The BONG FLYER Feb 18

FEBRUARY 2018

THE BONG FLYER

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF CHAPTER 226 OF THE AIR FORCE
ASSOCIATION

EDUCATE ADVOCATE SUPPORT

DEC PROGRAM RECAP

THE LIFE & TIMES OF MAJOR

RICHARD BONG
A special thanks from the chapter to Mr.
John Gidley of the Bong Heritage Center.
For those of you who unfortunately
missed it, Mr. Gidley delivered a
fascinating briefing on the story of
America’s Ace of Aces and our namesake
Maj Dick “Ira” Bong.

NEXT PROGRAM TEACHER OF THE YEAR

FINDING LOREN, “THE LIFE, DEATH AND VOTING 13 MAR 18
DISCOVERY OF A P-47 FIGHTER PILOT
Our next Quarterly Program will be on Tues 13 Mar @ The chapter secretary has been in contact
1800L at the Amorde Terminal at the Bong Airport in with over 50 local teachers and principals
Superior, WI. A chapter meeting will precede the soliciting nominations for our 2018
meeting at 1700L. The presentation will be delivered by Teacher of the Year. Voting will take
Mr. Hans Wronka, who, along with the help of his place at the 1700 chapter meeting
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.

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CIVIL AIR PATROL
UPDATES

DULUTH CAP CADETS RECEIVE AIRCRAFT ORIENTATION To date $600.00 has been raised with
On a cold Sunday afternoon, February 11, 2018, Cadet continuing emphasis by the unit
Maxon M. Baron and Brock D. Smith, Duluth Composite continuing.
Squadron cadets, were given their first of five authorized
airplane orientation flights in the MN Wing Cessna 182 THE MINNESOTA WING CAP DULUTH UNIT
aircraft by unit pilot Major Charles P. Schumacher. The CONDUCTS TEMPORARY FLIGHT
flight consisted of observing the aircraft pre-flight RESTRICTED AREA AIRCRAFT INTERCEPT
inspection, taxing and taking off the aircraft and other TRAINING WITH THE 148TH MNANG
control actions followed by a landing at the Duluth FIGHTER WING
International Airport. With improvement in weather The 148 MNANG Fighter Wing was tasked
conditions more cadets will be able to receive their to provide airborne security support for the
flights. 2018 Super Bowl in Minneapolis, MN on
Sunday February 4th.
DULUTH COMPOSITE SQUADRON MEMBERS CONDUCT In preparation for this tasking, the MN Wing
WINTER SURVIVAL AND EMERGENCY SERVICES TRAINING Director of Emergency Services, Major
1Lt. Amity J. Heinbach, hosted and transported four Thomas M. Fitzhenry, coordinated the
Duluth unit cadets to the MN Wing CAP sponsored Tuesday, January 30th planned training
Bemidji Winter Survival Training January 26 – 28, 2018. flights with the 148MNANG FW staff and
The MN Wing training event Incident Commander was Lt the Duluth Composite Squadron personnel.
Col Chet A Wilberg. 1Lt Heinbach and Cadets Bria L. The planned activity was a major national
Helm, Bjorn H. Smith, Cody B. Helm and Reece A. and local media event with several 148th FW
Heinbach prepared overnight winter shelters with tarps F-16 aircraft North of the Duluth
and items from their 72 hour Search Pack for Friday night International Airport. Accompanying Major
in the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest, near Bemidji, Schumacher in the Cessna 182 were Lt Col
MN. On Saturday they conducted Ground Team Search Kevin J. Dunlevy and a 148 FW Public Affairs
training including searching and locating an Emergency NCO managing several Go Pro cameras to
Locator Transmitter (ELT). They returned to the home document the event. Following the local
unit on Sunday afternoon tired but with a real world intercept /control practice, the 148FW F-16
education in winter survival. aircraft were refueled by a USAF KC-135 and
proceeded to the Twin Cities Super Bowl
UNIT BUILDING FUND RAISING PROGRAM site for local orientation purposes.
The Duluth Composite Squadron CAP continues to plan
other fund raising events to cover the high operational
costs associated with operations in the old St Louis County
911 operational facility. During December the unit
forwarded request letters to many local businesses,
volunteer and community support organizations asking
for their assistance with four responding recently.

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AFROTC DET 420 UPDATES

FUTURE FLYERS SELECTED

On 15 Feb 18, the following local AFROTC cadets were selected for flight training after they
commission:

Jonah Bramstedt (UMD) – Pilot Training Dylan Haskins (UMD) – Pilot Training

Andrew Button (UWS) – Pilot Training Kody Owens (UMD) – Pilot Training

Brian Fink (UMD) – Pilot Training Nick Grahek (UMD) – Pilot Training

Jacob Murray (UMD) – Pilot Training Mark Krings (UMD) – Air Battle Manager

UPCOMING EVENTS

Chapter Council Meeting Wed 13 Mar/1700 @ Amorde Terminal of Superior Airport
Quarterly Program Wed 13 Mar/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]

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

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