Civil Air Patrol Visits Galena
from the Tundra Telegraph
by Sherri Kessner
April 22, 2010
Aviators from all over the state of Alaska flew in to Galena for its first-ever Civil Air Patrol fly-in.
The fly-in was held at the Galena Interior Learning Academy's Aviation Technology hangar, on the former Galena Air Base on Saturday April 17.
The members of Galena's CAP, including the 10 cadets, went all out to provide the community and guest pilots with an exceptional way to celebrate the partnership between the Civil Air Patrol and the Galena City School District. Aviation students can now be involved with the United States Civil Air Patrol Yukon Composite Squadron.
"The Yukon Squadron's CAP fly-In was most successful. Many residents and pilots from around the state enjoyed BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs raising $1,100 for the Composite Squadron. The weather cooperated and everyone had a good time," said Joyce Frisbie, a teacher at the Galena Interior Learning Academy. Frisbie also played a large part in organizing the fly-in.
The hangar at the Edward G. Pitka Sr. airport was filled with almost 100 people strolling around, touring the many planes or chatting with the visiting pilots. Enthusiastic aviators came from around the state in a variety of different aircraft. Included among these planes was an impressive 1967 DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver from Eielson Air Force base. Guests and cadets alike were very excited as they watched the aircraft taxi in front of the hangar. As Lt. Col. Rytting was explaining to me the make and model of the Beaver, I was very amazed at its durability.
Other planes that were present included the Frontier Flying Service 1900 Beachcraft, the Galena Fish and Wildlife Beachhawk, the Cessna 172SP used by the Yukon Composite Squadron, and the Cessna 150 used for training Aviation Technology students. There were also many other privately owned planes.
The opening ceremony began with Yukon Squadron Commander Scott Betterton formally giving a greeting to Lt. Col. Charlie Palmer, the pilots who flew in, and the Galena residents who attended the event.
Cadet Victoria Betterton and Cadet Michael Ford received recognition as Galena's first two CAP cadets in the flight training portion of the aviation program. Cadet Betterton performed the national anthem elegantly on clarinet; followed by Cadets Michael Ford, Tisha Van Diest, and Kaylin Kopp singing the last verse a Capella.
Lt. Col. Frisbie praised the efforts of Galena assistant principal Jon Buchanan and GCSD employee, Scott Betterton, for successfully finding a downed plane on the Seward Peninsula, outside of Elim, on June 11, 2009. Lt. Col. Palmer assisted in presenting Buchanan and Betterton a "Find" Award, military medal, ribbon, and a ball cap with the "Find" date on it. Buchanan was not able to attend the ceremony because he was attending family business out of town.
They also featured a presentation by the National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb. Plumb was in Galena to recruit aviators to report the ice occurrences, such as flooding and ice jams. This is very helpful to the NWS because they are in charge of sending out flood warnings. The presentation was very helpful to the pilots whose flight patterns are above the Yukon River, for the river has caused much flooding in this area.
Galena is a Bush village of about 600 people, sitting at the edge of the Yukon River. Galena was home to an Air Force Base starting in World War II, when Galena was a stopping-off point for aid to Russia through the Lend Lease Program. The Air Force maintained the base until it was given to the community and the school district of Galena in 2008.
The Galena Schools have had an aviation program since 1998. The Galena CAP program started last year. Recruiting cadets began this winter under the leadership of Lt. Col. Noel Frisbie, the aviation flight teacher and also a Certified Flight Instructor.
Sherri Kessner is a junior from Bethel, Alaska and is a Native writer with much talent. She has been the editor of the Hawk Highlights, the newspaper for the Galena Interior Learning Academy. She hopes to attend college at the University of Missouri at Columbia.