Offutt Composite Squadron, Squadron History

The General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron was originally chartered on 1 December 1956 as the Offutt Composite Squadron under the command of Louis A. Vance. General Curtis E. LeMay, former Commander Strategic Air Command and later Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, presented the first charter to the squadron. The squadron was rechartered before 1960 as the Offutt Cadet Squadron until 24 March 1987 when the unit was renamed the Offutt Composite Squadron. In an effort to provide a link to the past, the squadron was once again renamed to the General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron in 2003. The squadron is one of several units in the Nebraska Wing, which fall under the responsibility of the North Central Region in Civil Air Patrol.

Click here to see a list of the squadron's past Commanders

The squadron's awards include the Arthur C. Stortz Victory Award (Nebraska Wing Squadron of the Year) in 1958, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1986, 2000 and 2007; the Carl B. Lang Memorial Award (Runner up for Nebraska Wing Squadron of the Year) in 1959, 1966, 1995, and 2006. The squadron received four Unit Citations for the periods 1956-1966, 1973, 1975, and 1986. The unit also received Squadron of Merit Citations (top cadet squadron in the state) in 1990 and 2004.

The squadron's cadet drill teams have represented the unit well throughout the unit's history. The squadron's Female Cadet Drill Team received first place in the 1959 Region competition and first place for the Wing Cadet Drill Competition twice, first in 1974, and then in 1987. Squadron Members served as part of the consolidated Nebraska Wing Drill Team on several occasions, competing at region level, and at National Cadet Competitions in 1990 and 1991. The squadron put together an all Offutt Composite Squadron Cadet Drill Team in 1992, which won the wing, region, and placed 7th in the nation. The Squadron's Color Guard Team has won the wing competition in 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008. The 2004 Color Guard Team went on to win the region and place 5th in the Nation at the National Cadet Competition. Both the 2005 and 2008 Color Guard Teams also won the region competition and were National Runner-ups those years.

Members of the unit have excelled as individuals as well. Eight members of the squadron received the highest cadet award, the General Carl A. Spaatz award.

Click here to see a list of the squadron's Spaatz cadets

In 1967, it was outstanding for a cadet to obtain Cadet Lieutenant Colonel through a certificate of proficiency, but for Cadet Karla Wentzel it was exceptional. She was the second female cadet in Civil Air Patrol to obtain this rank. Over eighteen cadets have graduated from one of the Military Academies. Among the Squadron's former cadets, the most distinguished is Air Force Academy graduate General Michael E. Ryan, who served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from October 1997 - September 2001. Four senior members of the squadron earned the highest senior member award, the Gill Robb Wilson Award.

Click here to see a list of the squadron's Gill Robb Wilson seniors

Over the years the squadron has seen many homes. For several years, the squadron was located in the basement of the Base Gym, occupying what are now the weight and locker rooms. The squadron then moved to a building across from the Capehart Fire Station. The next location was the Capehart Daycare facility. At this point, the entire squadron consisted of a single file cabinet, with ten cadets and three senior members. The unit commander made arrangements for joint facilities with the Offutt Aero Club. This area provided a great benefit as cadets could perform drill and ceremonies in-doors during bad weather. The squadron was then moved to a dedicated facility, the former home of the RAF detachment in MOD B. This area provided adequate office space for senior and cadet staff administration functions as well as drill and ceremonies spaces in the hangar. Plans were announced for the destruction of MOD B and again the unit was forced to move. The squadron then obtained space in the basement of Building 49. The Squadron stayed in that building for over 20 years. Then in July 2006 the squadron moved into Building 404 where the squadron now meets. The building is across the runway from the Glenn L. Martin Company Bomber Plant where a total of 531 B-29 "Superfortresses" and 1,585 B-26 "Marauders" were built during World War II. These aircraft included the "Enola Gay" and "Bocks Car" the B-29's that dropped the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.