This Day In Civil Air Patrol History

January 2, 2007: Colorado Wing Flies Patrols Following Blizzard

2012-01-02T00:55:00.000-06:00

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On January 2, 2007, the Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol was out flying patrols looking for missing people and animals following a blizzard.

From NPR:

Drifting Snow Leaves People Stranded in Colorado : NPR: "A blizzard last week dumped several feet of snow in parts of Colorado and neighboring states. It was the second storm to hit the area in quick succession.

Col. Greg Cortum of Colorado's Civil Air Patrol talks to Renee Montagne about efforts to rescue stranded people and livestock."

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December 16, 2010: Former Wisconsin Wing Commanders Requests Jury Trial In Child Pron Case

2011-12-16T00:34:00.004-06:00

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On this date, the former commander of the Wisconsin Wing of the Civil Air Patrol asked for a jury trial in his child pornography criminal case.

An excerpt from the Janesville (Wis.) Gazette:

ELKHORN — A former commander of the Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol this week asked for a jury trial to defend himself against five criminal counts of possessing child pornography found on computers taken from his Delavan home.
Michael A. Curry, 54, has resigned from the Civil Air Patrol. He had more than a 40-year association with the group, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. His last assignment was with the Racine squadron, according to the patrol's website.
According to various Walworth County court records:
While examining the computer's e-mails and attachments, investigators identified five images of children engaged in sex acts. Also found were pictures of Civil Air Patrol cadets.
The criminal complaint against Curry did not suggest the cadets' images were inappropriate.

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December 15, 2003: Nevada Wing Looks for Missing Couple

2011-12-15T01:51:00.000-06:00

Image by Ken Lund via FlickrOn this date, the Nevada Civil Air Patrol began searching for a missing aircraft.

An excerpt from the Las Vegas Review Journal:

Members of Nevada's Civil Air Patrol this morning are expected to resume a search for a private plane that dropped off radar Sunday morning near Tonopah.

A crew of about 21 people Monday morning began searching for a downed plane that rescuers believe contained a man and his wife traveling from Tucson, Ariz., to Eugene, Ore., said Major Charles McCarthy of the Nevada Wing, Civil Air Patrol.

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December 10, 1955: The CAP Gets a Cartooning Lesson

2011-12-10T00:22:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, December 10, 1955, the Civil Air Patrol received praise from the USAF--and cartooning tips from the creator of "Terry and the Pirates."

From the Washington Post:

CAP Gets Pat on Back And Tips on Cartooning: "Top leaders of the Civil Air Patrol met in Washington yesterday and heard words of praise from Secretary of the Air Force Donald A. Quarles and got cartooning tips from artist Milton Caniff."

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December 8, 1996: CAP Cadet Among First Four Women Accepted into VMI

2011-12-07T22:17:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, Cadet Lieutenant Lauren Wagner was one of the first four women accepted into Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.).

An excerpt from the New York Times:

Ms. Wagner is a lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol. Her mother is Eileen Wagner, a lawyer who filed a brief for the Virginia Women Attorneys Association arguing that the school should not be allowed to remain state-supported and all-male. this date, Cadet Lieutenant Lauren

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December 2, 2006: CAP Cadet Dies in Student Flight in Minnesota

2011-12-02T00:01:00.006-06:00

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On this date, two 18 year old men--one an Illinois Civil Air Patrol cadet from an aviation family--died in an airplane crash near Crookston, Minnesota.

Cadet Jacob Rueth, an aviation student, and Jacob Sunblad, a fellow aviation student, died when the single engine Cessna Rueth was flying crashed in northwest Minnesota. Rueth was piloting the student flight.

An excerpt from WLS-TV:

Jacob Rueth did. He got his pilot's license at 16. He was a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol, rising through its ranks.

Rueth was an honor roll student at Sandburg High, and after graduating last Spring, Jacob chose the University of North Dakota's acclaimed Odegard School of Aerospace Science to pursue his dream. His plan was to become a helicopter pilot.

