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41st Iowa Composite Squadron (IA-041)

The 41st Composite Squadron (Davenport Composite Squadron) is mentioned before the official start date by around a few months. On 26 OCT 1941 in the Quad City Times, there was mention of pilots signing up for the Civil Air Patrol. The quotation states, “fifty-four Davenport men will be asked shortly after Nov. 1, to sign up for the duration of the emergency as members of an official United States Civil Air Patrol.” They were all asked to sign up as a group; once they sign up, their fingerprints and personal histories will be taken for documentation. There are also the basic duties that include flying and direct cooperation with ground forces. They would also be trained like the military with more flights being supervised and more flight time.

The 41st Iowa Composite Squadron first starts in what is referred to as “The Cram Field.” Cram Field was Davenport Municipal Airport originally guarded by Iowa State Patrol before Col Dan F Hunter (chairman of the Iowa Aeronautic Commission) said that the “Civil Air Patrol would be organized to take over the guarding of airports to relieve overburdened local law enforcement agencies.” In the looks of the modern-day map, the site of Cram Field was near the Iowa National Guard Building in the middle of Davenport. The modern-day squadron now meets at the Mt. Joy Airport on the outskirts of Davenport making it accessible for the rest of the Iowa Quad Cities (Bettendorf, LeClaire, Eldridge, Davenport, Walcott, and Blue Grass).

One of the aspects of Civil Air Patrol is about the Cadets that are in the squadron themselves. One of the stories about the cadets is a Cadet Commander that decided to join the Civil Air Patrol. This cadet commander was Scott Untiedt where he discovered his love of aviation through what would be a tragedy. The story goes on to tell of the thrilling journey to Mount Joy on Christmas Eve with two intoxicated individuals excited for their new electronics (aircraft), they took off with zero-visibility causing them to get lost. There was a report for the Civil Air Patrol to perform a SAR (Search and Rescue) mission. One of the other things he remembers is about the nuclear bomb being dropped in the airport where many Civil Air Patrol people were. This experience was to provide an opportunity to learn how to decontaminate planes, vehicles, and people. Untiedt’s oldest sister was in Civil Air Patrol which could have constituted for the interest in the Civil Air Patrol, especially the statement he made saying “There are so many more girls in the Patrol.”

There were women in the Civil Air Patrol which Untiedt was mentioning (but he mentions that there were more women than men) which allows both men and women to join. That joining of the Civil Air Patrol happens in Davenport.

One of the articles talks about three girls who joined the Civil Air Patrol for various reasons and their enthusiasm they had for different things. Sue Haecker of Davenport, Dolly Gold of Davenport, and Barbara Roller of Bettendorf were mentioned in the article. Sue Haecker was introduced to the Civil Air Patrol at Armed Forces Day at the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois (does happen in the present day) where other girls were marching and guarding the demolition field. She says, “It looked like lots of fun.” Barbara just mentioned interesting planes, which would be perfect for the Civil Air Patrol. There is the ability to learn leadership skills and learn how to follow orders along with the amazing scholarship opportunities. The Civil Air Patrol was male dominated but included women from its inception. They were allowed to do activities that men were allowed to do such as bowling and visiting the Strategic Air Command Center in Omaha.

The 41st continues to hold up to the ideals of the past. Providing experiences for the future of the Civil Air Patrol by participating in the Quad City Air Show by navigating crowds and assisting aircraft back to the hanger along with providing drill and education to better the future of the membership and their communities.

Charter Date: 1942 Squadron: IA-041
    Other Squadrons: 1942: 725-1
1945: 725-3 (All Female Squadron)

Command Lineage

Date of Command Assumption Date of Command Relinquished Commander
1959 1960 1st Lt Richard Sage
1960 1961 1st Lt John Gumpert
1961 Maj Robert Klemme
1961 1962 Lt Col William Bell
1962 1963 Lt Col Donald Walborn
1963 1964 Maj Claude Smith
1964 1966 Lt Col Donald Accola
1966 1967 Capt Howard Gohn
1967 1971 Lt Col Donald Accola
1971 1973 Maj William Wohner
1973 1974 Lt Col Richard Dierickx
1974 1977 Lt Col Kenneth Neudeck
1977 1979 Capt Wayne Zemelka
1979 Capt Michael McCoy
1979 1986 Maj Robert Shuman
1986 1989 Capt Terry Nixon
1989 1990 Capt Harvey Hammon
1990 1992 Capt Robert Stineman
1993 1994 Capt Harvey Hammon
1994 1998 Capt Donald Hahn
1998 2001 Maj Gerald Lowry
2001 2007 Lt Col Michael McCoy
2007 2010 Capt Jon Sawyer
2010 2012 Capt Daniel Stone
2012 Capt Gregory Crawford
2012 2013 Capt Eric Davis
2013 2016 Lt Col John McDermott
2016 2018 Maj Robert Smith
2018 2022 Lt Col Donald Hahn
2022 15 MAR 2024 Capt John Stephens
15 MAR 2024 present Capt Travis Johnson
See Also: IA-041 Heraldry
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