cap new member guide (2008)

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    T h e A u x i l i a r y m e n s H a n d b o o k M a r c h 2 0 0 8

    FOR NEW MEMBERS OF THE

    CIVIL AIR PATROL

    March 2008

    THEAUXILIARYMENS

    HANDBOOK

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    i

    M a r c h 2 0 0 8

    Students Name:_________________________________

    CAP ID:_________________________________

    Unit:_________________________________

    THEAUXILIARYMENS

    HANDBOOK

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    ii

    T h i s i s a S e l f - P a c e d a n d F o r m a l I n s t r u c t i o n a l T e x t

    This training publication will walk you through the many facets of the Civil Air Patrolpreparing you to become a functional auxiliarist in the United States Air Force Auxiliary.

    Compiled from Federal Government, USAF and CAP doctrinesand partially written by:

    Lieutenant Colonel Robert A. Sims

    Mitchell recipient, former Group Commander andSoutheast Region Director of Information Technology

    Contributions By:

    Lt Col Heather Muehleisen, Mitchell recipient and former Arizona Wing Deputy Group CommanderLt Col Michael Sperry, Eaker recipient and former Director of Cadet Programs New Jersey Wing

    Lt Col Michael Harding, former Florida Wing Group 7 Director of Operations

    Maj Michael Widmann, Pennsylvania Wing Director of Emergency Services

    Reviewed for quality and accuracy By:

    Col Joseph Martin, Spaatz recipient and former Southeast Region Vice CommanderLt Col William Lynch, Eaker recipient and former Arizona Wing Commander

    Lt Col Robert Miller, former Florida Wing Group 7 CommanderLt Col Steven Thomas, Wisconsin Wing Chaplain

    Maj Darrell Sexton, former Tennessee Wing Group 1 Commander

    Maj Thomas Elbrow, former Tennessee Wing Group 4 CommanderMaj Margarita Mesones-Mori, Director of Cadet Programs, Florida Wing

    Maj David Roberts, Oklahoma Wing Squadron Commander

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    T h e A u x i l i a r y m e n s H a n d b o o k M a r c h 2 0 0 8

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    THE OATH

    An oath is a custom, dating back to the Romans, of publicly committing yourself to do a task. It makes you and

    others know you are really serious about doing what the oath says you will do.

    THE CADET OATH

    I pledge that I will serve faithfully in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program, and that I will attend meetings regularly

    participate actively in unit activities, obey my officers, wear my uniform properly, and advance my education andtraining rapidly to prepare myself to be of service to my community, state, and nation.

    OATH OF APPLICATION (Senior Members)

    I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that:

    I do understand membership in the Civil Air Patrol is a privilege and not a right. I also understand thatmembership is on a year-to-year basis and is subject to annual renewal by the Civil Air Patrol. I further

    understand that failure to meet the membership eligibility criteria will result in automatic membership

    termination at any time.

    I understand only the Civil Air Patrol corporate officers are authorized to obligate funds, equipment, or services

    I understand the Civil Air Patrol will not be liable for loss or damage to my personal property when operated

    for or by the Civil Air Patrol.

    I voluntarily subscribe to the objectives and purposes of the Civil Air Patrol and agree to be guided by theConstitution and Bylaws of the Civil Air Patrol and comply with Civil Air Patrol rules and regulations as from

    time to time may be amended or promulgated.

    I agree to abide by the decisions of those in authority of the Civil Air Patrol.

    I certify that all the information on this application is presently correct. I understand I am obligated to notify the

    Civil Air Patrol if there are any changes to the background information on the front of this form (CAPF 12) and

    further understand that failure to report such changes may be grounds for membership termination.

    I understand that this Oath of Application is a part of this application for Senior Membership in the Civil Air

    Patrol and that my signature on the form constitutes evidence of that understanding.

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    T h e A u x i l i a r y m e n s H a n d b o o k M a r c h 2 0 0 8

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    THE CIVIL AIR PATROL

    Motto

    Semper VigilansL a t i n f o r , A lwa y s V i g i l a n t .I t r e f l e c t s t h e e v e r - r e a dy s t a t u s o f t h e C i v i l A i r P a t ro l .

    I t m ea n s e v e r y m em b er f rom c a de t s t o o f f i c e r s m u s t b e p rep a red

    to r e sp on d e f f e c t i v e l y t o a n y s i t u a t i on .

    Mission

    To se rve Amer i c a by pe r form ing Home land Secur i t y and

    human i t a r i an m i s s ions fo r our commun i t i e s , s t a t e s , and na t ion ;deve lop ing our count ry s youth ; and educa t ing our c i t i z ens on

    the impor t ance o f a i r and space power .

    Core Values

    I n t e g r i t y , Vo l u n t ee r S e r v i c e s , E x c e l l e n c e , a n d Re sp ec t

    Seal

    Th e C i v i l A i r P a t ro l i s s y m b o l i z ed b y t h e Am er i c a n B a l d E a g l e w i t h w i n g s e l e v a t ed

    a n d d i s p l a y ed i n f ron t o f a p u f f c l ou d dep i c t i n g a n ew f i rm a m en t .

    Th e C AP em b l em i s s u p e r im p osed on t h e s h i e l d n o t i n g t h e l i n a g e o f ou r o r g a n i z a t i on

    a s p a r t o f t h e O f f i c e o f C i v i l De f en se .

    Th e re a r e t h i r t e en s t a r s s u r rou n d i n g t h e c o a t o f a rm s r ep re sen t i n g t h e o r i g i n a l

    t h i r t e en c o l on i e s a s c e l e b r a t ed b y m a n y U . S . s e a l s .

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    T h e A u x i l i a r y m e n s H a n d b o o k M a r c h 2 0 0 8

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    CONTENTSForward..Oaths.. iii

    Civil Air Patrol Motto, Mission, Core Values, and Seal iv

    Chapter One Starting with a Solid Foundation

    Starting with a Solid Foundation 1-1Core Value. 1-2

    Listening. 1-4

    Self Management 1-5Summary Exercise.. 1-7

    Chapter Two History of the Civil Air Patrol

    History of the Civil Air Patrol... 2-1

    1941 Realization of a National Civil Air Patrol.. 2-3Early Days and War Time Activities.. 2-4

    The First Kill... 2-8Other War Time Activities... 2-9

    Pilot Program and Cadet Training. 2-12Rewards for Service... 2-13The Post War Period Search for New Roles 2-14

    Recent Past and Today.. 2-16Summary Exercise.. 2-18

    Chapter Three OrganizationOrganization.... 3-1

    The United States Air Force . 3-3

    Organization of the Civil Air Patrol... 3-6

    Summary Exercise... 3-10

    Chapter Four Missions of the Civil Air PatrolMissions of the Civil Air Patrol..... 4-1

    Emergency Services... 4-4

    Aerospace Education...... 4-10

    Cadet Programs. 4-11Summary Exercise.. 4-13

    Chapter Five Individual Progression

    Individual Progression 5-1

    Officer Progression.... 5-1Flight Officer and NCO Progression..... 5-5

    Cadet Progression...... 5-6

    Summary Exercise.. 5-8

    Chapter Six Customs and CourtesiesCustoms and Courtesies... 6-1

    Military Salute..... 6-1

    Reporting.... 6-4

    More Customs... 6-5

    Summary Exercise;; 6-8

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    Chapter Seven Uniforms, Insignias, and You

    Uniforms, Insignias, and You...... 7-1Sources of Uniforms.. 7-2

    Grooming Standards...... 7-2Weight Standards............ 7-4

    Care and Wear of Your ............. 7-5

    Types of Uniforms..... 7-7Headgear......... 7-18

    Grade Insignias........ 7-20Badges......... 7-22

    Wings.......... 7-24

    Summary Exercise............... 7-25

    Chapter Eight Operational SecurityOperational Security (OPSEC).. 8-1

    Summary Exercise.. 8-1

    Chapter Nine Publications and Forms

    Publications and Forms....... 9-1Types of Publications...... 9-1

    Publication Terminology 9-2Forms. 9-3Office of Primary Responsibility..... 9-3

    Publication and Form Organization... 9-4Putting It All Together... 9-5

    Preparing and Processing Correspondence.. 9-6

    Summary Exercise.. 9-8

    Chapter Ten Communications

    Communications.... 10-1

    Types of Communication... 10-1

    Radio Communication Know-How... 10-3

    Putting It All Together... 10-8Printing Block-Style Letters... 10-8

    Summary Exercise...... 10-9

    Chapter Eleven DrillDrill. 11-1

    Types of Drill Commands.. 11-1

    Basic Commands.... 11-2

    Summary Exercise.. 11-11

    Chapter Twelve - Inspections

    Inspections..... 12-1

    Individual Inspection.. 12-1Unit Inspection... 12-2

    Pass In Review... 12-2Summary Exercise.. 12-4

    Chapter Thirteen The Aviation Environment

    The Aviation Environment. 13-1

    Terms. 13-1Safely Operating Around Aircraft.. 13-4

    Preparing for Flight..... 13-4

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    Summary Exercise.. 13-6

    Chapter Fourteen Aircraft Recognition

    Aircraft Recognition... 14-1Summary Exercise.. 14-9

    ReferencesAcronyms...... R-1

    Flags used in the Civil Air Patrol.... R-4United States Air Force Song..... R-5

    Civil Air Patrol Songs. R-6

    Cadet Rote Learning...... R-7Sources.. R-9

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    INTENTIONALLY

    LEFT BLANK

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    Chapter 1STARTING WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION

    As a member of the Civil Air Patrol, you and others from aldifferent parts of our community have the privilege of participating inthe finest auxiliary in the world. If you already appeared before amembership review board you should be proud to know that yourfuture peers saw a quality in you that would benefit the Civil Air Patrolthe U.S. Air Force, and the United States of America. However, youmust always remember that being part of this fine organization is aprivilege and not a right.

