[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 180 (Tuesday, November 22, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1174-E1175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HAWAII WING OF THE CIVIL AIR 
                                 PATROL

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 22, 2022

  Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th 
Anniversary of the Hawaii Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Founded 
in 1947, the Hawaii Wing of the CAP works to support the mission of its 
national organization in my home state. What began as a volunteer 
organization to mobilize civilian aviation resources for national 
defense following World War II has evolved into a premier public 
service organization that carries out emergency service missions when 
and where needed.
  The Hawaii Wing of the CAP, as well as the CAP wings in Alaska, Guam 
and Puerto Rico, only came to be because of the determination of Sarah 
Park of Hawaii. She was an avid pilot and took her first solo flight at 
age 16 shortly after the end of World War II. The same year she took 
her first solo flight, she began working to convince CAP's National 
Headquarters to change its rules so that Hawaii and the other 
territories at that time could create their own CAP wings.
  Due to her persistence, in 1947 the Hawaii Wing began its operations. 
It initially served as an additional resource for national defense and 
sought to protect Hawaii by conducting observation flights around the 
islands. The Wing's first Commander was Lieutenant Colonel Ben 
Dillingham II, who received a Bronze Star for meritorious service in 
World War II.

[[Page E1175]]

  Since its inception, the Hawaii Wing has performed critical public 
safety missions for the State of Hawaii. As early as 1957, the Hawaii 
Wing became part of the Hawaii Emergency Services Tsunami Warning 
Program for Kauai Island, and to this day, CAP aircraft are the only 
state resources for issuing tsunami warnings in places where there are 
no warning sirens or the sirens are inoperative. Additionally, working 
both in the air and on the ground, the over 600 members of the Hawaii 
Wing perform emergency services for the Hawaii Federal Emergency 
Management Agency and augment search and rescue services throughout the 
state.
  A major part of the Wing's community outreach is providing aerospace 
education to Hawaii's youth and inspiring them to pursue careers in 
aerospace; aviation; and other science, technology, engineering and 
mathematics-related fields. The Wing's cadet programs also provide 
flight experience to students, which can spur lifelong interest in 
aviation or encourage the pursuit of a career in related fields. Along 
with these invaluable educational experiences, the Hawaii Wing instills 
values of leadership and character in their recruits which will help 
cadets in all aspects of their life and help them give back to their 
communities.
  Please join me in extending a mahalo to the Hawaii Wing of the Civil 
Air Patrol for its service in our skies and in our communities and a 
hearty congratulations on its 75 years of service to the people of 
Hawaii.

                          ____________________