WMVO Good Times Great Oldies
A Knox County native who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War will be remembered for generations to come as the Civil Air Patrol squadron based at the Knox County Regional Airport receives a new name in his honor.
The unit has officially been renamed the Capt. Peter Chapman II Composite Squadron, recognizing the Centerburg native and Air Force rescue pilot who lost his life during one of the most complex search-and-rescue missions of the Vietnam War.
Chapman graduated from Centerburg High School in 1958 and learned to fly as a teenager in Mount Vernon, the same community where the Civil Air Patrol squadron is based today. He later became an Air Force pilot and was killed, along with five fellow crew members, during what military historians have described as the largest, longest and most complex search-and-rescue operation of the Vietnam War.
Squadron officials say naming the unit after Chapman creates a meaningful connection between his legacy and the community where his aviation career first began.
“We felt it was important to remember and honor a Knox County son who gave his life so that others may live,” said 1st Lt. John Morgan, the squadron’s public affairs officer. “By naming the squadron in his honor, we hope to ensure his story of sacrifice is never forgotten.”
Chapman’s sister, Beth Chapman Murphy, said the recognition is deeply meaningful to the family.
“After all these years, it helps our heavy hearts to know that other people remember and care, especially our home county and hometown.”
The squadron will formally dedicate its new name during a ceremony on Saturday, June 27, at the Knox County Regional Airport as part of the ribbon-cutting celebration for the newly completed Becker Mining Systems Aviation Education Center, which will serve as the squadron’s new home. The event will also include an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with members of Chapman’s family expected to attend.
The Capt. Peter Chapman II Composite Squadron meets every Monday at 6 p.m. at the airport terminal building on Kinney Road. The Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program is open to youth ages 12 through 18 and focuses on leadership, aerospace education, physical fitness and character development. Adult volunteer opportunities are also available.
Founded in 1941, the Civil Air Patrol serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, supporting search-and-rescue missions, disaster relief, aerospace education and youth leadership programs across the nation.