    Followership

    Right now, your limited knowledge about the functions andoperations of the Civil Air Patrol has you in a followership roleLearning followership is the first step in becoming a successful leader. Itis not a place of inferiority, but rather a critical building block for asuccessful career as a leader. Think of your training as if you werebuilding a high rise. You cant begin building the 20th floor if the 1s

    through 19th havent been completed. In fact, you cant even begin thefirst few floors unless you have a solid foundation. This is the intent othis text. By learning the information found here, youll be building asolid foundation for your Civil Air Patrol career.

    Followership is reaching a specific goal while exercising apositive attitude, respect for authority, integrity and self discipline. Thefirst step is learning that positive attitude is expected while performingin the Civil Air Patrol.

    Attitude

    We all act differently in the company of different people. Forexample, you may be more open around your family when at home then

    Like a building, you must startwith a solid foundation in

    order to build a remarkable

    career.

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    you would at school or work. So the objective is for you as a newmember to learn what is expected of you in the Civil Air Patrol.

    The key to developing a proper attitude towards the Civil AirPatrol lies in understanding ofwhat is expected of you.

    One expectation is for you to arrive at meetings, missions, oractivities prepared. This means you are appropriately wearing the

    correct uniform, maintaining military bearing, bringing the right tools forthe job and are mentally prepared. A common saying is Prior PlanningPrevents Poor Performance. Those good or bad events that affect yououtside of the Civil Air Patrol need to stay outside of CAP. If you areserious about having a positive attitude, you will be successful in theCivil Air Patrol.

    These are simple every day examples. However, there may betimes when the answer to what is right or wrong isnt as clear. To helpyou navigate to the right decisions, the Civil Air Patrol has a set of corevalues that guide us to the expectations of our actions. These corevalues are essential to your success and should not just be memorized,

    but well understood and lived by.

    Core Values

    An organization without values is one primed for failure. TheCivil Air Patrol established a set of core values in 2000 following theleadership of the U.S. Air Forces initiation of their core values. Thecore values of Civil Air Patrol establish a common set of behavioralexpectations (attitude) as well as a set of standards to assess memberconduct. The values ofIntegrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, andRespect, serve as the ethical framework for CAPs service to America.

    This framework is essential to the success of the organization.It defines the expectations of each of us and sets the standards ofaccountability of our actions. To better understand what you will beaccountable for in your actions, we will look at each of the core valuesin detail.

    Integrity

    This is the very fiber of all core values; without it all other corevalues cannot prevail. It is the cornerstone for all that is moral and justin our society. It is more than simple honesty. It embraces otherattributes such as courage, responsibility, accountability, justice,

    openness, self-respect, and humility. Lastly, this core value means CAPmembers must practice the highest standards of self-discipline.

    Self-discipline means that you do a task because you see that itneeds to be done, not because you are told to do it. You show self-discipline when you complete necessary tasks even when they areunpleasant.

    Integrity includes trustworthiness and dependability in doing anytask expected of you, no matter how trivial the task or how casuallyyou agree to accept it. If another member asks you at a social gathering

    Civil Air Patrol core valueswere taken in part from theU.S. Air Forces core values.

    Air Forces core values are:Integrity first

    Service before selfExcellence in all we do

    The U.S. Air Force Academybids by there own code as well

    We shall not lie, cheat, orsteal, nor tolerate anyoneamongst us who does.

    Tip: Prior Planning Prevents

    Poor Performance.(Known as the 5 Ps)

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    to help him with a problem and you tell him that you will work on ittomorrow, it means you will do exactlythat!

    When you have integrity, your conscience and character insistyou treat others as well as you treat yourself with respect. This ishow you gain unshakable self-respect, resolution, and both moral andphysical courage. Integrity empowers you to do the right thing eventhough it may be very hard to do it. It also empowers you to be selfless

    instead ofselfish.

    People constantly look for leaders who have moral soundness, honortrustworthiness, dependability, honesty, loyalty, and physical and mentacourage. When you show integrity you are consistent and constantPeople know what to expect from you. Honor, moral soundness, andcourage allow you to uphold those principles and to do things withoutholding back. Honesty, trustworthiness, dependability, and loyalty arecharacteristics that are expected and required of leaders and followers.

    Volunteer Service

    CAP adopted this core value because it reflects the very

    essence of the organizationservice to humanity. All CAP volunteerswillingly give of their time, energy, and personal resources. Moreovermany have made the ultimate sacrifice by losing their lives while servingthe organization and their nation. As a minimum, this core value impliesa commitment on the part of all CAP members to place theorganizations purposes first and foremost. This process starts with themembers agreement to obey the rules and regulations.

    It is important to understand and remember that the wordvolunteer does not negate the idea of commitment. The members othe Civil Air Patrol volunteer to serve, just in the same way our alvolunteer military does. The sole difference is that Civil Air Patro

    members do not make a contractual time commitment nor are theygovernment servants. This means that you may volunteer to leave theorganization at anytime, however while a member you have made acommitment to serve.

    This idea of volunteer service and commitment to serve is notnew. During the founding of our great nation, average citizens such asyou volunteered to come together for the betterment of their societyWe know them as minute men. In fact, because of this great similaritysome people refer to the Civil Air Patrol as Flying minute men.

    Excellence

    This core value reflects CAPs continuous effort to be the verybest, and to consistently improve its service to America. From personaappearance to resource management, excellence must be the goal of alCAP members.

    Excellence begins with how you represent yourself and the CiviAir Patrol. Adherence to proper grooming and uniform wear isprimary. Being on time and prepared maintains the effectiveness oCAP.

    Service is a commitment. Yourword is who you are. If youcant do something, speak up,however if you say you can,then you must do just that.

    With regard to excellence, it is

    not enough to know, but we

    must try to have and use it.

    -Aristotle

    Greek philosopher

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    As a member of the Civil Air Patrol, you may be charged withresponsibility of using and caring for equipment. It is vital that you arecommitted to the idea of excellence in its use and care. A lack ofexcellence can result in a monetary and operational loss affecting othersin the organizations and those who may be relying on our efforts tosave them.

    Respect

    CAP members come from all walks of life. Therefore, it isextremely important that members treat each other with fairness anddignity, and work together as a team. To do otherwise would seriouslyimpair CAPs capability to accomplish the mission.

    When participating in CAP you must always have respect forauthority. As a member of the human race, you will not always agreewith decisions made or even personally like the person making thedecisions. Regardless, it is incumbent upon you to maintain aprofessional decorum at all times. A lack of respect for authority is apoor reflection on you only.

    You must obey Civil Air Patrol publications and legitimateorders given to you by those appointed to positions of authority aboveyou. You give your word to follow orders when you recite the oath.

    Listening

    As a follower, or a leader, listening is a must. It helps youunderstand what others mean when they are trying to help you; this iscalled feedback. Because of outside noises, active listening is hardbecause of internalbarriers: we think about the speaker instead of themessage; we think we already know the solution before the speaker

    states it. Here are some DOs for good listening:

    DO keep an open mind. Do not allow your personal ideas toointerfere with accepting new ideas which may prove better. Tuneout your own ideas. You are not open-minded to the speakersideas if your head is full of your own ideas. Open-mindednessrequires humility, and tests how well you can listen actively.

    DO listen to understand, not to argue or challenge. If you try toargue, thinking you know everything without separately trying tounderstand, often you will find you never understood the idea inthe first place. Argue, challenge, or doubt the material after youhave heard the whole story.

    DO listen to whatthe speaker says not how wellthe speaker saysit. Remember, the speaker may have a great idea but may notexpress it well. Listen for the ideawhat the person is reallytrying to saynot just the words.

