History
A Brief History of the Pineland Composite Squadron
As long as the Civil Air Patrol has existed, it has had a presence in Ocean County. Even before the CAP, its predecessor organization, the New Jersey Civil Air Defense Service (CADS) had a team located at Osbornville Airport. The initial CAP Squadron, known as the Ocean County Squadron was also located at Osbornville Airport, off Drum Point Road in Bricktown, and was most likely a rollover of members from the CADS. A fire destroyed the hangar and airport buildings at Osbornville Airport in 1954. Although it was rebuilt, the land was soon after sold, to become a housing development and the airport eventually closed in 1959. The Civil Air Patrol was known to still be meeting there at least in 1956
It is unclear exactly when, but in need of a new home the Squadron found one at nearby Lakewood Airport. There they were renamed as Brick Township Squadron. The unit functioned actively in this capacity through to the mid 70’s.
In 1975, there was a division amongst the members. Part of the adult, or “Senior Members,” wished to focus their efforts on flight operations and missions, and no longer supported cadets. The other half, lead by Captain Donald Kaiser, fully supported the cadet program, and wanted to continue in that effort. The end result was the split of the Brick Squadron. The Flight Operations folks moved to the newly opened Robert J. Miller Airpark (now known as Ocean County Airport). The rest stayed at Lakewood, and became the Pineland Cadet Squadron.*
Pineland grew quickly and within a year was redesignated as a Composite Squadron. Outgrowing the small wood building at Lakewood Airport, the squadron met for a time at Brick Township High School. Two donated office trailers that were renovated by the members gave the Squadron the space it needed to return to the airport. At one point, the squadron swelled to a cadet membership of 75 cadets, and a separate flight of only Senior members met on a separate night, the unit being too large to all fit in the facilities at the same time. Under the national ratings system then in use, in 1977, Pineland was named the 6th best squadron in the Civil Air Patrol, nationwide!
Over the years, cadets from Pineland Composite Squadron have been selected many times as Honor Cadet at activities from Wing to National levels. Many have been chosen for the Falcon Flight Encampment, and various Region and National Cadet Special Activities. Several have been selected for the very prestigious International Air Cadet Exchange, and visited Germany, Norway, Belgium, England, Japan, and others.
Three Pineland cadets have completed the entire Cadet Program and have gone on to earn the coveted General Carl A. Spaatz Award. Several Pineland cadets have graduated from the various Military Academies, and the squadron has twice achieved the prestigious “Squadron of Merit” award (best squadron in the state) in 1999 and 2009.
Senior members from the unit have gone on to become members of Group and Wing staff. Pineland Squadron has produced several Group Commander’s, two NJ Wing Commanders, a Northeast Region Vice Commander, and even a member of National Headquarters staff.
*Documentation has not been located to prove the lineage of the above described units, however it appears that this might indeed be the case.