Bowie Composite Squadron wins
Best of Show
in Bowie Memorial Day parade!

C/CMSgt "Jellyman" Welch pilots the CAP Mini-Jet.
C/2nd Lt Grace Holderbaum (the Bowie Cadet Commander) off the left wing.

Just one week prior to the 2006 Bowie Memorial Day Parade, the mini-jet was sporting its original fighter gray paint job while on display at the Andrews Air Force Base Joint Services Open House (pictured below).  Thanks to the hard work of Bowie's Commander, Maj Timothy Hahn, and Lt Col Jim Spore (Maryland Wing's Maintenance Officer), the little jet was sporting its new CAP colors in time for the parade the following Saturday.


Capt Charles Thompson aiding a future pilot into the jet
for a photo-op at Andrews AFB Open House.

Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Erich "Jellyman" Welch was rewarded the priviledge of "piloting" the little jet for his duties at a previous Memorial Day parade where he followed the Mounted SAR Team as the Chief Sanitation Officer (if you know what I mean). Cadet Welch also earned the Maryland Wing Cadet NCO of the Year in 2005, so piloting the jet was a well deserved honor. Cadet Welch desires to attend the Maryland Wing Cadet Solo School in two years, and eventually fly for the Air Force after achieving the Spaatz Award in CAP. So this was merely the beginning of his heroic moments behind aircraft flight controls.

The mini-jet was built by Marsha Daugherty's husband (a CAP member) a few years ago, and recently donated to the Bowie Composite Squadron. Bowie's Squadron will maintain the jet for other recruiting events throughout the Maryland Wing and the Middle East Region. They have already received a request from a nearby private school for a "fly-by" visit before the school year is out to educate the kids on aerospace issues and what we do in CAP.

More Parade Photos...
(Photos by Sandee Welch)

 
Left Photo: C/CMSgt Welch, C/Amn Maiuzzo, C/Amn Brennan, Maj Hahn (Squadron CC)
Right Photo: C/AB Nderitu, 2nd Lt Welch, Capt Thompson, C/MSgt Williams, C/CMsgt Welch, Maj Hahn, C/2nd Lt Williams, C/Amn Maiuzzo


 
Left Photo: Flag Bearers - C/MSgt Williams, C/Amn Maiuzzo, C/Amn Brennan
Right Photo: "Juice", "Jellyman" , "Kojack"

 
Left Photo: Rounding the bend onto Sussex Lane
Right Photo: C/AB Nderitu, Capt Allen (background - blue shirt), C/2nd Lt Holderbaum (Cadet CC, foreground)



Jellyman shaking hands with Mayor Robinson