Civil Air Patrol cadets land a new home at Torrance Airport.

It looks like the Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Squadron No. 107 in Torrance will be getting a home to roost in after having been forced from its aerie at the Torrance Airport in March.

City officials and the cadet squadron have signed a lease that will give the squadron a 2 1/2-acre parcel of airport land for the princely sum of $1 a year.

Under the terms of the 20-year lease, the volunteer-run organization has 2 1/2 years to build two new aircraft hangars, plus classroom and meeting facilities, at the site on the airport’s eastern end, said Roger Griffin, an 18-year member and former squadron commander.

The squadron hopes to pay for the facilities, totaling about 6,000 square feet and costing an estimated $100,000, through fund-raising drives and donations, Griffin said.

The organization had its headquarters in buildings and a hangar at the Torrance airport since 1979. But the squadron was forced to leave its 7,000-square-foot facilities when city officials decided to tear down the buildings on the site, which faces Crenshaw Boulevard, and replace them with a commercial development, Griffin said.

Since then, the cadet squadron has been sharing a 200-square-foot space with Senior Squadron No. 129, in a building near the Torrance Airport tower, Griffin said.

“It’s tough trying to hold a meeting with 60 people in a 200-square-foot space,” he said.

The Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer organization and a civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, Griffin said. Members of the cadet squadron, most of them 12 to 18 years old, learn emergency skills, leadership training and aerospace education from adult squadron leaders. Members of the senior squadron are adults who voluntarily assist aviation authorities in search-and-rescue missions.

Flying lessons are available to participants, most of whom are interested in aviation, said Griffin, who is a flight instructor. The emphasis on aviation is what makes the Torrance Airport location attractive, he said.

“We like it because we are aviation-oriented,” Griffin said. “Flying is part of our program and the proximity to the airport is important to us.”

While money is being raised and plans drawn up for the new structures, the cadet squadron will continue sharing space with the senior squadron, officials said.

Then, since turnabout is fair play, the senior squadron has proposed consolidating with the cadets and sharing the roomier new space.