The words below were written by a CAP mission pilot from NV while viewing a beautiful sunset over Mt Potosi.  This was the first sunset after the crash. The member wrote these words viewing the sunset and grieving the loss of two of CAP's most respected leaders.     Just some thoughts as we reflect on life, sunsets, sunrises and the legacy we leave behind.  With every sunset, there is a sunrise... As we say goodbye to our leaders whom have led us well. Let us be reminded that they would want us to carry their memories on in the skies as we were born to do. Hear them say, "Be kind, be strong, let not a day go by that you don't positively touch the life of another. Continue to serve, to give, and let not the sun set on you, without doing it well. Grieve only because it couldn't be for just a little while longer. That one more life wouldn't be saved before this time. Look across the valley, skies and mountains and feel God's presence. Know that He holds you in His arms and hears your cries; The skies are where my heart longs, and the sunrises and sunsets are where my spirit soars. Now I have wings as Eagles...”

  A friend has passed on and will be very much messed as he was a very good friend.  He has done so much for Civil Air Patrol, NASA, and the US AIR FORCE. He was a professional in all that he accomplished for Civil Air Patrol.  He was a friend to all.  Prayers for Col Ed Lewis and for Col DeCamp have been requested at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.

 

     We will never realize all that these outstanding members have provided to Civil Air Patrol and will surly miss their advice to all of our members.

 

     Our prayers for Col DeCamp and for Col Ed Lewis and to their families and to the family of Civil Air Patrol for the loss of these outstanding members.

 

                                                                                                                                     Lt Col THOMAS P. DOMBECK CAP

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For November 30, 2007

 

To Friends of Ed Lewis at NASA Dryden:

 

As you remember Ed Lewis and mourn this tragedy, know that Ed’s generous dedication to the Civil Air Patrol mission was recognized nationally.

 

A great booster of CAP’s value to the flying public and the nation, he was the
first modern-day CAP pilot profiled in CAP’s new commemorative history book,
“Missions for America… For 65 Years.”

 

It was released, ironically, the morning after we lost him.

 

We proudly dubbed Ed, pictured in a T-38, “NASA Pilot, Active CAP Member.”

His last mission was again to put CAP in front of the American public for a rare share
of recognition and perhaps a few more “Flying Minutemen.”

 

He was a stand-out among many highly qualified pilots -- from the military, airline or
General Aviation worlds -- who also flew “low and slow” for good purpose with CAP.

 

Ed flew high and far for NASA, down-and-dirty for our people in Viet Nam, and
“feet wet” safeguarding air and sea commerce between the West Coast and Hawaii.

 

He was a hero and example to us all, long before he gave his life working for a cause he believed in – air search and rescue -- and doing what he did best: flying for his country.

 

Drew Steketee

Founder and Executive Director

CAP Historical Foundation

www.caphistory.org

Ashburn, Virginia   

 

November 28, 2007

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ALL.
It has been requested that CAP members wear the CAP Blazer combination or a civilian business suit.
Thank you.
Larry Myrick

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This note is from NASA on the dress for the service.

Attire for the event is "whatever is comfortable," according to NASA PR.
> I was told that CAP attendees may wear a uniform if you would like, or
> business casual. The employees dress in business casual, including
> jeans, on a daily basis and some of them will be dressed that way for
> the service.

Most of us from CAP will be wearing the Blazer combination.