    DO take notes with care. Taking notes flatter the speaker if youtake only a few good ones. But if you take too many notes, you arefocusing too much on the notes and too little on listening.

    DO make and (usually) hold eye contact. Let the speaker knowyou care about what is being said. If the speaker prefers not tohold eye contact, act as though youre waiting patiently.

    Respect your efforts, respect

    yourself. Self-respect leads to

    self-discipline. When you have

    both firmly under your belt,

    that's real power.

    -Clint Eastwood

    Movie Actor & Director

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    DO keep your feelings positive. If you do not trust the speaker, yourface will show it. If you control your negative feelings toward thesubject (or the speaker) and strain to accept what you hear, you wilhave an open mind, and may actually change your mind!

    DO listen to new ideas and when you pass them on, give credit to thesource. No one stands taller than those who show the good sense torecognize the value of new ideas and honestly give credit to theirsources.

    Self-Management

    Every level of command needs management. This includes yoursquadron commander down to you, the beginnerthe follower. Yourmanagement duties are to manage yourself. Manage your resourcesyourtime, your energy, your time with your family, adequate sleep, propernutrition, and so on. As you progress through this program, you will learnto manage larger groups of people and activities. An example of selfmanagement is organizing your time so you can attend your meetings. Thismay include hard choices of not participating with other groups. Self-

    management also means advising your supervisor ahead of time that youcannot attend a squadron function. Another example is wearing youruniform properly and meeting CAP grooming standards. This shows youknow how to take care of your uniform without having to depend onsomeone else to constantly correct you.

    Study Habits

    Leaders are always learning, in and out of the classroom. It may not beobvious, but good study habits affect your success with learning new thingslike flying! A disciplined approach to studying means finding the right timeand the right surroundings so you can learn more in a short time. Here aresome guidelines that have proven successful whether preparing for an exam

    or learning just for fun.

    Decide when to study. Set aside a certain number of hours a day or aweek to do it.

    Choose a quiet place so you will not be interrupted. Have good lighting. Find a comfortable, well-ventilated place to work. Make sure you have all the tools you need (pencil, paper, note cards

    calculator) before you start.

    Give your undivided attention to the subject and shut out distractions Survey the material you are going to read by scanning the paragraph

    headings and major topics. To better understand the material you are about to read, ask yourself

    questions about it first. Answer these questions as you read.

    If you are allowed to write in your book, underline or highlightimportant ideas; otherwise outline the material.

    Complete all the material. Answer any review questions provided in the text. Reread to clear up any misunderstandings. Take a 5 minute break each hour, doing something as different from

    reading as you can, such as physical exercise.

    Review consistently and periodically.

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    Reading Skills

    Comprehension is the most important thing about reading. Readingis the companion tool to listening for effective learning. Skilled readers use athree-step approach to improve their reading comprehension:

    Identification. This will help you see the authors ideas and whythey were organized the way they were. To do this, shorten the theme of

    the section into a single sentence or short paragraph. When you finish thechapter, analyze its major parts and divisions. Use the objectives in theChapter Goal at the beginning of each chapter to help you.

    Interpretation. Think of yourself as the author. Search for theauthors meaning by recognizing the authors major ideas and supportingpoints. Find sentences, or key paragraphs that support the chapters mainideas. One way to find supporting facts is to recognize that a paragraph is acluster of sentences around a central idea.

    Evaluation. Decide if you understand the main points in thechapter.

    When you have finished these three steps, your critical reading isdone!

    Remember, with this step, ask,What am I reading?

    Remember, with this step, ask,What does it mean?

    Remember, with this step, ask,

    What is the importance?,How does it effect me? andHow should I react?

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    SUMMARY EXERCISE

    1. The first step in learning leadership is mastering followership.a. True b. False

    2. The key to developing a proper attitude towards the Civil Air Patrol, lies in understanding of ___.

    a. what you thing of it b. how to wear the uniformc. what is expected of you d. how to listen

    3. Obeying Civil Air Patrol publications and legitimate orders given to you by those appointed to positions oauthority above you is mandatory.

    a. True b. False

    4. The strict adherence to a code of conduct is known as ___.a. discipline b. integrityc. loyalty d. your duty

    5. You see a piece of trash on the ground, pick it up, and throw it away. This is an example of _____.

    a. self-discipline b. dutyc. integrity d. loyalty

    6. Taking notes, making eye contact, and keeping an open mind are all samples of good _____.a. behavior b. listening skillsc. mind reading d. discipline

    7. What are the four core values of the Civil Air Patrol?

    _____________________________________ ___________________________________

    _____________________________________ ___________________________________

    8. Name at least three ways of studying that have proven successful whether preparing for an exam orlearning just for fun.

    _____________________________________ ___________________________________

    _____________________________________

    9. Name three steps in that skilled readers use a three-step approach to improve their readingcomprehension.

    _____________________________________ ___________________________________

    _____________________________________

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    NOTES

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    Chapter 2HISTORY OF THE CIVIL AIR PATROL

    The Civil Air Patrol began as an idea by aviation enthusiasts andpilots who were concerned about the future of general aviation inAmerica in the years before World War II. In the mid to late 1930sNazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan created an alliance calledthe Axis, and were taking over much of Europe, North Africa andIndochina. Their actions were beginning to threaten Americas allies andvital interests.

    A by-product of the Axis aggressions was the stifling of civiaviation in conquered countries. Also, in those countries not yetthreatened by Axis power, civil aircraft flight was either drastically

    PREPARING FOR WAR

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    curtailed or eliminated as authorities realized the need to better controlair traffic through restriction to military flights only.

    During the period 1938-41, United States civilian aircraft pilots,aviation mechanics and aviation enthusiasts became increasinglyconcerned about the international situation. They began to understand as many Americans did that if the Axis powers were even marginallysuccessful in their plans for conquests, America would be forced to

    intervene. If so, they concluded that the government would mostprobably severely limit aviation in an attempt to reduce the risk ofsabotage. These air-minded Americans realized that the United States and the aviation community would be better suited if civil aviationcould be put to use when hostilities opened instead of being restrictedby the government. During that period, there were approximately25,000 light aircraft, 128,000 certified pilots, and over 14,000 aircraftmechanics in America.

    Fearing these repercussions, many of these aviation enthusiastssearched for ways to both serve their country and preserve civilaviations strength. While many pilots and mechanics entered the Royal

    Air Force or the Royal Canadian Air Force to get on with it, othersjoined the U.S. armed services. Those who could not join a militaryservice because of age, physical condition or for other reasons still hadthe desire to help. They were prepared to endorse any plan wherebythey and their aircraft could be put to use when the time came indefense of the nation.

    The concept of a national Civil Air Patrol was first envisaged in1938 when Mr. Gill Robb Wilson, a noted aviation writer of the time,returned from a writing assignment in Germany. While there, henoticed Germanys aggressive intentions first-hand. Upon his return tohis home state of New Jersey, he reported his findings to Governor

    Edison and pleaded that New Jersey organize and use its civil air fleet asan augmentive force for the war that he was convinced would come.

    Governor Edison approved the concept and Mr. Wilsonformulated a plan to consolidate general aviation into a public serviceorganization devoted to supporting Americas war effort. In this way,private pilots could use their skills to help defend their country; and stayin the air!

    This plan, backed by the Chief of the Army Air Corps, GeneralHenry H. Hap Arnold and the Civil Aeronautics Authority, called forthe utilization of single-engine, propeller-driven aircraft for liaison work

    and patrolling uninhabited stretches of coastline and vital infrastructuresuch as dams, aqueducts, pipelines, etc., to guard against sabotage. Inaddition, security measures, such as policing the airports andfingerprinting those people associated with light aviation, were to beperformed by Civil Air Defense Services personnel (as Wilsonsorganization in New Jersey was named).

    Other efforts were made following the pattern of the NewJersey Civil Air Defense Services. The Airplane Owners and PilotsAssociation (a national organization that still exists today) had its CivilAir Guard units in several metropolitan cities across the nation. The

    Gill Rob Wilson, founder of theCivil Air Patrol

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    Civil Air Guard was started by Mr. Milton Knight in Ohio. In time, otherstates followed the pioneering efforts of New Jersey. Colorado andMissouri had state air squadrons; Florida formed an organization knownas the Florida Defense Force. Soon states from across America hadtheir own organizations. But of all these organizations, it was Gill RobbWilsons Civil Air Defense Service that was the blueprint for todaysCivil Air Patrol.

    Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Civil AeronauticsAdministration had instituted what it saw as a first step towards utilizingcivil air strength, by formulating a civilian pilot refresher course and acivilian pilot training program. But these two activities made provisiononly for military use of those trained, with the objective of raising theexisting reservoir of civilian airmen who could be placed into militaryservice when needed. However, there were still many civilian pilots whowere not deemed as acceptable for this step.

