A Reflection from the Mass Wing Commander on 9/11
Photo from the U.S. Digital Visual Information Distribution System by Airman 1st Class Matthew Almazan
From Massachusetts Wing Commander Carleton Jones:
During this past week there have been many remembrances as the nation observed the 25th anniversary of the terror attack of the United States, which took place on September 11, 2001. It was a terrible day with an almost unimaginable loss of life. Those of us who were in the Civil Air Patrol on that day know “bits and pieces” of how members of the Massachusetts Wing responded. As time wears on, that story becomes less and less known. An adult member, Maj. Dick Shafner, reminded me of that time and shared some lesser-known details along with a video that I am sharing with you.
Major Shafner reminded me how some MAWG aircrew members flew supplies to JFK airport in Queens, NY, that day and after in support of the would-be rescue effort, while other aircrew members stood ready to fly when and if called. All of this took place when absolutely few other flights were taking place in the United States at all. Major Shafner tells of how in his role, he dispatched pilots such as now Lt. Colonels Don Defosse and Greg Leonard with their crew members. Those two-person crews flew to and from JFK with supplies that were ready and waiting for them, as prepared by a team of U.S. Air Force load masters. The load masters would unload the trucks of medical supplies and imaging equipment from various warehouses that came into Hanscom Air Force Base. The load masters would pre-weight each load and stage the materials for each CAP airplane, taking into consideration the proper weight and balance, which made the process very efficient. The CAP aircrews and the load master team repeated this process until they were told there were no survivors. Others of us took as I recall several 8-hour shifts for days afterwards as radio operators in the largely underground FEMA Region I - Regional Response Coordination Center* in Maynard, MA. It was a time of grave significance, and MAWG was ready to help where, when, and as needed.
Major Shafner also sent along the following video "Massachusetts Civil Air Patrol Remembers 9/11" featuring then MAWG Commander Col. Bill Meskill. Even if you've seen it before, the video is worth watching again.
Please take good care and not only please remember what happened on Sept. 11 but also remember our motto -- Sempre Vigilans -- and why.
For More Information:
1st Lt. Kaci Leonard
kaci.leonard@mawg.cap.gov
