April, 2018 Bong Flyer

APR 2018

THE BONG FLYER

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF CHAPTER 226 OF THE AIR FORCE
ASSOCIATION

EDUCATE ADVOCATE SUPPORT

NEXT PROGRAM MARCH PROGRAM RECAP

NORTH KOREA’S THREAT TO THE FINDING LOREN, “THE LIFE, DEATH AND
DISCOVERY OF A P-47 FIGHTER PILOT
WORLD, PRESENTED BY MR. ROGER
O’DANIEL
Our next Quarterly Program will be on Tues 15 May @
1800L at the Amorde Terminal at the Bong Airport in
Superior, WI. A chapter meeting will precede the
meeting at 1700L. The presentation will be delivered by
AFA Airpower Advocate Mr. Roger O’Daniel and will
address the nuclear weapons threat posed by North
Korea.

The most recent chapter meeting was held
on 13 Mar followed by the program
Finding Loren. The presentation was
delivered by Mr. Hans Wronka, who,
along with the help of his family and a
dedicated group of Italian aviation
enthusiasts and archaeologists, located and
excavated the site where his grandfather Lt
Loren Hintz was shot down and gave his
life in WWII Italy. Thank you Hans for a
fantastic and moving program!

NEW CHAPTER WEBSITE

Thanks to the Larry Sagstetter for
developing and the AFA State leadership
for funding, the Bong Chapter has a new
website at BONGAFA.ORG. Check it
out for the latest happenings.

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CIVIL AIR PATROL
UPDATES

DULUTH CAP CADETS RECEIVE AIRCRAFT ORIENTATION Thief River Falls, MN while the sortie
On a cold Sunday afternoon, March 25, 2018, Cadets management will be handled by Major
Bridgett A. St John, Ian Blanchette and Reece A. Marcus E. Sowl from Duluth.
Heinbach form the Duluth Composite Squadron were
given one of five authorized airplane orientation flights in CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL
the MN Wing Cessna 182 aircraft by unit pilots Lt Col PRESENTATION
Keith M. Bischoff and Major Charles P. Schumacher. The
flight consisted of observing the aircraft pre-flight The Minnesota Wing CAP will host the
inspection, taxing and taking off the aircraft and other presentation of the Congressional Gold
control actions followed by a landing at the Duluth Medal to the Two Harbors resident
International Airport. With improvement in weather daughter Susan Tess for the WWII CAP
conditions more cadets will be able to receive their member participant Margaret Older Tess
flights. posthumously at the West Duluth
American Legion Post 71, 5814 Grand Ave
UNIT BUILDING FUND RAISING PROGRAM at 2:00 PM, on Saturday April 21st 2018.
The Duluth Composite Squadron CAP continues to plan The President singed the bill creating this
other fund raising events to cover the significant award in June 2014 honoring WWII CAP
operational costs associated with operations in the old St members serving including the 65 CAP
Louis County 911 operational facility. On Monday, members losing their lives. There were
March 26th, three seniors and three cadets went to seven WWII CAP members in MN that
Hibbing, MN to participate in the biennial fund raising personally received this award. Others
program at the Pizza Ranch earning about $370.00 will be so honored in the future.
towards the effort. On Saturday May 5th, the Unit is Members of the MN Wing, state and local
sponsoring a special fund raising dinner at the West dignitaries are invited to attend the
Duluth American Legion Post 71. Dinner and raffle ceremony managed by Col Kevin Sliwinski.
tickets are on sale by all unit members Several guns will The Duluth Cadet unit will provide the
be raffled off as well as a considerably supported silent Color Guard for the event. Cake and
auction items. h
m
DULUTH COMPOSITE SQUADRON PLANS LOW LEVEL e
n
ROUTE FLIGHT CHECK PROGRAM t
In conjunction with the 148 FW, MNANG, the Duluth CAP s
unit will conduct the USAF Low Level Route Flight Check
Program during April and May. At least eight, six hour 2
sorties will be planned to insure the accuracy of the 148
FW maps used for the LL flights. These sorties are
expected to take over 35 hours of flying time with a
three man crew searching the routes and logging any
changes noted. The Incident Commander for this MN
Wing supported program is Lt Col David N. Odette from

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LT COL KEITH M. BISCHOFF

SERVICE TO THE SQUADRON AWARD

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

1Lt Ruth A. Bird, Duluth CAP Unit, researched, planned and assisted in the creation of the Lt Col Keith
M. Bischoff Service to the Squadron Award cadet Scholarship Program with its first annual
presentation program conducted at the Unit Headquarters, Thursday March 29th. The Lt. Col. Keith
Bischoff “Service to the Squadron” Award has been established to recognize cadets who model Lt.
Col. Keith Bischoff’s dedication to the squadron through service to the squadron outside of normal
weekly meetings.

The two cadets receiving the $100.00 2018 awards were Cadet SSgt Mikal D. Grotte and Cadet CMSgt
Bjorn H. Smith. The recipients were the top cadets that demonstrated extra personal initiative in
supporting the unit and their own professional development.

AFROTC DET 420 UPDATES

On 14 Apr, two outstanding cadets were recognized with AFA awards at the annual awards ceremony
at Northland Country Club. Cadet Lauren Johnson was awarded the Bong Chapter Award. Cadet
Johnson of Burnsville, MN is a junior majoring in Computer Science and will be competing to attend
pilot training. Cadet Markus Krings won the AFA Martin H. Harris Outstanding Cadet of the Year
Award. Cadet Krings of Byron, MN is a junior majoring in Mathematics and will be an Air Battle
Manager upon graduation.

Commissioning Three new Lieutenants will be commissioned on 5 May @ 1500 at the
Bong Heritage Center. All welcome to attend.

Lt Kelsee Stevens Lt Wyatt LaFriniere Lt Tyler Morris
Civil Engineer Pilot Trainee Pilot Trainee
Hickam AFB, HI Laughlin AFB, TX Vance AFB, OK

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Chapter Council Meeting Tues 15 May/1700 @ Amorde Terminal of Superior Airport
Quarterly Program Tues 15 May/1800 @ Amorde Terminal of Superior Airport

CHAPTER COUNCIL CONTACTS

Chapter Contact List: [email protected]
President: Bryan Graddy [email protected]
Vice President: Tim Nesley [email protected]
Secretary: Jessie Graddy [email protected]
Treasurer: Ben Shafer [email protected]
Vice President of Veteran’s Affairs: Keith Bischoff [email protected]

GOT AN IDEA FOR A QUARTERLY PROGRAM OR A GUEST SPEAKER? DROP ME A LINE
AT [email protected]

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