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August 31, 1943: CAP Coastal Patrols Ended

2011-08-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

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On this date in 1943, Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrols ended, largely because they had worked so well in spooking German U-boats from coming near American waters.

An excerpt from the Centennial of Flight website:

Largely in reaction to the Civil Air Patrol’s activities, enemy submarine close-in operations along the East Coast were withdrawn and, on August 31, 1943, Civil Air Patrol coastal patrols were ordered to stand down (cease operations). In the ultimate compliment, a Nazi submariner later admitted that the U-boats were pulled back "because of those damned little red and yellow airplanes" of the Civil Air Patrol.

August 1, 2003: ExxonMobil Announces First eStore with CAP

2011-08-01T00:01:00.003-05:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

On this date in 2003, ExxonMobil introduced its first eStore ever set up between the oil company giant and one of its customers.

An excerpt from the ExxonMobil press release:

ExxonMobil Aviation Lubricants today announced that it has established a private online eStore in cooperation with Civil Air Patrol (CAP). The store, the first of its kind between a major aviation lubricants supplier and its customers, will allow CAP and its members to order products, including Exxon Aviation Oil Elite 20W-50, efficiently anywhere in the nation.

July 17, 2002: NC Wing Cessna 172 Crashes While on Marijuana Eradication Mission

2011-07-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

On this date, a North Carolina Wing Cessna 172 crashed while on a marijuana eradication mission, killing all the three crew members on board.

An excerpt from the Aviation Safety Network:

The flight departed about 1300 with a pilot, co-pilot, and observer (law enforcement officer) on-board for a marijuana eradication flight operated by the Civil Air Patrol. The airplane had been operated earlier that day in the morning and afternoon orbiting throughout areas of the county between witness reported altitudes of between 300 and 500 feet agl on the same type of mission by the same pilot. After departure on the accident flight, the flight continued the aerial observation and according to one witness, on the last pass, the airplane was observed in a large clockwise orbit noticeably lower than the 300 to 500 feet agl previously observed. A sputtering noise was heard by one witness, and another stated there was no engine sound at all just before she observed the aircraft depart normal upright flight. From an altitude of about 120 to 150 feet agl, she saw the aircraft simultaneously nose over vertically and commence a right half roll into the terrain.

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April 23, 1943: CAP Transferred from Office of Civilian Defense to the War Department.

2011-04-23T02:01:00.001-05:00

On this date in 1943, the Civil Air Patrol's war-time efforts duties were reassigned from the Office of Civilian Defense, to the War Department.

April 10, 2007: NPR Discusses Loudspeakers on CAP SAR Aircraft

2011-04-10T00:04:00.001-05:00

On this date, April 10, 2007, NPR highlighted the possibility of CAP search and rescue aircraft using loud speakers.

From NPR:

Rescuers See Benefit in Search-Plane Loudspeakers : NPR: "Advocates say that in the event of a lost child or an approaching tsunami, Civil Air Patrol pilots could help by broadcasting messages to people on the ground from more than a mile away.

Scott Bakker, commander of the Civil Air Patrol's 105th Squadron in Oregon, talks to Melissa Block about the new loudspeakers."

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April 1, 2003: CAP Receives National Aeronautics Association Award for Aerospace Education

2011-04-01T00:01:00.004-05:00

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Air Force Magazine reported that on April 4, the Civil Air Patrol accepted the National Aeronautics Association’s 2002 Frank G. Brewer Aerospace Education Trophy for the the CAP's work in promoting aerospace education. The magazine reported that the NAA cited the CAP’s new textbook, Aerospace: The Journey of Flight, designed for CAP cadets, high schools, and colleges.

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March 29, 2006: CAP NHQ Lays off 23 Staff in Budget Cuts

2011-03-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

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On this date in 2006, the Civil Air Patrol cut 23 of it paid staff from its national headquarters at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

An excerpt from the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser:

The 23 employees worked at the organization's Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base location. The cuts were prompted by budget constraints, said Julie DeBardelaben, a spokeswoman for the organization. The staff reduction began in mid-March and the positions eliminated were middle management and administrative, DeBardelaben said. The job cuts represent a $1.7 million annual savings for the organization.

