Colonel George B. Bochenek, was a veteran of world War Ir. Serving as a pilot in the Army Air Force, he completed one hundred twelve missions in the European Theater. He joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1965, and was initially appointed in the grade of chief Warrant Officer. Originally, a member of Linden Composite Squadron, Bochenek held various positions at squadron and group level, eventually rising to the rank of Major. Under Colonel Nanette Spears, Major Bochenek was brought up to wing Staff and nerved as Chief Check Pilot. He later served under Colonel Walter Markoy and Colonel Frederick Sell as wing Director of Operations, and was appointed to the rank of Lt. Colonel.
One of Lt. Colonel Bochenek's accomplishments while serving as Wing Director of operations was the creation of a flight formation team known as "The Dragonflies." The Dragonflies was a brainchild of his and operated under his direction. Using the Wing's Five Cessna 150's, the Dragonflies flew formations at air shows parades, and other military and public functions. The team perforated no acrobatics, but was intended strictly to provide an attention getting form of publicity towards the Civil Air Patrol's aviation aspects. The sight of the five Cessnas in carefully aligned formation was an impressive sight and gained favorable reactions wherever they flew. Their professional appearance and strict adherence to safety codes was a credit to both Bochenek and Colonel Frederick Bell.
Under the command of Colonel Ri Nakamura., Lt. Colonel Bochenek was asked to leave his post as wing Director of Operations, and assume command of Group 223. Any improvements to Group operations and the squadrons within his command occurred under his leadership. One notable contribution to the cadet program was the establishment of annual "Group 223 Cadet Bowls." These one day events pitted the cadets it the squadron. of Group 223 against each other in an aerospace panel quiz, in ranks inspection, and a standard and innovative drill competition. Some of the cadets who participated in theme cadet bowls later grew into motivated and talented senior members who helped guide the New Jersey Wing Dragon Drill team to national championships in later years.
Colonel Bochenek was once recognized for his valor. Police on the way to the scene of a light plane that had crashed into a city street near Linden Airport, recognized Colonel Bochenek on the street as he walked to work, and asked him to accompany them, He quickly hopped into the police cruiser and they sped off, They arrived at the site to find the crashed airplane on top of three cars Aviation fuel was pouring from the fuel tanks through several large gashes torn in the wings, and was pooling in the wreckage and the cars beneath. He immediately recognized the danger to police and fire officials on the scene. Without hesitation, and without regard for his own safety, Colonel Bochenek climbed into the aircraft wreckage and shut down the master and ignition switches, thus removing the danger of a shorted electrical system sparking and igniting the spilled fuel and wreckage into a deadly conflagration. For his heroic action, Colonel Bochenek was awarded the Bronze Medal of Valor, by Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters.
Colonel Bochenek was appointed as commander of the New Jersey Wing on 1 February, 1980, Soon after, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Among the early challenges he faced was when the Air National Guard operations at McGuire Air Force Base were expanded, and the building that Civil Air Patrol had been using as a wing headquarters was needed for guard activities. Working with base officials, half of the old transportation headquarters, building 34-34, was secured for CAP's USE. The building however turned out to be nothing more than an empty shell, floors laid down, materials were acquired, and a work force was assembled. Working weekends, sometimes day after day during the week, walls were built to form offices, doors were hung, floors were laid down, ceilings were hung, electrical lines were strung and lights were installed. After coat aftar coat of paint was brushed on New Jersey Wing had the nicest wing headquarters it had ever known.
With the paint barely dried on the walls of the headquarters building, Colonel Bochenek was faced with the next crisis. Because of building closures at Lakehust Naval Air station and Ft. Dix; and major renovations of structures on McGuire AFB, there was no room to support the cadet summer encampment. Colonel Bochenek was determined to keep the encampment in New Jersey, and not have to transport cadets to facilities in other states as had been done some years in the 60's and early 70's.
Drawing on the experience and ideas of key personnel around the Wing, Colonel Bochenek formulated plans to pioneer the bivouac style encampment. Never conducted before in any other wing, a system was created to house, feed, and train nearly two hundred cadets and staff for a week; all outdoors. Although it was a logistical nightmare; through Colonel Bochenek's leadership; the needed tents, cots, mess kits, field kuchen, ref refrigerated trailers, food, radios and other equipment was bought, borrowed, or donated. The project was a resounding success, and improved annually as lessons were learned from each year's mistakes and problems. Colonel Bochenek led by example.
When the new Aerospace Education Program for Senior members was introduced in 1983, the Colonel rapidly completed the course of study and passed the examination. He was the first New Jersey Wing recipient of what is now known as the Brigadier General Chuck Yeager Aerospace education Achievement Award. In fact, the Colonel was among the first in the nation to complete this program.
!t was also during Colonel Bochenek's command that New Jersey Wing attained a level of unprecedented proficiency in search and rescue By his carefully choosing the right people to fill key positions, the Wing attained a one hundred percent find ratio in 1986. This resulted in New Jersey Wing being awarded its second Unit Citation Award. In that same year, the beat of the best from New Jersey won the Northeast Region SAR Competition, and later were crowned national champions after their impressive performance at Whiteman AFB in Missouri.
Colonel Bochenek completed his term as Wing Commander on 3 March 1987. he was transferred to Northeast Region Headquarters and was assigned to help develop and initiate training for the new counter narcotics missions being assigned to the Civil Air Patrol. After several years, he returned to the New Jersey Wing as a member of the Wing Commander's Advisory Council, With his health failing, colonel Bochenek recently officially retired from the Civil Air Patrol. He died in the early hours of 9 May 1998.
Colonel Bochenek held the rating of Command Pilot. His Civil Air Patrol Decorations and Awards included: