Lt. Col. J. Robert Dowd, Civil Air Patrol wing commander in Mississippi, was met by Col. L.C. Mallory, Columbus Army Air Field commanding officer, and a group of local CAP members when he landed at the Columbus Base to visit the city and address the Kiwanis Club at the Hotel Gilmer. (Left to right) Ida Billups (Ward), first female to make a solo flight with the Columbus Unit of CAP; Col. Mallory; Lt. Col. Dowd; Lt. Ralph Webb, CAP squadron commander in the district, and Sgts. Jack Parker and Billy Furr of the Columbus CAP squadron. (Photo courtesy of Civil Air Patrol)