When a personal locator beacon began pinging somewhere in South Jersey, our local Civil Air Patrol teams sprang into action, demonstrating the critical role these volunteer search and rescue crews play in keeping our community safe.
The mission began with an urgent request from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center to the Civil Air Patrol, alerting them that a distress beacon was actively transmitting in the Cape May County area. For search and rescue teams, such signals indicate that immediate help may be needed.
The New Jersey Wing of the CAP quickly assembled two teams from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to begin the search. Working in tandem, one team focused on triangulating the distress signal while the other traced the beacon's location. Their coordinated efforts led them to Ocean View, just east of Woodbine Municipal Airport.
Once located, the beacon was determined to be an accidental activation — a common occurrence with personal locator beacons, according to CAP officials. With no danger present, the device was silenced and the mission concluded successfully.
"Our members demonstrated exactly what Civil Air Patrol is trained to do — respond quickly, work together and get results," said Jersey Wing Commander Col. Amy Myzie. "Their efforts ensured this signal was resolved efficiently and safely."
The Civil Air Patrol conducts the majority of inland search and rescue missions as directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. The importance of this work cannot be overstated — military officials reported that in mid-2025, AFRCC marked a significant milestone, surpassing 20,000 lives saved during its history of coordinating search and rescue operations.
While this particular activation turned out to be accidental, the swift response showcases the readiness and professionalism of our local Civil Air Patrol volunteers who stand ready to assist whenever the call comes in.