    The second step pertained to the civil air strength in being. Theprograms objective was to organize civilian aviation personnel so thattheir efforts could best be used in what loomed on the horizon as an all-

    out war effort. It was from this second step that Civil Air Patrol cameinto being.

    As with any program of such magnitude, there were varyingopinions, and much thought and effort were spent before a workableprogram could be devised. Some highly responsible men believedmilitary use should be made of civilian know-how. Others, equallyresponsible, believed that civil aviation should be curtailed in time owar, as in Europe.

    Divergent viewpoints concerning control arose even amongthose who advocated military use of civilian aircraft. One group was

    convinced that light-plane aviation interests should be unified under anational system, while another group believed that control would bemore appropriate at the state level.

    1941 Realization of a National Civil Air Patrol

    The advocates of a nationwide Civil Air Patrol madeinnumerable contacts in their effort to establish their proposedorganization as an element of Americas defense. But first, the problemof how to best use Civil Air Patrol for military missions had to be solved

    through Federal government approval and direction.Preparation

    On 22 April 1941, Mr. Thomas H. Beck, Chairman of the Boardof the Crowell-Collier Publishing Co., prepared and presented toPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt a plan for the mobilization of thenations air strength. Mr. Beck discussed his plan with Mr. Guy PGannett, owner of a New England newspaper chain. On 20 May 1941the Office of Civilian Defense (OSD) was established as an agency of theFederal government with former mayor of New York City, Fiorello HLaGuardia, as its director. National Civil Air Patrol advocates, including

    The Civil AeronauticsAdministration (CAA) became

    the Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) in 1958

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    Mr. Wilson, Mr. Beck, and Mr. Gannett, presented their plan for anational level CAP to Mr. LaGuardia. Having been a pilot during WorldWar I (WW I), LaGuardia saw merit in the plan and expressed hisenthusiasm for it, but he also recognized that its success would hingeupon the support of the War Department, specifically the U.S. Army AirCorps. Mr. LaGuardia appointed Wilson, Beck, and Gannett to a specialaviation committee with instructions to blueprint the organization ofnational aviation resources on a national scale. By June 1941, a plan for

    the proposed organization took shape, although many of the details stillneeded to be worked out. Gill Robb Wilson accomplished this task,assisted by Mr. Reed Landis, a WW I ace, aeronautical expert, and theOSD aviation consultant. Wilson and Landis had the advice andassistance of some of the countrys leading airmen as they worked tofinalize the plan.

    By early October the planning was completed, what was leftwas the drawing up of directives, design of basic forms, and a few otheradministrative details. To see to these remaining details, and toaccomplish the important task of selecting wing commanders (one foreach state), Wilson left his New York office and traveled to Washington

    DC, as the Civil Air Patrols first executive officer.

    Military Approval

    To solidify the plan under the approval of the militaryestablishment, General Hap Arnold who had encouraged the planfrom the beginning convened a board of military officers to review thefinal plan presented by Gill Robb Wilson and his colleagues. GeneralArnold appointed General George E. Stratemeyer as presiding officer ofthe board, which included Colonel Harry H. Blee, Major Lucas P.Ordway, Jr., and Major A.B. McMullen. General Arnold asked the boardto determine the potential of the Civil Air Patrol plan and to evaluatethe role of the War Department in making CAP an agency of the new

    Office of Civilian Defense. The board approved the plan, whilerecommending that Army Air Forces (AAF) officers help to start up andadminister the new organization. Now with military approval, theDirector of Civilian Defense (Mr. LaGuardia) signed the formal ordercreating the Civil Air Patrol on 1 December 1941.

    Early Days and War Time Activites

    On 8 December 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harborby the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Forces, Director LaGuardiapublished a document called Administrative Order 9. This order

    outlined the proposed organization of Civil Air Patrol and designated itsfirst national commander Major General John F. Curry, U.S. Army AirCorps.* Gill Robb Wilson officially became CAPs first executive officer.Appointed as the operations officer of the fledgling organization wasColonel Harry H. Blee, who was a member of the board that approvedthe establishment of CAP. It is also interesting to note that Colonel Bleewas one of many retired military officers recalled to active duty duringWorld War II to fill vacancies created by the rapidly expanding militaryestablishment and wartime activities. Under the wise leadership of thesemen and others like them, Civil Air Patrol began a period oftremendous growth and development in the service of our nation.

    The Civil Air Patrol 3-bladedpropeller emblem was actuallytaken from the Civil Defense

    Emblem. Look closely, and youll

    see that the CAP emblem has thesame blue circle, white triangle,

    and red symbol insert.

    *The title National Commander

    was reserved for the Air Forceuntil 1975, when the title waschanged to Commander, CAPUSAF/Executive Director. Thetitle was again changed, toSenior Air Force Advisor, in1995.

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    The fears of the civil aviation community that flight by civiaircraft would be halted when hostilities broke out were justified. Theday after the attack on Pearl Harbor all civil aircraft, except forscheduled commercial airlines, were grounded. This restriction lastedonly for a few days, except on the West Coast, where restrictions weremaintained throughout the war due to concerns about Japanese activityin that area of the country.

    The pendulum swung the other way in the rest of the countryand soon very little thought was given to the small aircraft as they tookoff and landed at airports all over America. Earle E. Johnson, one ofCAPs founders and later Commander of Civil Air Patrol, was disturbedby the renewed flights and the lack of security at airports. He saw thegreat potential of light aircraft not only as a beneficial tool for lawabiding citizens, but also as a highly effective weapon in the hands ofsaboteurs. He saw the potential for light aircraft to wreak havoc withthe nations industrial complexes

    They could do this, he reasoned, by making night flights to drop

    bombs on war plants. Remember, American soil had just been attackedfrom the air, so this was a real concern. No doubt, saboteurs wouldhave to make a concentrated and all-out effort to have a crippling effectfor after the first attempt security measures would be instituted. But thepsychological effect on the public would be staggering no matter howsuccessful their attempt. Johnson didnt want saboteurs to have thechance, and he took it upon himself to prove the vulnerability oindustry.

    At eleven P.M. one evening, Mr. Johnson took off in his ownairplane from his farm airstrip near Cleveland, Ohio. In the airplane hecarried three small sandbags and flew towards a cluster of war plants on

    Clevelands outskirts. Flying at 500 feet, Johnson dropped sandbags onthe roofs of three plants and returned to his airstrip apparentlyundetected or, if detected, dismissed as a threat just as quickly.

    The next morning, Mr. Johnson notified the plant owners thatthey had been bombed. The CAA reacted by again halting all civilianflying until adequate security measures had been taken. These measureswere not limited to industrial plants. Airports would be guarded; thismeant that all pilots before they would be permitted to fly would haveto prove they were loyal citizens of the United States. All flights were tobe for official business only and accomplished only under approved flightplans.

    A by-product of the increased security was an increase in CAPsinitial membership because CAPs flight activities were for officiabusiness, and there was always flying going on. Along with the pilotscame thousands of other patriotic citizens, many of whom possessedspecial skills. These included radio operators, mechanics, doctors andnurses. Even those who had no special skills contributed as welperforming support functions as messengers, guards and drivers, or toperform other necessary duties required to ensure the properaccomplishment of local CAP activities.

    Major General John F Curry,first national commander of the

    Civil Air Patrol

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    CAP World War II Activities

    Soon after Congress declared war against the Axis (Germany,Italy and Japan), German submarines were operating in the Americancoastal waters along eastern and southeastern shorelines. Beginningwith the sinking of 11 Allied sea going vessels in January 1942, many ofwhich were within sight of United States Eastern and Gulf shores, thesubmarines (U-boats as they were known), were exacting a heavy toll.The monthly shipping loss continued to rise through May 1942, with 52

    ships sunk. Then they gradually declined until September 1942 whenonly one ship was lost, and no others were sunk for the remainder ofthe year. But the damage had been done: 204 vessels were lost. Thislevel of destruction not only seriously affected the supply of warmaterials being exported to troops fighting in Europe and Africa, butalso cut into the nations petroleum supplies.

    Civil Air Patrol leaders urged the War Department to give theirnew organization a chance to help combat the submarine threat. CAPfaced initial opposition to the plan, as it was argued that their proposalwas not feasible. This was because of the perceived impracticality ofsending such a young organization with undisciplined and untried

    members on critical and dangerous missions.

    Meanwhile, the Navy was so thinly spread along the 1,200-milesea frontier of the eastern and southeastern coasts that it could noteffectively combat the raiding enemy submarines. To compound theproblem, the Army Air Forces had not had enough time to build up thenumber of aircraft to a point where they could cope with their regularmissions as well as the submarine menace. Consequently, the GermanU-boats continued their activities through the spring and summer of1942 at an alarming rate. They were sinking ships practically at will; oil,debris, and bodies were being washed ashore at a horrifying rate.

