Ed lewis scholarship

This Flight Scholarship was created to honor the memory of Colonel Edwin W. Lewis, a 56 year member of Civil Air Patrol.  The award will be given to one or more deserving Civil Air Patrol cadets each year to introduce them to the wonders of flight which was Colonel Lewis’s passion. 

Colonel Ed Lewis entered the USAF through the ROTC program where he became a USAF pilot and flight instructor. During the Vietnam War he flew over 100 combat missions as a forward air controller. He was awarded both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam. After the war he was a Pan American Airlines pilot for more than 20 years while also being an instructor pilot for the Air National Guard’s 129th Air Rescue and Recovery Group. He retired in 1989 as a Colonel and Commander of that unit. Upon retirement from Pan American Airlines he became a research pilot for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration where he flew many airplanes including the F-18 Hornet. At age 71 he was still flying this Mach 2 supersonic airplane. Colonel Lewis joined the Civil Air Patrol as a Cadet in 1951 and remained a member until his death. Following his return from Vietnam he became the Commander of Civil Air Patrol’s San Francisco Group 20. He followed this as Commander of the California Wing and the Pacific Region. He was elected the National Vice Commander in 1993. He was the Director of Operations for Pacific Region when he passed away.  Colonel Lewis was a “pilot’s pilot” with vast knowledge of aviation from Cessna 0-1 Bird Dog’s to Boeing 747s. He was a friend and mentor to many in Civil Air Patrol.

 ADMINISTRATION

 This scholarship is awarded yearly, to one or more cadets in Pacific Region.  Applicants must be at least 15 years of age as of May 1, in order to apply.

Funds donated to the scholarship are deposited in a special account at the National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.  Donations are accepted year round.

Applications will be accepted between April 1 thru May 1 each year. Send all applications by completing the electronic application form linked below.  The selection committee will then have 2 months to choose the recipient.

The selection committee will review the applications and select the recipient or recipients.  Funds from this scholarship will be used only for initial aviation flight training and no other purpose.  The amount of the scholarship may vary every year depending on the interest earned and donations to the funds in the account. 

The application will consist of the form and a one page, double spaced letter to the selection committee stating the reasons for the Cadet’s desire to fly and what his/her goals are in aviation.