star and numerous other decorations. He joined CAP in 1980 and served as a check pilot, squadron and group safety officer, group commander, wing vice commander, Pennsylvania Wing Commander (1994-1995), and Northeast Region Commander (1995-1999). He is a command pilot with over 3,000 flight hours, a certified flight instructor (both airplane and glider), and an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor.

Donald Prouty enlisted in the Air Force in 1957, and served as an Air Traffic Controller. As an officer, he was a navigator aboard transport aircraft. He went on to fly for Eastern Airlines, and continued to serve his country in the USAF Reserve and the New Hampshire Air Guard. He has logged over 13,000 hours in a wide variety of military and civil aircraft. Colonel Prouty served as Massachusetts Wing Commander (1986-90), Region Vice Commander (most of the 1990s) and Region Commander (1999-2001). In 2001, he was named as CAP's FEMA Coordinator. Colonel Prouty has concurrently been involved in several Advanced Technology initiatives for CAP.

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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Col Peter Jensen
Northeast Region