Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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Major General Deichelmann poses with the Cadets Wing Staff after being briefed on their activities. At the reception in their honor, Colonel and Mrs. James R. Lyons met the cadets and their dates. 9;;- g a 2 A.F.- 11.0.12 3. warm... F X, As Detachment e560 began its fifth year, a new commander came to replace Col. Welter, who transferred to a new posi- tion at the end of his tour of duty at Manhattan. The new Colonel was James R. Lyons, a Manhattan graduate of the class of '37, who had formerly been with the 20th Air Force on Okinawa. 5mm woe..- e, f L Along with the change in command, there was an overall I ' change in the physical structure of the cadet wing for drill purposes. Squadrons were increased in size to four flights thus reducing the total number of squadrons to six plus the band. This made for tighter centralization during the drill periods with just two squadrons per drill day. Concommitantly came the effect of a decrease in the number of high ranks. In this way the Wing was very much streamlined and etiicient in developing drill proficiency on the part of the cadets in the ranks. The emphasis on flight and squad drill formed the basis for the flight competition for the outstanding flight award. The judging took into consideration inspection percentages and a drill performance at the end of the term. The final elimination saw John F. McCoy's flight taking the award. During the full term the class held a formal tea and recep- tion for Col. Lyons in the Alumni Room. At that time each i

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BOB LA BLANC A.F.R.O.T.C. Edh'or 173

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rather Augustine Philip and Colonel James R. Lyons welcome Maior General Matthew . Deichelmann. eorge Murphy, Wing Commander, is awarded the Distin- ished Cadet Medal. senior cadet and his lady were formally introduced to the Colonel and by this gained an introductory experience to the social aspect of military life, an important part of every officer's background. V An unusual surprise was given to the wing in the visit to the college by the Commander of the AFROTC, Maior General Matthew K. Deichelmann. He visited the president of the college and was taken on a tour of the grounds. Prior to his departure, a briefing on the operations of the entire wing was given by a special board of cadets. The general was impressed and complimented the staft and cadet ofticers on the fine standards which were demonstrated as being held by them in the operation of the program. The religious aspect of the Corps' being an integral part of Manhattan was brought into focus as the Wing was rededi- cated to Mary at the Military Mass in de la Salle Chapel. The attendance was marked by the presence of the staff, the entire Wing, and friends and relatives in addition to visiting Air Force officers from nearby colleges. During the entire year the flight operations program was in full swing with an average of over 25 cadets being flown each week. In the future as we look back on these flights, the C-45's and other aircraft used will perhaps look antique and old-fashioned, but for many of us will be fondly recalled as the vehicle of that first flight. Cross-country flights were an added innovation in the program which served the double purpose of flight orientation and an introduction to airbase operations. Don Metz shows his flight how it's done. i, Terry Blackwell puts his men through their paces.