Maj. James Hocutt, a member of the Alabama Wing's Birmingham Composite Squadron, has received the 50-Year Award for being a member of Civil Air Patrol for five decades.
He was honored at a meeting at the squadron and was presented the award by Col. Mike Oakman, Alabama Wing Commander. His wife and fellow CAP member, Peggy, joined him at the award ceremony.
Born in 1932 in Birmingham, Hocutt grew up about three blocks from the Central Park Airport, where he had a “love at first sight” experience with airplanes. His first plane ride was in a Ford Tri-Motor at the airport.
When the United States entered World War II, his father, Bill Hocutt, was a volunteer Civil Defense air raid warden in the area where the family lived. CAP planes flew overhead during air raid drills, dropping small bags filled with flour to simulate bombs. As part of the drills, Hocutt's dad and other air raid wardens would assess the simulated destruction and write a report.
Jim rode his bicycle and delivered the reports to the local fire station, where the sector wardens were stationed. By the time the war ended in 1945, he could identify every airplane the United States, Germany, Japan, Italy and Russia flew.
Building and flying model airplanes was his hobby when Jim was growing up, and becoming a private pilot was one of his main goals. In realizing that dream he has flown several types of airplanes and has owned an Aeronca Champ, a Piper PA-12 and a home-built Fly-Baby. His favorite plane is a Piper PA-18 Super-Cub.
He has served as maintenance officer, safety officer, check pilot, cadet orientation pilot, mission pilot, mission check pilot and CN contact. He now serves as aerospace education officer.
After Hurricane Katrina, he went with a group to Camp Shelby, Miss., to help with the relief effort. |
