Happy 70th Birthday Palwaukee

On December 01 2011, the Civil Air Patrol celebrates it's 70th anniversary. Likewise, the Palwaukee Squadron celebrates it's 70th birthday, having been an active part of the former Palwaukee Airport since our inception.

The oldest continuous squadron in Illinois Wing, Palwaukee has seen many changes over the years...including the name of the airport, now Chicago Executive Airport.


We have seen hundreds of cadets come through our ranks; we have flown countless missions in support of the federal, state and local governments; we have trained countless senior officers who have gone on to higher echelons of service; and we have consistently striven to be a reliable partner to the local communities, and that of our host airport.

What has not changed, however, is the same volunteer spirit that our founding members displayed. Today, 70 years later, Palwaukee Squadron's members still hold sacred the value of "service before self", and don't consider themselves just 'volunteers' to the USAF....but rather 'quiet professionals', who are ready to serve at a moment's notice.

(Flight Operations at Palwaukee ca. 1942)

Happy 70th Birthday Civil Air Patrol, and Palwaukee Squadron! On behalf of the command staff, I thank you all for your commitment to excellence, and hope that we continue another 70 years of dedicated service.

Semper Vigilans!

Major Jim Griggs
Commander