    Costal Patrol AuthorizedThe worsening submarine threat convinced military authorities

    that Civil Air Patrol should be used to combat the German U-boats. Bythis time Gill Robb Wilson had been replaced as the CAPs executiveofficer by Captain Earle L. Johnson, U.S. Army Air Forces (the sameJohnson who bombed industrial plants in Ohio). This change enabledWilson to concentrate on the tremendous task of organizing a coastalpatrol program within Civil Air Patrol. This preparation culminated on 5March 1942, when the Civil Air Patrol was authorized to conduct a 90-day experimental operation on coastal patrol at two locations alongthe eastern seaboard. This gave CAPs volunteers a scant 90 days toprove themselves worthy of the trust placed in them that of national

    defense. In a very real sense, the destiny of Civil Air Patrol as anorganization rested on the shoulders of this small group of braveaircrews. They succeeded; before the 3-month period was over, CAPscoastal patrol operations were authorized to expand, both in durationand territory.

    It is interesting to note that this successful operationcontributed to the decision to replace the National Commander, MajorGeneral Curry, with Captain Johnson. He was subsequently promotedto Colonel and served as CAPs National Commander until his death.

    Two costal patrol aircraft searchfor U-boats

    Above are some of the variousunit insignias in the early days of

    the Civil Air Patrol

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    Finally, in recognition of his role as the wartime leader of CAP, Johnsonwas promoted to Brigadier General posthumously.

    The original idea of Coastal Patrol was to perform unarmedreconnaissance flights over the eastern coasts. The aircrews, pilots andobservers, were to keep in constant touch with their bases and notifyAAF and Navy patrols in the area of U-boats when sighted. They wouldremain in the area until relieved. And, soon after the CAP Coasta

    Patrol experiment was authorized, the first three bases were establishedat Atlantic City, New Jersey; Rehoboth, Delaware, and Lantana, FloridaAs the program matured the network was expanded to 21 basesHonors for the first combat flight by civilian pilots go to those oCoastal Patrol Base 2 at Rehoboth, Delaware. Their 5 March 1942patrol was less than one week after the 28 February 1942 activationdate for the base.

    Life was by no means easy at any of the coastal patrol bases andwas extremely difficult at some. For instance, a farmers house andchicken coop were converted into a headquarters and barracks inParkley, Virginia. At this same base, the CAP members assigned had to

    cut down a grove of trees to make room for the runway. The treesthen had to be paid for by the members themselves! At the Manteobase in North Carolina, mosquitoes were so numerous that themembers assigned there had to wear special head nets to protectthemselves. Another example was the coastal patrol members stationedat Grand Isle, Louisiana, where they had the dubious honor of living inan old and disheveled resort hotel with a rather large rat colony.

    The members compensation for their sacrifice was only $8 perday for pilots and $5 per day for ground personnel. Even under theseaustere conditions, membership in CAP rose at an astounding rate.

    Why did these folks subject themselves to these primitiveconditions with so little materially to gain? It was their love of countryand flying and their need to contribute to their countrys defense. Andthese people were from virtually every profession teachers, doctorslawyers, plumbers, salesmen, and even a few millionaires.

    As mentioned, the light aircraft flown by CAP coastal patrolswere at first utilized for reconnaissance purposes only, and were notarmed. The aircrews spotted targets and reported back to their missionbase. They would then remain in the area until help arrived. However insome cases, simply spotting enemy submarines would not be enough.

    Late one afternoon in May 1942, a crew consisting of DocRinker and Tom Manning were flying a patrol mission just off CapeCanaveral when they spotted an enemy U-boat. The U-boat crew, alsosighting that CAP aircraft and not knowing that the craft was not armedtried to escape and became stuck on a sandbar, thus making it a perfecttarget.

    Rinker and Manning radioed the situation to the mission baseand circled the sub waiting for help. For more than a half-hour thepatrol kept circling and frantically calling for help, while the U boat crew

    (Above) An aircrew beingpicked up after ditching their

    aircraft. (Below) Members whomade forced landings in the

    water on CAP Coastal Patrolwere made members of the

    Duck Club

    An aircraft from Base 9, GrandIsle, LA is being pulled onto dry

    land.

    Aircraft 62 from Costal PatrolBase 21 in Beaufort, NC

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    began to dislodge the their sub. By the time bombers arrived to destroythe sub, it had dislodged itself and had escaped to deep waters.

    Partly as a result of this event, CAP planes were fitted out withdemolition bombs and depth charges while flying out as far as 150 milesfrom shore on their patrols. Some of CAPs larger aircraft could carry325 pound depth charges or an equal weight in bombs. On the smalleraircraft, their bomb load was only 100 pounds, one small bomb. In many

    instances the fins had to be removed from the bombs so they would fitunderneath the wing of an aircraft not designed as a bomber. So, evenwith the bombs modified, the smallest planes had difficulty taking offwith the additional load.

    The First Kill

    It was one of these larger planes armed with depth charges thatmade the first CAP kill. Captain Johnny Haggins and Major WynantFarr, flying out of Atlantic City, New Jersey, had just become airborne ina Grumman Widgeon (an amphibian, a plane that can land on land or

    water) when they received a message from another CAP patrol thatcontact had been made about 25 miles off the coast. The other patrolwas low on fuel and was being forced to return to base, so Haggins andFarr sped to the area, while flying a scant 300 feet above the ocean.

    When the Haggins-Farr patrol reached the area, no sub was insight. Very shortly thereafter however, Major Farr spotted the U-boatas it cruised beneath the surface of the waves. After radioing to shore,and knowing that they could not accurately estimate the depth of thesub, the crew decided to follow the sub until (they hoped) it rose toperiscope depth, when they would have a better chance of hitting thesub with their depth charges.

    For over three hours they shadowed the U-boat and eventuallyran low on fuel. Just before they had to turn back, the U-boat rose backup to periscope depth. Captain Haggins swung the plane around quicklyand aligned it with the sub. He then began a gentle dive to 100 feetwhere he leveled off behind the subs periscope wake. Major Farr pulledthe cable release and the first depth charge plummeted into the waterjust off the subs bow. Seconds later a large water and oil geysererupted, the explosion literally blowing the subs forward portion out ofthe water. Shock waves from the blast rocked the patrol plane. As thesub sank below the surface, it left a huge oil slick as the target for thesecond run.

    On the second run, the remaining depth charge was droppedsquarely in the middle of the oil slick. After the second geyser hadsettled, pieces of debris began to float to the surface. The CAP CoastalPatrols first kill was confirmed! As a result of its effectiveness, the CAPCoastal Patrol passed its experimental or trial period with flyingcolors. The coastal patrol went on to serve its country for nearly 18months (5 March 1942 31 August 1943), flying in good weather andbad, from dawn to dusk.

    The 18-month record of the Coastal Patrol all volunteercivilians, with little or no formal combat training is most impressive: it

    Three ground crew men attachbombs to a CAP airplane

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    began with three bases and was operating from 21 bases at theconclusion of the program. It had reported 173 U-boats sighted, sunktwo, and had dropped a total of 83 bombs and depth charges upon 57of these with several other probables. Its aircrews flew 86,865missions over coastal waters for a total of 244,600 hours whichapproximates to 24 million miles! The patrols summoned help for 91ships in distress and for 363 survivors of submarine attacks. It sightedand reported 17 floating mines, and, at the request of the US Navy, flew

    5,684 special convoy missions.

    CAP Coastal Patrols impressive record, however, was notwithout cost. Twenty-six CAP aircrew members were killed, and sevenwere seriously injured on these missions. Of the aircraft, 90 were lostBut the impressive amassment of mission feats brought officiarecognition to many of the Patrols members. They were winners of AirMedals and War Department Awards for Exceptional Civilian Service.These were merely tokens of the high esteem bestowed by agovernment representing a nation of grateful people.

    Not every encounter that CAP had was with submarines, and

    humor managed to creep into some missions, though those involvedmay not have seen the humor in the situations at the time. For exampleat the Brownsville, Texas base, escort patrols for incoming and outgoingshipping were being flown by CAP members. One morning the basecommander, Ben McGlashan, and the assistant base commander HenryKing (who was also the director of 20th Century Fox studios), flewescort for a convoy out in the Gulf of Mexico.

    While in civilian clothes and flying out over the Gulf, thetwo ran into strong headwinds which caused more fuel to be used thanhad been expected. Realizing their fuel consumption would preventreturning to Brownsville, they realized that they would have to land in

    Mexico. Immediately upon landing in Mexico, they were immediatelyarrested by the Mexican authorities.

