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caption, page 1:
'Downed Pilot'
Jackie Fleming from the Air Force plays a crashed glider pilot in a Civil Air Patrol evaluation May 18 at the Woodstock Airport. More photos on page 6. Linda Lemmon photo.
captions, page 6:
'Pilot' Jackie Fleming gives a thumbs up after the Civil Air Patrol members found her.
The CAP Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the family of Rudy Tomasik sits next to a photo of Tomasik during WWII.
CAP members display Tomasik's CAP jackets from the WWII era.
Tracking down the test beacon.
Members of the Connecticut Wing of the Civil Air Patrol with commander Col. James Ridley.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
WOODSTOCK — Honors descended onto the Woodstock Airport May 18.
The U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Connecticut wing was tested on its emergency readiness by the Air Force and Woodstock Airport was the site of the wing’s successful evaluation.
Col. James A. Ridley Sr., commanding officer of the Connecticut CAP wing, said the Air Force evaluates the operational readiness for emergency services every two years. The wing’s test May 18 was a “crashed” glider at the Woodstock Airport.
The “glider,” bright silver and orange pieces of material near the runway, had an emergency beacon sending a signal. A plane above located the beacon and circled, radioing to the Connecticut CAP wing members on the ground.
The wing members arrived at the Woodstock Airport by van and asked bystanders if they knew Jackie Fleming, the pilot.
The bystanders said “No, but you’re free to look around.” Wing members then found the “downed pilot” Fleming, of the Air Force, lying on the ground on the “glider” and called in assessments of the scene and of the pilot. Fleming then provided more training to the wing members who located her.
In addition, 1st Lt. Brian Waldron, the wing historian and deputy commander of cadets CT, said honors were delivered to the family of the airport’s long time former owner, the late Rudy Tomasik.
The wing brought the CAP Congressional Gold Medal for Tomasik’s daughter. Waldron said the medal is for Tomasik’s service in the CAP in Virginia during WWII before he joined the Army and went overseas. The CAP was instrumental in guarding the coastline during the war.
Woodstock Airport was started by an admiral in the 1930s and he sold it to Tomasik in 1954, knowing it was in good hands. When Tomasik died in 2013, the airport was willed to Joanne and Ed Baker. The Bakers sold the airport to Dorothy and Doug Durant Dec. 31, 2018.
The CAP wing was gifted Tomasik’s CAP memorabilia including the jackets he wore when he was a CAP member during WWII, plus certificates, photos, badges and much more.
Joanne Baker said “Rudy would have loved this” award.
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