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March 19, 1970: Bridgeport, Washington CAP Squadron Leads Search for Missing Plane

2011-03-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

On this date in 1970s, the Bridgeport (Washington) CAP Squadron continued to lead the search for a missing aircraft in Washington State.

The newspaper clipping from the Brewster Herald-Reporter is courtesy of Mark Hess, Lt Col, CAP, Georgia Wing.

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March 17, 2001: Jessie E. Woods, Wing-Walker, CAP Pilot, Pioneering Aviatrix Dies

2011-03-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

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On this date in 2001, former CAP pilot, wing-walker, and pioneering aviatrix Jessie E. Wood died at the age of 92.

And excerpt from The Pioneers:

She stunted airplanes as a pilot, scampered about on wings, parachuted and dangled by her knees on rope ladders that swung beneath the biplanes. She was also a mechanic and later taught military pilots to fly, Woods flew with the Civil Air Patrol during WW II. She later became a commercial flight and ground instructor. In 1941, she and Jimmie leased Roddey Field, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and received governmental contracts for military flight training.

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March 16, 2006: "CAP Day" Declared at the Georgia State Capitol

2011-03-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

On this date in 2006, the George Legislature declared March 16th as "Civil Air Patrol Day."
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March 11, 1960: CAP Airplanes Aid in Arkansas Bomber Crash

2011-03-11T00:01:00.000-06:00

On this date in 1960, CAP airplanes were called in to assist in the investigation of the crash of a United States Air Force B-Stratojet in Pulaski County, Arkansas. Three crew members died and one survived the crash.

An excerpt from Arkansas Ties:

Reports persisted that two airplanes had been involved in a mid-air collision but the control tower at Adams Field said there was no evidence that a second plane was involved. As a precaution, the Civil Air Patrol sent search planes between Little Rock and Conway.

Many witnesses insisted that they saw two planes but others said the wings separated from the fuselade (sic) after the explosion, which may have led to the two-plane confusion.

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March 1, 2003: CAP Board of Governors Elects Col. Robert C. Bess as Chairman

2011-03-01T00:01:00.003-06:00

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Air Force Magazine reported that on March 1, 2003, the Civil Air Patrol’s Board of Governors elected retired USAF Col. Robert C. Bess as its new chairman and retired USAF Lt. Gen. Nicholas B. Kehoe its new vice chairman. The magazine also reported that Bess also serves as CAP national director of homeland security and that Kehoe once served as board chairman.

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February 24, 1990: 70 Year Old CAP Pilots Spot Survivors in California

2011-02-24T00:01:00.004-06:00

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On this date in 1990, former World War II and current Civil Air Patrol pilot Keith P. Kelley spotted a California crash that lead to the rescue of two survivors.

An excerpt form the Los Angeles Times:

On Saturday, the Van Nuys resident found a Cessna 152 that crashed near Santiago Peak in Riverside County, and led rescuers to the area where they found the two survivors. The occupants of the plane suffered minor injuries but were not hospitalized.

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February 21, 1942: "Gray-Haired" WWI Flyers Step Up to Fly for CAP

2011-02-21T12:01:00.012-06:00

On this date in 1942, the Bend (Ore.) Bulletin reported that former "gray haired" World War I pilots were stepping up to join the Civil Air Patrol on the West Coast to help in the war effort.

An actual clip from the Bend Bulletin:

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February 20, 2009: Alaska CAP Ski Plane Crashes

2011-02-20T00:01:00.000-06:00

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On this date in 2009, an Alaska Civil Air Patrol ski plane crashed near Kenai, Alaska. Fortunately, the three crew members were not injured.

