Civil Air Patrol Helps Search for Missing Fisherman

Rapid City - Authorities called on Civil Air Patrol’s Cell Phone Forensics unit to pinpoint the last know location of a man who had been ice fishing near Mobridge.

The family of Clyde Dane Oswald, 70, had last seen him fishing on Lake Oahe near the Mobridge railroad crossing Thursday evening. When he did not return home, local search units turned out to look for Oswald and his 1997 Green Ford Explorer.  County officials contacted CAP Lt. Col. Myra Christensen in Pierre, who provided them procedures for requesting help from CAP’s Cell Phone Forensics team.

The team was able to direct local authorities to a small area from which Oswald’s 4G flip phone had last contacted the cellular network. The area was close to where Oswald had last been seen fishing.

‘Our thought and prayers are with Mr. Oswald’s family in this difficult time,” said Col. Michael Marek, CAP’s South Dakota commander, “and we hope that they will soon have closure.”

Marek noted that activation of Civil Air Patrol for missing person’s searches and other local, state, and tribal, and missions are requested by local authorities via the state Office of Emergency Management.

CAP is the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, with responsibilities that are part of the USAF’s support to civil authorities to save lives, relieve suffering, prevent property damage and provide humanitarian assistance.

With close to 400 members in South Dakota with units in Brookings, Custer, Miller/Faulkton, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Spearfish and Tea, the wing can deploy its six aircraft, ground teams and small search drones to assist in disaster response and other support to local, state, tribal and federal agencies.