    They protested loudly, but the fact that they were dressed incivilian clothes did not help to convince the authorities that they werenot spies of some sort. It was only after lengthy hand-wavingcommunications between themselves and the authorities, with the helpof three Mexican pilots they had encountered while flying their missionsthat they were permitted to refuel and leave Mexican territory thankfully without creating a diplomatic or military incident. Soon afterthis incident Mexico granted CAP permission to land it planes in itsterritory in special situations.

    Other War Time Activities

    Although the Coastal Patrol program was discontinued in 31August 1943, it did not signal any loss of confidence in Civil Air PatrolIts mission had been accomplished in that the regular forces had beenbuilt up to the point where they could take over the CAPs formercoastal patrol mission. In fact, CAP continued pursuing its otherwartime missions, most of which had been going on at the same time asthe Coastal Patrol was operating.

    Artist rendition of a CAPairplane releasing a bomb

    A CAP aircraft follows a ship

    A CAP aircraft that crashed

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    Man important and equally dramatic as those flights made asthose of the Coastal Patrol. These missions became the foundation ofCAP operations today. To fulfill these other missions, CAP flewapproximately 500,000 hours and lost 30 pilots due to accidental deathswhile many other pilots were injured.

    Both men and women took part in these wartime missions

    (women were excluded from Coastal Patrol flights). They joined CAPfor periods ranging from 30 days to the duration of the war, and flewtheir missions for subsistence pay only. Although they were reimbursedfor expenses incurred while on assigned missions, the $8 or $5 per daydid not contribute much to their support or the support of theirfamilies and many members were separated from their families. Inaddition, many members flew without pay on unassigned but necessarymissions. They spent thousands of dollars out of their own pockets inthe service of their country.

    In Nevada, ground search teams adopted horses as their modeof transportation over the rough mountainous terrain. They rigged

    litters to special pack horses and brought many victims back tocivilization. The mounties sometimes ran out of water on long treksover arid countryside, and came up with an ingenious solution. Insteadof sending back to their base for water, CAP pilots would parachutepacks of ice to them. The ground teams would simply place the ice incontainers to melt, and this provided them with a fresh water supply.

    In Florida, where the late Zack Mosely, the famous cartoonistand creator of Smiling Jack was wing commander, special vehiclesknown as glade buggies were used for ground rescue missions. Theglade buggy was a shallow draft vessel with what amounted as a fanattached to the stern for propulsion, and were particularly adept at

    traversing swamps. These buggies were very useful for rescuing downedpilots in areas no other vehicle could go.

    Ground teams in snow country employed skis as a means oftravel. In Washington State, a parachute unit was formed to drop intoareas that were inaccessible by other means. Though the parachutistswere never used, the tenacity and dedication showed by the CAPmembers in developing the idea showed their commitment to the cause.

    Cargo and Courier Flights

    Cargo and courier flying was also an important mission duringCAPs war years. From 1942 through early 1944, CAP pilots moved 3.5

    million pounds of mail and cargo for the Army Air Forces, and ittransported hundreds of military passengers throughout the UnitedStates. As wartime industrial production grew, the commercial andmilitary transportation facilities became taxed to the limit of theircapabilities. They simply could not transport all of the war materials thatwere stacking up like mountains in the warehouses and supply depotyards. CAP again provided the needed stop-gap solution to thetransportation problem until the bottleneck could be relieved.

    In the spring of 1942, Pennsylvania Wing pilots conducted a 30-day experiment to see if they could do the job of cargo transportation.

    CAP conducted cargo andcourier flights during WWII

    Smiling Jack

    Many women participated inCAP wartime missions

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    With only five light planes at their disposal, they transported Armycargo successfully over a large area, flying to AAF bases as far away asGeorgia. It wasnt long before industry and Army officials wereconvinced of CAPs potential in the cargo business, and gave CAP thego-ahead. Soon thereafter, CAP set up regularly scheduled cargo flightsand courier flights across the nation. As a result of their cargo servicesreduced air transportation costs were realized, and many militaryaircraft were eventually released for more direct employment in the

    war effort.

    Border Patrol

    Civil Air Patrol was active in patrolling the border betweenBrownsville, Texas, and Douglas Arizona. The CAP Southern LiaisonPatrol flew approximately 30,000 hours, flying from dawn till duskacross the 1,000 miles of rough, rocky and barren terrain separating theUnited States and Mexico. CAP aircrews looked for out-of-the-ordinaryactivities indicative of spies or saboteurs entering or leaving the countryAircrews often flew their aircraft low enough to read the license plateson suspicious automobiles. When one car was stopped at the Mexicanborder, it was found to be carrying enemy agents. In another case, a

    patrol noticed car tracks leading to what was thought to be anabandoned building. Investigation by ground units revealed an enemyradio station.

    From its beginning in July 1942 to its discontinuance in Apri1944, the CAP Border Patrol had reported almost 7,000 out of theordinary activities on the ground within its patrol area and radioed tothe AAF the description and direction of flight of 176 suspicious aircraftConsidering is many hours of hazardous operations, the loss of onlytwo members was an exceptional safety record.

    Target Towing and Other Missions

    In March 1942, CAP units began towing targets for air-to-airand ground-to-air gunnery practice by fighter aircraft and anti-aircraftbatteries. They would fly antiaircraft machine gun runs simulating astrafing attack, trailing targets as close as 1,000 feet behind them. Theywould then climb to high altitudes trailing two targets at distances of upto 5,000 feet. These were used for heavy antiaircraft guns to practiceon; and, occasionally, the CAP plane towing the target would be hit withan errant antiaircraft round. One pilot was even reported to have founda shell fragment embedded in his parachute seat-pack!

    One of the other notable services CAP rendered to the peoplemanning antiaircraft batteries was flying night missions to provide

    tracking practice for the crews of searchlight and radar units. ThoughCAP pilots were not under fire, these missions were dangerous. Therewas always a possibility that an airplane pilot would inadvertently lookinto the glare of a searchlight, become blinded, and lose control of hisaircraft.

    To illustrate the danger, we remember the story of CaptainRaoul Souliere, an experienced pilot from Biddeford, Maine. One ink-black night just off the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, CaptainSouliere began his searchlight run in the normal manner. The searchlightfound him and seemed to pin him against the night sky, the searchlight

    Unit emblem from the22nd Tow Target Squadron

    Central US map of cargo routes

    One of many mission specialtypatches worn on the lower

    sleeve of the uniform, this one isthe Liaison Patrol patch

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    never losing his airplane. For a few moments Souliere remained on hisoriginal course, but soon he initiated evasive maneuvers in an attemptto escape the lights. But no matter what he tried, the searchlightoperators kept him squarely in the lights.

    For several more minutes this battle of wits ensued betweenthe pilot and searchlight operators, until his aircraft went into a steepdive from which there appeared to be no effort to recover.

    Witnesses surmised that Captain Souliere became disorientedwhen he accidentally looked into the intense searchlight beams thatwere targeting his aircraft. This happened during his evasive maneuversand he became disoriented and did not realize that his aircraft was in adive.

    While events like this one did occur (7 CAP members killed, 5seriously injured, and 23 aircraft lost) they were clearly the exception,and not the norm. For three years CAP flew these hazardous missions,helping to increase the efficiency of Army units preparing for combat.CAP flew a total of 20,593 towing and tracking missions 46,000 hours

    were flown on live ammunition and searchlight tracking missions.

    At the same time, other CAP pilots and crews flew missionsassisting the war effort directly or indirectly. Among these were: flyingblood bank mercy missions for the American Red Cross and othercivilian agencies; cruising over forests, detecting fires and reportingsuspected arsonists; flying mock raids to test blackout practices and airraid warning systems; supporting bond drives, and assisting in salvagecollection drives.

    CAP pilots were even pressed into service as a wolf patrol.The population of wolves had increased to dangerous proportions in

    the southwest. By the winter of 1944, ranchers in the Texas panhandlecalled upon their governor to enlist the aid of Civil Air Patrol to helpcontrol the wolf menace. One rancher alone lost over 1,000 head ofcattle to marauding wolves the year before; especially significant becausebeef was already in short supply due to wartime rationing of manyfoodstuffs. CAP pilots armed with various firearms took to the air andthinned the wolf population back to manageable levels.

    Not all of CAPs wartime activities were in the air. We havealready mentioned ground teams in support of search and rescue. CAPmembers also guarded airfields and other installations; patrolled powerlines and waterways, protecting against saboteurs. When natural

    disasters occurred, CAP assisted the Red Cross and other agenciesevacuate people and administer aid wherever they were needed.

    Pilot Training and the Cadet Program

    Throughout the war, Civil Air Patrol carried out anotherimportant mission pilot training. In early 1942 it had planned aprogram to recruit and train a youth program with an emphasis onflight training. CAP cadets, as they were called, assisted with tasks at theoperational level, and, at the same time, began indoctrination and

    CAP aircraft from the22nd Tow Targeting Squadron

    towing a target

    CAP aircraft on patrol

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    training toward becoming licensed pilots for service in CAP or entermilitary service for military flight training. This program kicked off inMinnesota in October 1942.

