A large crowd of aviation enthusiasts wait to tour the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress bomber of WWII

Both the young, and young at heart, wanted to sit in the cockpit of the Civil Air Patrol Cessna on display.

Civil Air Patrol Lends a Helping Hand at
WWII Aircraft Expo

White Plains, NY / September 7, 2009 – The small Civil Air Patrol Cessna may have been dwarfed by the shadows of the massive WWII era bombers that were part of the Callings Foundation War Bird Exhibit which ran Aug. 28 -31 at Westchester County Airport, but in no way did it diminish the contribution of the Civil Air Patrol during World War II, which sank two German U boats off the U.S. coast in 1941.

This modern representative of the Civil Air Patrol’s original fleet was on display, along with a B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bomber and P-51 Mustang fighter plane, all preserved by the Collings Foundation, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historical aircraft.

Area residents were able to climb up into the bellies of the bombers, in whose depths still sat the actual bombs, (but long diffused) oxygen tanks and the trappings of aerial combat from long-gone era. At the well-attended event, young boys aimed machine guns out aircraft windows at imaginary enemies. Aged veterans recalled their own experiences, perhaps as gunners in the impossibly small turrets. Parents recited brief history lessons to children still too young to grasp the enormity of it all. Aviation buffs eager to take to the skies, purchased short flights in the huge, lumbering “war birds”.

Inside the cockpit of the Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182, Dr. Jill Silverman, captain of the Westchester Hudson Composite Squadron 219, took turns with other squadron members explaining the controls and instrumentation of the aircraft. Silverman also answered questions about the Civil Air Patrol, a nationwide volunteer organization, which is an auxiliary to the United States Air Force. The Civil Air Patrol which handles 90% of all inland search and rescue missions, resulting in an average of 75 lives saved yearly. Other Civil Air Patrol responsibilities include transmitting satellite digital imagery, counter drug reconnaissance, and working with Homeland Security to provide emergency services and disaster relief following natural and manmade events, including 9/11 and Katrina.

The Westchester Hudson Composite Squadron is based at Westchester County Airport and currently consists of 64 senior members (adults over 18 years old) and 24 cadets, young adults 12 years of age and up, interested in aerospace education and possible careers in aviation.

Throughout the exhibit, Civil Air Patrol members also acted as representatives for the Westchester Aviation Association, distributing information and encouraging membership in this growing group of individuals, businesses, and corporations from around the country who serve as the voice of general aviation for the airport. The mission of the Westchester Aviation Association is to promote of the value and benefit of aviation at Westchester Airport, to the public, government officials, and the media. The Westchester Aviation Association also helps to foster cooperation and coordination with the local aviation community in addition to aiding in the development of secure, environmentally friendly operations at the airport.

For more information about Civil Air Patrol Westchester Hudson Composite Squadron 219, please contact Public Affairs Officer, 2nd Lt. Rocky Cipriano at 914-953-8200.

To learn more about Westchester Aviation Association, please contact its President, Jeffrey Lee at (914) 325-6813.

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