Larry Myrick

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Memorial observance for Ed Lewis at NASA Dryden on Friday, Nov. 30
>
> A memorial observance in Southern California for NASA research pilot
> and long-time Civil Air Patrol Pacific Region official Edwin W. Lewis
> Jr. is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 30, at NASA's Dryden Flight Research
> Center on Edwards Air Force Base. The observance will begin at 1 p.m.
> in Hangar
> 4802 and is expected to last about one hour.
>
> Lewis and Civil Air Patrol Nevada Wing commander Dion E. DeCamp died
> in the crash of a CAP Cessna 182 near Las Vegas Nov. 8.
>
> Friends and associates of Lewis wishing to attend the observance
> should reply by e-mail to <PAO@dfrc.nasa.gov> or advise Beth Hagenauer
> of NASA Dryden public affairs at 661-276-7960 or 661-276-3449 by Tuesday, Nov.
> 27, if possible. Please provide full name, place of birth, date of
> birth, driver's license number and state from which it was issued, and
> the last four digits of the social security number for each attendee
> to meet security requirements for on-base access.
>
> Directions To NASA Dryden:
>
> Those planning to attend the Ed Lewis memorial at NASA Dryden should
> take state highway 14 to Rosamond, turn off at the Rosamond Blvd.
> exit, turn east and follow signs to Edwards AFB. The Air Force west
> gate security guard station is about eight miles inside the west
> boundary of the base. A NASA Dryden representative will be at the west
> gate security station between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to authorize attendees to proceed.
> Visitors should advise the west gate security guard and the Dryden
> representative of their intention to attend the Ed Lewis memorial
> observance. Drivers should have two forms of photo identification
> including a valid driver’s license with photo, proof of auto insurance
> and a current vehicle registration available for possible inspection.
>
> Continue on Rosamond Blvd. about 10 more miles past the main base area
> to Lilly Avenue, where a large masonry sign identifies NASA Dryden
> Flight Research Center. Turn right on Lilly, proceed 3/4-mile, turn
> right followed by a quick left (before reaching the Dryden security
> gate). Parking will be available in the main parking lot adjoining the
> display aircraft near Bldg. 4839.
>
> Please allow sufficient time for any potential traffic delays.
>
> NASA Dryden Flight Operations will endeavor to provide ground
> transportation to the observance at NASA Dryden to those flying into
> William J. Fox airfield (KWJF) in Lancaster, providing they are
> advised in advance through the Public Affairs contact above.
> Transportation will depart from the Fox terminal building at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 30.

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Memorial observance for Ed Lewis at NASA Dryden on Friday, Nov. 30

A memorial observance in Southern California for NASA research pilot and long-time Civil Air Patrol Pacific Region official Edwin W. Lewis Jr. is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 30, at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base. The observance will begin at 1 p.m. in Hangar
4802 and is expected to last about one hour.

Lewis and Civil Air Patrol Nevada Wing commander Dion E. DeCamp died in the crash of a CAP Cessna 182 near Las Vegas Nov. 8.

Friends and associates of Lewis wishing to attend the observance should reply by e-mail to <PAO@dfrc.nasa.gov> or advise Beth Hagenauer of NASA Dryden public affairs at 661-276-7960 or 661-276-3449 by Tuesday, Nov.
27, if possible. Please provide full name, place of birth, date of birth, driver's license number and state from which it was issued, and the last four digits of the social security number for each attendee to meet security requirements for on-base access.

Directions To NASA Dryden:

Those planning to attend the Ed Lewis memorial at NASA Dryden should take state highway 14 to Rosamond, turn off at the Rosamond Blvd. exit, turn east and follow signs to Edwards AFB. The Air Force west gate security guard station is about eight miles inside the west boundary of the base. A NASA Dryden representative will be at the west gate security station between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to authorize attendees to proceed.
Visitors should advise the west gate security guard and the Dryden representative of their intention to attend the Ed Lewis memorial observance. Drivers should have two forms of photo identification including a valid driver’s license with photo, proof of auto insurance and a current vehicle registration available for possible inspection.

Continue on Rosamond Blvd. about 10 more miles past the main base area to Lilly Avenue, where a large masonry sign identifies NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. Turn right on Lilly, proceed 3/4-mile, turn right followed by a quick left (before reaching the Dryden security gate). Parking will be available in the main parking lot adjoining the display aircraft near Bldg. 4839.

Please allow sufficient time for any potential traffic delays.

NASA Dryden Flight Operations will endeavor to provide ground transportation to the observance at NASA Dryden to those flying into William J. Fox airfield (KWJF) in Lancaster, providing they are advised in advance through the Public Affairs contact above. Transportation will depart from the Fox terminal building at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 30.

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To all:

I attended the memorial service for Col Ed Lewis today in Castro Valley, expressing the condolences of California Wing to the Lewis family. CAP, NASA, USAF, and ANG were well represented along with many family friends. We laughed, we cried, we remembered a wonderful member of our CAP family.

Last week we dedicated the Wing Conference in Col Lewis&#39;s memory. I also dedicated my tenure as Wing Commander in memory of him. Col Lewis was always a calm voice in a storm, a solid leader, strong friend and, for me, a supportive mentor. I, like many CAP members will miss him terribly.

Blue skies and tailwinds my friend. Soar free with the eagles. Reach out your hand and touch the face of God.