An excerpt from PilotGeek Blog:

On February 20, 2009, about 1515 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 (Beaver) airplane, N5342G, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote frozen lake, about 10 miles northeast of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area proficiency/instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the Civil Air Patrol Inc. (CAP), Anchorage, Alaska. The three people aboard, the first pilot, a certificated flight instructor seated in the right seat, the second pilot, seated in the left seat, and a pilot-rated passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and CAP flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Kenai Municipal Airport, Kenai, about 1445.

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February 17, 2005: Nevada CAP Spots Downed Plane, Pilot

2011-02-17T00:01:00.002-06:00

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On this date in 2005, a day after a plane went down in a rugged area of Nevada, the Nevada Civil Air Patrol spotted the wreckage and the pilot, who lived to tell the tale.

An excerpt from the Montrose (Nev.) Press:

MONTROSE - The emergency transmitter's battery could have died. The search could have been abandoned. So much could have gone wrong, but somehow, everything turned out just right for the pilot of a small plane that crashed on the Uncompahgre Plateau Wednesday. Scott Thurner, 57, of Milwaukee was found alive with minor injuries after search and rescue personnel Thursday spotted the wreckage of Thurner's Cessna 172 in a canyon south of Raspberry Tower, which is located just west of the top of Highway 90 approximately 20 miles west of Montrose. He was treated for cuts and bruises at Montrose Memorial Hospital shortly after 10:30 p.m. Thursday- close to 30 hours since crash landing into some trees.

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February 16, 1942: Georgia CAP Flight Commander Calls for Equality between Men and Women Pilots

2011-02-16T02:02:00.001-06:00

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On this date in 1942, a women Civil Air Patrol commander from Georgia called for equality between male and female pilots, according to the New York Times.

An excerpt:

Ann Johnson, flight commander of the recently formed women's unit of the Georgia Civil Air Patrol, appealed today for "equality with men in non-combatant military service."

February 11, 1942: CAP Submits Plan for Coastal Patrol

2011-02-11T00:06:00.000-06:00

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On this date in 1942, Major General M.F. Harmon drafted a memo that contained the plan to establish the Civil Air Patrol's Coastal Patrol during World War II.

An excerpt from U-Boat Archive:

Established shortly before Pearl Harbor, the CAP felt that it could be of service in the work of coastal patrol, and in February had submitted a plan for the employment of its forces. Memo, Maj. Gen. M. F. Harmon, C/AS, to Lt. Gen. L. F. McNair, C/S GHQ, U. S. Army, 11 Feb. 1942 in AAFAC file 280. Originally under the operational control of the I Air Support Command, the CAP wa placed under that of the I Bomber Command 19 August 1942. See AAFAC file 280.012.

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February 10, 1958: Wife of Deputy Secretary of Defense Learns to Fly with CAP

2011-02-10T00:01:00.000-06:00

On this date in 1958, Time magazine reported that Rosina Quarles, wife of Deputy Secretary of Defense Donald Quarles, learned to fly in the Civil Air Patrol.

An excerpt from Time:

Credited with some 70 hours of flight time, slim Rosina Quarles, blue-yondering wife of the Deputy Secretary of Defense and grandma of seven, got her pilot's wings and second-looey bars in the Civil Air Patrol. Expecting her checkout as a CAP search pilot, Aviatrix Quarles owned up to one frustration: "I'd like to fly jets, but my husband won't let me."

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,868252,00.html#ixzz0lEfsFFzQ

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February 5, 1942: 15% of New Jersey's CAP Volunteers Women

2011-02-04T02:01:00.000-06:00

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On this date in 1942, the New York Times reported that 15 percent of the Civil Air Patrol's volunteers in New Jersey were women.

An excerpt:

The girls are going up in the air to aid in the Victory drive, the State Defense Council said today in a report indicating that 15 per cent of New Jersey's 500 volunteers in the civil air patrol are women.

February 1, 2010: Malfunctioning TV Sends Signal of Satellites, Alerts CAP

2011-02-01T00:01:00.005-06:00

Image by Zellaby via Flickr

On this date in 2010, a man's malfunctioning TV set caused a full-scale beacon search, complete with the Civil Air Patrol knocking on his front door.

