BRUNSWICK — Richard Bubier, 93, of Lewiston was one of the earliest members of Civil Air Patrol, founded days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. At only 15 or 16 he joined the Auburn based squadron under the command of Roland Maheu. In October of 1943 at age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He started his service in the Army Specialized Reserve Program  in June 1944. He turned 18 that fall and reported to active duty at Fort Devens in Massachusetts in early 1945. His first duty station was at Williams Field in Arizona guarding planes. He was discharged after the war ended, in November 1945. He would go on to graduate from University of Maine at Orono as a mechanical engineer and worked on both plane design and shipbuilding. 

The Civil Air Patrol held an open house at the Brunswick Naval Museum and Memorial Gardens Saturday. The event showcased their cadet programs, aerospace education and engineering and emergency services. Its leadership honored Bubier at the event, who donated his Civil Air Patrol to the organization. The Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and provides young people ages 12-21 with leadership opportunities, aerospace education, fitness education and character development. It also welcomes adults professional development with its aerial photography, media, ground team and mission support training. With several squadrons around the state, the nonprofit organization plans to start a new squadron at Brunswick Landing. (Darcie Moore / The Times Record)

Comments are not available on this story.