    CAP was organized along military lines. Its members woreuniforms, operated in a military manner and performed defensefunctions, and none of its physically-fit members were exempt frommilitary service; they could be inducted (drafted) into the military at any

    time. Cadets who joined CAP had a distinct advantage however, in thathe or she (although women were not drafted) would already haveknowledge of military life and of aviations challenge and importance tothe nation. The pilot training program built a reserve of air-mindedcitizens from whom the military air forces could draw neededpersonnel, particularly those CAP members who had completed privatepilot training.

    Each male adult member of CAP could sponsor one boy, andeach female member could sponsor one girl, between the ages of 15and 17. Cadets had to be physically fit, have completed the first twoyears of high school, maintain satisfactory grades, and be a native-born

    American citizen of parents who had been citizens of the United Statesfor at least 10 years. Indeed these restrictions seem rather severe; butthey were intentionally imposed to hold down membership levels in theprogram until a solid foundation could be established.

    Restrictions notwithstanding, American youth respondedbeyond anyones expectations. Within just six months of the programsbeginning, over 20,000 cadets attended weekly meetings in classroomsand other meeting places, studied in groups, on their own, or side byside with their senior member counterparts. The cadets spent many orall of their weekends at local airports applying what they had learned inthe classroom.

    Surprisingly, recruiting 20,000-plus CAP cadets only cost theOffice of Civilian Defense slightly less than $200, spent solely onadministrative costs.

    Rewards for Service

    CAPs performance of its wartime missions and success withthe Cadet Program resulted in the War Department envisioning apermanent place for CAP in its establishment. So, on 29 April 1943 byorder of President Franklin Roosevelt, command of the CAP was

    transferred from the Office of Civilian Defense to the War Departmentand given status as the auxiliary to the U.S. Army Air Forces truly abanner day for all those who worked to make CAP the success it hadbecome.

    Just a few days later, on 4 May 1943, the War Departmentissued Memorandum W95-12-43, assigning to the Army Air Forces theresponsibility for supervising and directing operations of the Civil AirPatrol.

    A group of femalecadets swear in

    Cadets form-up in front of theirunit building

    President Franklin Rooseveltgreets CAP and WarDepartment officials.

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    One of the more significant outcomes of this transfer ofcommand jurisdiction was its impact on CAPs Cadet recruiting mission Army aviation cadets, that is. By this time, CAP had built up itsmembership to about 75,000 men and women located in over 1,000communities across America. Moreover, the early wartime practice oftraining CAP members for operational missions had established aneffective training corps ready to assume a larger Army aviation cadettraining mission.

    By December 1943, the Army Air Forces loaned 288 L-4aircraft (civilian designated as the, Piper Grasshopper) to Civil AirPatrol for use in the aviation cadet recruiting program. CAP took tothe air, and during 1944 flew 78,000 aviation cadets and prospectiverecruits for a total of 41,000 flying hours. Before the end of 1944, CAPhad recruited an oversupply of cadets, and took over the responsibilityof administering cadet mental screening tests and operating centerswhere cadets received preliminary medical evaluations.

    The record established by CAP during the war years impressedthe nation. It flew 500,000 hours of missions in support of the war

    effort; sunk two German U-boats; and saved countless lives airplanecrash survivors and survivors of disasters at sea by efficiently directingrescue forces to them.

    Members spent innumerable amounts of their own money insupport of wartime missions, and volunteered thousands of hours ofnon-flying mission time to train or indoctrinate cadets. They had builttheir own airfields and pitched in to help when natural disastersoccurred. No sacrifice was too great for these selfless men and women and ultimately 57 members paid for it with their lives.

    The Post War Period Search for a New RoleThe Civil Air Patrol was still serving as an auxiliary of the Army

    Air Forces at the cessation of hostilities in 1945, but this status,established by executive order, had no foundation by statute. It was notlaw. Its usefulness had been proven in wartime, but peace dramaticallyreduced CAPs scope of activities because the Army Air Forces nowassumed many of the tasks assigned to CAP during the war, and manyother tasks were eliminated. To worsen the situation, the AAFwithdrew its monetary support of the program after 31 March 1946,due to drastic budget cuts. This made Civil Air Patrols future veryuncertain.

    In light of these circumstances, General Hap Arnold called aconference of CAP wing commanders. In January 1946 the conferenceconvened and discussed the feasibility of a postwar Civil Air Patrol.From this conference, a plan to incorporate was born.

    On the evening of 1 March 1946, the (then) 48 wingcommanders held their first congressional dinner, honoring PresidentHarry S. Truman, the 79th Congress of the United States, and over 50AAF general officers. The keynote speaker was General Carl A. Spaatz,who later became the first Chief of Staff of the USAF. The express

    Gathering of CAP personnel

    General Henry Hap Arnold

    General Carl Spaatz

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    purpose of the dinner was to permit CAP to thank the President andthe other honorees for the opportunity to serve America during WorldWar II.

    Civil Air Patrol IncorporatedOn 1 July 1946, Public Law 476, 79th Congress, 2nd Session

    was signed into law. It incorporated the Civil Air Patrol and authorizedthe incorporators named therein to complete the organization of the

    corporation by the adoption of a constitution and by-laws andregulations, and by the selection of corporate officers, etc. The lawstated that the objects and purposes of the corporation were to besolely of a benevolent character. Simply stated, Civil Air Patrol wouldnever again participate in combat operations. The objects and purposesstated:

    To provide an organization to encourage and aid Americancitizens in the contribution of their efforts, services, andresources in the development of aviation and in themaintenance of air supremacy, and to encourage and develop byexample the voluntary contribution of private citizens to thepublic welfare;

    To provide aviation education and training especially to thesenior and cadet members; to encourage and foster civiaviation in local communities and to provide an organization oprivate citizens with adequate facilities to assist in meeting locaand national facilities.

    Under this Federal charter the CAP Corporation planned toundertake a very ambitious program at this time without the help othe Army Air Forces. Among the first-defined CAP objectives were to:

    Inform the general public about aviation and its impacts Provide its seniors and cadets ground and preflight aviation

    education and training

    Provide air service under emergency conditions Establish a radio network covering all parts of the United States

    for both training and emergency use

    Encourage the establishment of flying clubs for its membership. Provide selected cadets a two-week encampment at air bases Provide selected cadets flight scholarships Encourage model airplane building and flying Assist veterans to find employment; and, Contribute services to special projects such as airport

    development, the survey and marking of emergency landing

    areas, and the survey of dangerous flying areas in mountainousareas.

    In addition to implementing the objectives of the first program, thenewly chartered Civil Air Patrol undertook other official and unofficiatasks when requested by the Army Air Forces. These included helpingto prepare an address list of all former AAF personnel, helping convincethe public of the merits and need for an autonomous air force, assistingin the air marking program (identifying downed aircraft debris to avoidits being mistaken as a new crash), and conducting AAF-CAP air shows.

    PL 476Law which incorporated the

    Civil Air Patrol

    President Harry S. TrumanPresidential signer of both Public

    Laws affecting theCivil Air Patrol

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    Obviously, many of CAPs objectives could not have been attainedwithout the support of the Army Air Forces. However, since there wasno official basis for this support, it appeared necessary to review thetrue relationship between the Army Air Forces and Civil Air Patrol.After the United States Air Force (USAF) had been established (26 July1947), steps were taken to study the USAF-CAP relationship.

    Permanent Status of the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary

    In October 1947, a special CAP board convened to meet withUSAF officials and plan the establishment of the Civil Air Patrol as theUSAF auxiliary. After several meetings between CAP and USAF officials,certain agreements were reached concerning CAP and USAF objectives;and a plan was adopted to legalize U.S. Air Force assistance to Civil AirPatrol. Shortly thereafter, a bill introduced in the US House ofRepresentatives permanently established CAP as the official auxiliary ofthe U.S. Air Force and authorized the Secretary of the Air Force toextend aid to CAP. On 26 May 1948, this legislation became PublicLaw 557 (10 USC 9441), 80th Congress, Second Session. CAP thusbecame the official auxiliary to the new United States Air Force.

    In the years since, CAP has traveled throughout the Air Forceorganization. It was first assigned to Headquarters, USAF, then movedon 1 January 1959 to Continental Air Command. The reason for thetransfer was CAPs more comfortable fit into the Air Forceorganization. When Continental Air Command was inactivated on 1 July1968, CAP transferred to Headquarters Command, USAF. CAPremained there until 1976, when it moved again, this time to AirUniversity then a major command in its own right and now an armof Air Education and Training Command.

