Los Banos Rotary Club History
Tells Plans For Defense Unit

Col. John A. Macready, executive officers of the County Civilian Defense Unit, told members of the local Rotary Club Tuesday noon of the plans now being perfected for the Civilian Defense Council, on both a county and community basis.

Col. Macready explained the purpose is to formulate and keep active an organization that would be instantly available and able to perform in event of war or other critical emergency period. He pointed out that Castle Field and the City of Merced are potential targets in case of war, but said that on the west side our primary concern and obligation would probably be the prevention of sabotage and care of refuges from bay area war targets. He commended the Los Banos Defense Council as recently organized under supervision of Alex Cocke, and said that this is one of the best organized units now in the county.

Col. Macready, former commandant of Castle Field, who is now retired from active service, was one of the country's pioneer pilots, was the first regular test man to travel 200 miles an hour in an airplane and one of the first to try night flying. He told several stories of his experiences in the early days of flying when fragile planes and undependable engines made every flight a dangerous undertaking.

November 10, 1950

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