HomeMy WebLinkAbout1944-06-00 Byrd Wing (3)CAP MEMBER BURNED IN
RESCUE ATTEMPT
Technical Sgt. Gordon Rouse,
Squadron 5 Houston, received second
degree burns about the face and hands
in a futile attempt to rescue pas-
sengers from a burning plane in a
recent air crash at the South Main
Street Airport in Houston.
A Piper Cruiser piloted by G. H.
Cunningham, carrying two passen-
gers, crash-landed at the airport when
his engine failed shortly after takeoff.
The plane immediately caught fire
when it crashed and was a blazing
inferno by the time Sgt. Rouse reached
it. Disregarding his own personal
safety, he dashed into the blazing
wreckage in a vain attempt to save
the passengers of the wrecked plane.
Sgt. Rouse was unable to pull either
of the occupants out because they
were wedged in by the wreckage.
Even though badly burned about the
face and hands, he made several at-
tempts to rescue the passengers.
GROUP 11 PUBLISHES PAPER
Group 11, Ft. Worth, is now print-
ing a group newspaper. The bulletin,
"Tale Spinner," is mimeographed for
the special use of Group 11 members,
and will carry all important announce-
ments and activities having to do with
Civil Air Patrol work.
DALLAS SQUADRON 2
HOLDS MANEUVER
Dallas Sqdn. 2, under the command
of Capt. R. G. Wiggins, held its own
maneuver Saturday and Sunday, April
22 and 23 at a camp site south of
Dallas.
All preparations for the maneuver
and bivouac were handled by the
various functional units of the squad-
ron. Food was purchased from the
Quartermaster Depot at Love Field.
Pyramidal tents, pup tents, field kitch-
ens and Army trucks were obtained
through the facilities of the Eighth
Service Command.
Large tents were set• to accommo-
date headquarters, guard, first aid
and operations. The individual mem-
bers set up their own personal pup
tents. The women's flight was re-
sponsible for mess duties and secre-
tarial work.
Saturday was devoted to the setting
up of the tents, clearing a landing
strip adjacent to the maneuver area
and policing the grounds.
Sunday, after services rendered by
a Chaplain from the Eighth Service
Command, preparations were made
for an inspection and review held
Reports From Groups and Squadrons
( Photos by Flight Of f icer V. Clark)
Dallas Squadron 2, under the command of
Capt. R. G. Wiggins, held a maneuver
April 22 and 23 south of, Dallas. Approxi-
mately 135 cadets and senior members
attended. Pictured above, top photo, are
members washing their mess kits after
dinner. Center picture shows some of the
pup tents set up in the bivouac area.
Lower photo is of two distinguished visi-
tors, Lt. Col. D. Harold Byrd, Wing Com-
mander ( right) and Capt. A. J. Bommer,
Commander of Group One (left).
in the afternoon. Lt. Col. D. Harold
Byrd, Wing Commander and Major
R. L. Bowen, executive officer in-
spected the squadron after which a
formal review was held.
The maneuver was an outstanding
success and gave senior members and
cadets some very valuable experience
that would have been difficult to ob-
tain under any other circumstances.
A well known newsreel organization
took movie film of the maneuver
which is being shown throughout the
city of Dallas and surrounding terri-
tory. The maneuver created a greater
interest in CAP work and was re-
sponsible for a recent increase in
membership. Approximately 100
cadets and 35 senior members at-
tended the camp.
The following Groups did not send in re-
ports: Dallas, Stamford, Fort Worth, Ama-
rillo and E1 Paso. Unless you send in these
monthly reports by the 28th of each month
no mention of your activities will be made
in the "Byrd Wing" nor will a report of
your Group be made to National Headquarters.
Group 2
The Liaison plane is being used to fly
cadets at Jacksonville and Nacogdoches and
quite a bit of interest is being shown there
by prospective cadets. Lufkin and Marshall
have completed CAP organizations which have
active plans for new cadet units. Training
films from Barksdale and Camp Fannin have
been used regularly in classes and the training
of new CAPC units is progressing nicely.
Group 3
Lt. Burton Holton, navigation instructor,
is really putting the members through the
navigation course in fine fashion. Should
have a lot of fine navigators soon. Plans are
being completed for a new CAP office, which
should be open very soon. In the new CAPC
drive, many applications for new member-
ships have been received and the new pro-
gram shows signs of being a great success.
Group 4
On May 5th, Squadron 3, in co-operation
with the Texas Forest Patrol, supplied two
ships to survey the Brazos river flood in
Brazos, Burleson, Grimes and Robertson coun-
ties. One ship was used for taking pictures
of the flooded area and the other for deter-
mining the extent of the damage.
Under the direction of Lt. H. Brockman,
a group of girls from Galena Park, Pasadena
and LaPorte were organized into a CAPC
squadron. The training to date has consisted
of fifteen hours of military courtesy and dis-
cipline, first aid and military drill. Ar-
rangements have been made for uniforms and
the entire unit will have them in the near
future.
April 21, Father Flanagan, well known
head of Boys' Town in Nebraska, unexp%ct-
edly dropped in at St. Thomas High School.
A special parade and review was held in his
honor. He expressed much interest in the
CAPC program and after meeting with Capt.
Herzog and receiving a complete picture of
•the activities of the cadets, he said that he
would take immediate steps, on his return to
Boys' Town, to set up a CAPC program there.
A final parade and review was held May
14 at St. Thomas. This was attended by the
entire staff of Group 4 and many other squad-
ron officers, as well as a large gathering of
spectators. Capt. Herzog acted as reviewing
officer. Following the parade and review, the
cadets were marched over to the football sta-
-dium where a field altar had been erected.
Bishop Byrne of Galveston was the guest of
JUNE, 1944 3