According to CAP, aircrews from more than two-thirds of the state’s squadrons took time out of their work weeks to capture, process and deliver imagery of critical infrastructure near Fargo, Jamestown and Minot.

Operation Yellow Apron, an aerial imagery exercise, overlapped operations across 12 states in two regions. A large number of CAP volunteers flew at least 26 flights in one region alone. North Dakota crews accomplished seven flights during Operation Chastise, two of which doubled for Operation Yellow Apron.

“It was bumpy up there,” said Capt. Jeremy Skalicky, Magic City Composite Squadron’s pilot from last Friday’s flight in the vicinity of Minot, in a news release. Less than optimal conditions made operations difficult as distant wildfire smoke continued to reduce visibility.

Missions out of Mandan and Dickinson were not able to be completed due to smoke blowing into the area last Wednesday and low ceilings in the southern half of the state last Friday, according to CAP.

Capt. Mollianne Flood and Maj. Stephen Mead, at left, assisted from Minot Air Force Base in helping Capt. David West upload photographs and in ensuring Capt. Jeremy Skalicky, far right, had the resources to plan the return mission. Civil Air Patrol photo by Maj. Jeffrey Slocum.

“Although the weather was uncooperative, the crews showed great flexibility and a strong desire to complete the mission,” said last Friday afternoon’s incident commander Col. Karl Altenburg.

More than 60 high-resolution photographs were provided, assessing all four sides of 15 critical-infrastructure facilities. These image-gathering flights enhanced training integrated with federal, state, tribal and local agencies.

A crew photographed a full North Dakota reservoir, northwest of Minot, during Operation Chastise, which evaluated current infrastructure conditions. Civil Air Patrol photo by Capt. David West.