David Pankove of West Windsor, a member of the Twin Pine Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, received the Commander’s Commendation Award recently. The award honors CAP members who excel in the performance of their duty. He is a cadette second lieutenant.##M:[more]##
On June 11, 2005, Pankove, along with fellow members David Fox and Jay Henderek, were en route to a search and rescue evaluation conducted by the U.S. Air Force, when they encountered an accident involving a minivan and a Verizon truck. While Pankove monitored the Hammonton Police Department, Fire, and EMS frequencies, he heard a request that a landing zone be cleared for an emergency evacuation helicopter. In a matter of minutes, members of the CAP rescue crew cleared a space for the landing.
Civil Air Patrol, founded in 1941, is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Cadets, ages 12 to 18, and seniors, over 18, learn about aerospace education, participate in programs that allow them to gain hands-on training, and train for group and air search and rescue operation. Visit www.cap.gov. for more information.
“I have done many search and rescue functions with the New Jersey Wing,”says Pankove, “but this was one event that stood out among the rest.”
