Civil Air Patrol at 79

DCHC salutes the official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), founded 79 years ago today on December 1st, 1941 with the signing of Administrative Order #9 by the Director of the Office of Civil Defense, New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.

The brain child of renowned American aviation Gill Robb Wilson, the CAP was given the “green light” the following Monday on December 8th. While the nation reeled from the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Civil Air Patrol was placed under the command of Army Air Corps Major General John F. Curry with Wilson as the first Director.

Curry and Wilson were given 90 days to prove the Civil Air Patrol would be an asset to the American military, using civilian aviators and civil aircraft to aid in the war effort. Saying it was a rousing success would be an understatement! Throughout the war, the men and women of the Civil Air Patrol served honorably in many roles. CAP pilots on coast patrol flew 24 million miles during the war and anti-submarine efforts spotted 173 U-Boats off the American coasts, dropping 82 bombs throughout the conflict. The CAP suffered 68 line-of-duty personnel deaths by the end of the war.

Today, the tens of thousands of members execute the three Congressionally-Chartered missions of the CAP; Emergency Services, Aerospace Education, and Cadet Programs. From the team at DCHC, including myself… a former CAP 1st Lieutenant… we’re happy to join the Civil Air Patrol in celebrating 79 years of service to a grateful nation!