On Saturday, February 19, cadets and senior members from Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadrons met for a large-scale training event at the San Marcos airport. Over 60 cadets and seniors from squadrons in south-central Texas flew 19 air sorties and 3 ground sorties and practiced search and rescue (SAREX) techniques such as searching for simulated downed aircraft and evaluating simulated flood and hurricane damage.
Group V of the Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol, is made up of nine squadrons from San Marcos, Austin, San Antonio, Randolph AFB, Georgetown, Temple, and Kerrville and all squadrons participated in the SAREX. Five CAP airplanes participated in the air sorties. The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) donated meeting space for a air command center in their historic hangar at the San Marcos Airport to launch the air sorties. The CAP building for the San Marcos squadron served as command and communications center for the ground teams. Training in search techniques, air-to-ground communications, and safety were provided.
Group V Commander Lt. Col. Don Jones said of the event, “It is important that we simulate real-world events such as hurricanes and flooding, in addition to downed aircraft in our training. These are missions that CAP has been called on to perform in the past. For this event, we mixed up crews from different squadrons to make sure all our teams can work together.”
Lt. Col. Rich Ferguson was presented with the Field Grade Officer of the Year award and he was also recognized for 50 years of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) volunteer service at an end-of-year ceremony for the CAP David Lee "Tex" Hill Composite Squadron of San Marcos, Texas. Lt. Col. Ferguson joined CAP at the age of 14. Growing up, his father was Commandant of Cadets at the squadron in Tulare, California, then Squadron 83 Commander in San Diego, California, and then Group 3 Commander, California Wing. At Rich’s first encampment in 1963, he was awarded the Outstanding Male Cadet Noncommissioned Officer trophy. At his second encampment in 1965, he served as the Cadet Wing Adjutant, with rank of Cadet Lt. Col. Rich was the Squadron Cadet Commander for many years, earning the Ira Eaker Award. He also received a CAP sponsored scholarship that allowed him to obtain his solo pilot rating.
When Rich turned 21, he let his CAP membership lapse as he turned his attention to attending AFROTC at San Diego State University to become an Air Force pilot. Rich resumed his membership in CAP as a senior member in October 1976, while assigned as a C-5 instructor/evaluator pilot at Travis AFB, California.
Rich relocated to the CAP Kelly Composite Squadron, Texas Wing, in San Antonio in 1985 when he transferred to Kelly AFB where he served as a C-5 evaluator pilot and Director of Operations at squadron and Wing levels. In 2001, Rich retired from the Air Force Reserve and the 433rd Airlift Wing as Operations Group Commander with the rank of Colonel. In 2008, he transferred to the CAP David Lee "Tex" Hill Composite Squadron in San Marcos. He became the Deputy Commander for Cadets, helping in many of the cadet training programs and contributed significantly to cadet and senior member training in emergency services, among other duties. He now serves also as Administrative and Personnel Officer for the San Marcos squadron and also for Texas Wing, Group V.
The San Marcos squadron commander, Capt. Mauricio Urquiola said, "Lt. Col. Ferguson is the welcome face for all parents, soon to be cadets, and senior volunteers at our squadron and has been a pillar for our squadron in the past decade. His dedication and unconditional support for all activities, and especially for the cadet program, has made him a role model for all of us in the squadron."
Four cadets from the David Lee “Tex” Hill squadron (TX-435) in San Marcos performed Color Guard duties at the Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Hangar Dance on Saturday evening, November 13, 2021. Cadets C/MSgt Ethan Harrison, C/CMSgt Tanner Lewis, C/SrA Gabriel Muldrow and C/A1C Martin Nguyen performed the Color Guard duties presenting the flag at the opening of the event.
The Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is located in the only WWII aircraft hangar left standing on the old Edward Gary Army Training Base that was in operation during WWII. The airplanes were pulled out of the hangar to make room for the dance inside but were available on static display for the many visitors attending the evening’s event. The annual Hangar Dance is a fundraiser to keep the WWII airplanes in the air. It also shows people a glimpse of what it was like in 1942.
Photographs by 2nd Lt. Tom Roach
CAP Lt. Col. Dave Badal passed away on October 19, 2021 at the age of 84. Lt. Col. Badel joined the David Lee “Tex” Hill squadron (TX-435) in San Marcos in 1997 and held many positions such as Mission Check Pilot, Cadet Orientation Pilot, Maintenance Officer, and Counter Drug Officer. He was the Squadron Commander from 2000 to 2008 and he was also the Group VIII Deputy Commander for two years. Dave was also the driving force responsible for obtaining our current squadron building and even having an airplane to fly. Dave received the Disaster Relief Ribbon with Device for his participation in the Blanco River Flooding and Hurricane Harvey.
Dave was a Project Engineer at Lockheed and spent almost 30 years with Lockheed. At age 82 he became a substitute teacher and later developed a solar course for students at Wimberley High School.
Dave was an accomplished pilot and earned a Private Pilot rating and later added Instrument privileges to his license. Not satisfied with only flying airplanes, Dave obtained his Ground Instructor privileges with Advanced Instrument, and was an accomplished FAA mechanic with inspection authority (IA). He used his skills as a pilot/mechanic to totally restore a 1943 Army Piper L4. In 2018, he earned the prestige Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA. This award has been issued to recognize local pilots who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years as active pilots.
Lt. Col. Badel’s enthusiasm for Civil Air Patrol, learning, and aviation will be missed by all that were fortunate enough to have known him.
By Lt. Col. Mike Duc