Ken

Col KW Parris
CAWG/CC

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t is with great sadness that I must inform you that Civil Air Patrol has lost two of its valuable members in an aircraft accident last evening, Col Ed Lewis, PACR and Col Dion DeCamp, NVWG Commander. They were on a flight from Nellis AFB, Nevada to Rosamond California and crashed at approximately 1915 hrs PST near Mt Potosi, Nevada.

Please put both of them and their families in your thoughts and prayers. More info will follow when it becomes available.

Larry Myrick

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Two nationally recognized, highly regarded members of the Civil Air Patrol – Col. Edwin W. Lewis Jr., Director of Operations for CAP’s Pacific Region and former National Vice Commander, and Col. Dion E. DeCamp, Commander of CAP’s Nevada Wing – died Thursday evening, November 8th when their CAP plane crashed south of Las Vegas. Catholic services will be held for Col Edwin Lewis on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 10:00 AM at the Transfiguration Catholic Church, 4000 East Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley, CA.

Additional memorial services for Col Lewis will be held in Palmdale, CA on Dec. 1, 2007.

No services have been scheduled yet for Col DeCamp.

Further details will be posted when available. Both families have requested that in lieu of flowers donations should be made to either the Edwin W. Lewis, Jr Memorial Scholarship Fund or the Col. Dion E. DeCamp Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Civil Air Patrol Pacific Region Headquarters, P. O. Box 4718, Hayward, CA 94540-4718. A page is established a page on the national web site http://www.cap.gov/visitors/donations/ where members can donate to each of these scholarship funds online. Further details will be posted when available.

Very respectfully
Don Rowland

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CAP leaders die in plane crash

Pacific Region director of operations, Nev. Wing commander were en route to Rosamond, Calif.

November 09, 2007

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS -- Two nationally recognized, highly regarded members of the Civil Air Patrol – Col. Edwin W. Lewis Jr., director of operations for CAP’s Pacific Region, and Col. Dion E. DeCamp, commander of CAP’s Nevada Wing – died Thursday evening when their CAP plane crashed south of Las Vegas.

 

Lewis had traveled to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas to drop off a CAP airplane to be used as an air show display.  He and DeCamp where apparently en route to Rosamond, CA.,  Lewis’ hometown, when the crash occurred.

 

Col. DeCamp	Col. Lewis

Lewis and DeCamp had enjoyed long and distinguished careers, both in the U.S. Air Force and CAP. Most recently, both men were actively involved in the search for legendary American aviator Steve Fossett.

Lewis, 71, had served in the Civil Air Patrol for more than 50 years. He was a former national vice commander, elected in August 1993. He served in that capacity for one year. Before that, he served as Pacific Region commander for four years. He also was California Wing commander from 1978 to 1982.

Lewis was both a CAP and USAF command pilot with more than 28,000 flight hours.

 

He retired from Pan Am as a commercial airline pilot in 1989 to become a research pilot with NASA. Since 1997, he worked at Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, where he instructed in four aircraft – C-12, C-20A, DC-8 and T-34C – supporting NASA-Dryden flight test programs. He also was the center’s aviation safety officer.

 

Lewis’ military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and others. His CAP awards include Distinguished Service Medals, Exceptional and Meritorious Service Awards, Gill Robb Wilson Award, the Search and Rescue ribbon, and others.

 

Lewis was a region advisor for the Fossett search.

He is survived by his wife, the former Midge Chrestenson, and two adult sons, Eric and Steven.

  

DeCamp, 73, of Reno, Nev., became commander of the Nevada Wing in 2003. Most recently, he led the wing’s initial search efforts for Fossett, who disappeared on Labor Day during a solo flight in Nevada. The search for Fossett, who has yet to be found, was the largest in the Civil Air Patrol’s modern-day history.

 

DeCamp's wife, CAP Lt. Col. E.J. Smith, also served as search incident commander during the Fossett mission. He is survived by adult son, Michael, and two daughters, Kristin and Gayle.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ed Lewis flew NASA's YO-3A silent aircraft. The YO-3A Quiet Aircraft Association will miss Ed. Ed was going to try to make it to our reunion in Ft. Worth. He sent us a check for 200 bucks to buy us all drinks. We are all in shock.

The Quiet Aircraft Association would like to do something to honor Ed.

Kurt Olney

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