Albert Henry Near

Albert Henry Near (February 19, 1897 – May 27, 1951) was the first Commander of the Kentucky Wing Civil Air Patrol, which was headquartered at Bowman Field in Louisville, Kentucky.[1][2]

Near was born in Petoskey, Emmet County, Michigan. He was appointed as the Kentucky Wing Commander (KYWG CC) from December 1, 1941 and served until March 22, 1942.[3] The Kentucky Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was originally assigned to Region 5 which included Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia[4][5] The CAP National Headquarters had Kentucky designated as Wing #53 in accordance with a newly established numbering system for all CAP units.[6] At the time of his appointment, Colonel Near was superintendent of Bowman Field [7] and chairman of the Kentucky Aeronautics Commission,[8] having been originally appointed by Kentucky Governor Keen Johnson in 1941.[9] When the United States became involved with World War II, Albert Neal was a Major with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and assigned to England.[10] He had previously served in World War I as a maintenance sergeant and eventually attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the USAAF during World War II. His other achievements included membership on President Harry Truman’s Air Coordinating Committee; first chairman of the Kentucky Aeronautical Commission; president of the American Association of Airport Executives; vice-president of the National Aeronautic Association; and director of the Louisville Airport. Near died in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday, May 27, 1951, after suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage that occurred on Wednesday, May 23, 1951.[11]