    Recent Past and Today

    The day after September 11, 2001 Civil Air Patrol aircraft couldbe scene in the sky over the World Trade Center. The Civil Air Patrolwas deployed to assist in with aerial reconnaissance in support of rescuepersonnel below. In addition to aerial reconnaissance duties, aircrewsfew blood and plasma into the New York area until it was sadlyapparent that the large quantities would not be needed. Otherpersonnel assisted with staffing the Federal Emergency ManagementAgencys (FEMA) regional operation centers and state emergencyoperation centers. Even more members across the nation weredeployed as an extra set of eyes at general aviation airports.

    In all 8,700 personnel were deployed in the days that followedSeptember 11, 2001. Over 565 flight hours were flown with 48 sortiesin the first 72 hours.

    After the events of September 11, 2001 the Department ofHomeland Security (DHS) was created. Agencies across the UnitedStates recognized the Civil Air Patrol as a long time player in HomelandSecurity going all the back to World War II. With this experience, theCivil Air Patrol began receiving a larger volume of request to supportfederal, local, and state with their Homeland Security needs.

    Artist rendering of Civil AirPatrol aircraft flying over groundzero shortly after the attack on

    the homeland

    PL 557Law which established the

    Civil Air Patrol as the auxiliaryof the U.S. Air Force

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    Homeland Security activities that followed included assisting the45th Space Wing with aerial security of Space Shuttle flights which leadto several arrest based on CAP reconnaissance. Also, the CAP wasassigned to be on 24/7 ground alert status during the G-8 Summit whilethe President of the United States and 40 other heads of state werepresent.

    In August of 2006, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast

    area of the United States. The 1st Air Force, under the Military Supportto Civil Authorities (MSCA), called upon the Civil Air Patrol to assistthe lead agency, FEMA as well as local government in helping mitigatethe effects of Hurricane Katrina. The Civil Air Patrol performed dutiesthat included locating citizens in distress that need air rescue, house-to-house surveys, transport flights of key personnel, reconnaissance flightsfor FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers, identifying leaking large oitanks, providing food and water to citizens, and more.

    The committed members of the Civil Air Patrol lived in forwardbases, living off of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and sleeping on Army cotsfor weeks. Seventeen Wings were involved in assisting with hurricane

    relief activities. Over 2,000 hours were flown and over 32,000 manhours were provided.

    The Civil Air Patrol continues to support other operationsincluding counterdrug operations. In 2006 alone, the Civil Air Patroassisted with the interdiction process of over $47,000,000 worth ofdrugs and 162 arrests were made as a direct result of CAP effortsUsing member owned twin engine aircraft, Civil Air Patrol aircrews actas intercept targets flying a drug smuggler profile for the Air SovereigntyAircraft that protect the coast of the United States.

    To learn more about the history of the Civil Air Patrol, visit the

    National Museum of the Civil Air Patrol athttp://www.caphistory.org. There you can also learn about themany museums and exhibits dedicated to the service of the men andwomen in the Civil Air Patrol.

    An aircrew providing aerialsecurity for the Space Shuttle

    Hurricane Katrina survivorsexpress their gratitude for theefforts of the Civil Air Patrol

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    SUMMARY EXERCISE

    1. The founder of the Civil Air Patrol is _____.a. Gen Henry Hap Arnold c. Gill Rob Wilsonb. Harry S. Turman d. Zack Mosely

    2. Civil Air Patrol began on _______________________________.

    3. The first National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol was _____.a. Gen Henry Hap Arnold c. Gen William Mitchellb. Gen John F. Curry d. Gen Gill Rob Wilson

    4. What was the purpose of Costal Patrol?

    ______________________________________________________________________

    ______________________________________________________________________

    5. Other than Costal Patrol, name three other types of World War II operations the Civil AirPatrol was charged with.

    __________________________________ __________________________________

    __________________________________

    6. Who were the first two Civil Air Patrol officers to perform the first confirmed sinking of aGerman U-Boat during Costal Patrol operations?

    __________________________________ __________________________________

    7. The 79th Congress, 2nd Session and President Harry S. Truman signed into law Public Law476, which incorporated the Civil Air Patrol as a benevolent non-profit organization.

    a. True b. False

    8. Public Law 557 made the Civil Air Patrol the official_______________________________________.

    9. Before being transferred to the War Department, the Civil Air Patrol was first placed underthe Department of _____.

    a. Defense c. Civil Defense

    b. Transportation d. Aeronautics

    10. In Florida, Glade Buggies were used for _____.a. Tours c. Aerial Reconnaissanceb. Ground Rescue d. Border Patrol activities

    NOTES

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    Chapter 3ORGANIZATION

    The CAP-USAF Relationship

    The Civil Air Patrol and the United States Air Force maintain a

    civilian-military relationship which is based upon the Civil Air Patrolsstatus as the USAF Auxiliary. As such, CAPs services to the nation and

    the USAF are: (1) voluntary, (2) benevolent, and (3) noncombatantFinally, these services are to be employed both in times of peace and

    war.

    It is the responsibility of the U.S. Air Force to provide technica

    information and advice to those CAP members who organize, train anddirect CAP members and who develop CAP resources. In CAP-USAF

    lingo, this is called advice, liaison, and oversight. Well discuss these

    terms later.

    In addition to these functions, the Air Force also makes availablecertain services and facilities required by CAP to carry out its mission

    Such assistance, however, is restricted to specific areas by act ofCongress, and cannot interfere or conflict with the performance of theAir Force mission. Finally, in part because of its relationship to the Air

    Force, the government provides some level of protection to CAPmembers and their families in the event a member is killed or injured

    while participating in a qualifying Air Force sponsored mission.

    In return, Civil Air Patrol assists the Air Force through the

    performance of its three faceted missions: Emergency ServicesAerospace Education, and the Cadet Program. While we will discuss

    each of these missions in Chapter four, well briefly introduce them

    here as a means to show CAPs contributions to the USAF.

    The CAP-USAF shieldWorn by USAF members who

    oversee CAP activities

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    Emergency Services (ES) may be CAPs best known of the

    three-faceted mission; itself having several components. Since 1948, the

    Air Force controls the in-land search and rescue (SAR) activities within

    the United States. CAPs role in this mission provides the bulk of the

    operational SAR services, primarily through flying and ground team

    activities. CAPs personnel and aircraft fly thousands of hours each year

    flying SAR missions, as well as mercy flights and disaster relief assistance.

    In addition, CAPs ES activities also include performing civil

    defense activities and other missions, such as: crashed aircraft spotting

    and marking, route surveys, counterdrug reconnaissance, courier

    services, light transport duty, post-attack recovery duty, and similar

    activities within the capabilities of CAP light aircraft and other

    equipment.

    Civil Air Patrol also maintains a nation-wide radio network. It is

    used for domestic or military emergencies, CAP activities of all types,

    search and rescue support, and training communications personnel.

    The CAP Chaplain Service provides over 700 chaplains andmoral leadership officers. Serving in squadrons, they teach the moral

    leadership cadet curriculum while providing spiritual assistance to all

    unit personnel. Many chaplains are also pilots, while others are involved

    in search and rescue teams and emergency services. Under Title 10,

    CAP Chaplain Service personnel can be called upon by the Air force to

    perform certain USAF chaplain functions.

    One other area of valuable assistance given to the Air Force and

    other Federal agencies is the CAP Aerospace Education Program.

    Through its internal program of aerospace education given to both

    cadet and officers, and the external aerospace education services to

    schools, colleges and the general public (through workshops,conferences and a variety of free materials), the knowledge, skills, and

    attitudes necessary for living successfully in the aerospace age are

    imparted, not only to CAP members, but to educators, students and,

    most importantly, to the general public.

    To help present and carry out the aerospace education

    program, CAP develops lesson plans, videos, and other educational

    materials. CAP also encourages and helps to plan guided tours of

    aerospace-related facilities such as airports, Air Force bases and

    aerospace manufacturing facilities. All these things help to instill in the

    American people an appreciation of the importance of what the Air

    Force does, how the aerospace industry contributes to Americansociety on a daily basis, and how everyday people can get more

    involved.

    Finally, a most important example of CAPs reciprocal service to

    the Air Force is found in the number of CAP cadets and officers who

    have become officers and airmen in the United States Air Force. Every

    year, thousands of CAP cadets and former cadets enter the Air Force

    Academy, other service academies, Reserve Officer Training Corpsprograms at colleges and universities across the country, and basic

    training programs of all services.

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    The United State Air Force

    To better understand the relationship that the Civil Air Patro

    and the U.S. Air Force enjoys, and to see how these organizations work

    together to serve our nation, are considered separately. First, we wil

    review the United States Air Force history, mission, and organization.

    Just as you have learned about the evolution of Civil Air Patrolits also important to learn about the evolution of CAPs parent servicethe USAF. Before we discuss CAPs organization, well talk a little bi

    about