An excerpt from the New York Times:

It may be that many people, staring blankly from their sofas into the empty, late-night flicker of their televisions, are in need of rescuing. Few, though, would expect a TV -- or a garage door opener, or a photocopier -- to issue a cry for help. Early last month, Chris van Rossman's television silently began to malfunction, emitting a signal that bounced off two satellites, alerted personnel at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, and ultimately led a team of local sheriff's deputies and Civil Air Patrol volunteers to the door of his apartment in Corvallis, Ore.

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January 30, 1942: Washington, DC CAP Unit Forms

2011-01-30T00:53:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, January 30, 1942, a Washington, DC CAP unit began formation.

From the Washington Post:

Civilian Air Patrol Unit Takes Form: "A group of ambitious civilian pilots and other aviation enthusiasts in the Washington area have started to form a civil air patrol squadron to do observation, courier, ferrying and other civilian defense work in cooperation with the Army Air Corps, Miss Katherine Keeler, squadron information and public relations officer, disclosed yesterday."

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January 27, 2010: Arizona CAP Helps Dig Out Residents of Hopi and Navajo Reservations

2011-01-27T00:01:00.002-06:00

Image by Wolfgang Staudt via Flickr

On this date in 2010, members of the Arizona Wing of Civil Air Patrol assisted other emergency management organizations in digging out residents of the Hope and Navajo reservation in Arizona after an exceptionally severe snowstorm.

An excerpt from CNN:

Dozens of personnel from the emergency management division, the Civil Air Patrol and local governments have helped pull people out of the snow, said the division's Ethan Riley. He said the agency, aware that the snow was coming, prepositioned supplies and some National Guard troops. The bad weather began January 18, peaked with a major storm Thursday and continued through the weekend. A pilot flying over the area reported that with the help of high winds, there was snow up to some rooftops, or more than 8 feet.

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January 26, 1942: Time Reports Spanish-born Pianist-Conductor Joins CAP

2011-01-26T00:01:00.000-06:00

On this date in 1942, Time magazine reported that musician Jose Itrubi signed up for the Civil Air Patrol.

An excerpt from Time:

José Iturbi, 46, pianist-conductor, private pilot, enlisted in OCD's Civil Air Patrol, to help do ferrying work, eagle-eye the coast. Spanish-born Iturbi took out his first U.S. citizenship papers last August.

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January 15, 1995: Searches Find Bodies of Three CAP Members in California Crash

2011-01-15T00:01:00.002-06:00

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On this date in 1995, searchers found the bodies of three California Civil Air Patrol members whose own search plane that had crashed.

An excerpt from the Los Angeles Times:

UPLAND — The bodies of all three members of a volunteer Civil Air Patrol search team were found Sunday in the wreckage of their light plane in the San Gabriel Mountains, a tragic end to an attempt to find a plane and pilot missing for two weeks.

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January 13, 1942: J. Edgar Hoover Says CAP Background Checks too Cumbersome

2011-01-12T00:01:00.002-06:00

On this date in 1942, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover wrote Civil Air Patorl ounder and Civil Defense Director Fiorello LaGuardia and informed him that the FBI would no longer engage in background checks of CAP members from name and address lists as it "would not justify the amount of effort expended."

An excerpt:

Hoover did say the agency would continue to check fingerprints.

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January 6, 2007: Colorado CAP Searches for Stranded Drivers, Cattle After Blizzard

2011-01-06T00:01:00.001-06:00

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On this date in 2007, the Colorado Civil Air Patrol searched for stranded travelers and cattle following a massive blizzard.

An excerpt from the Washington Times:

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) sent six planes into the air yesterday over Colorado's Kit Carson County, where there had been reports of more people snowbound along Interstate 70, even though that highway was reopened Sunday after two days, patrol 1st Lt. Steve Hamilton said. On Sunday, CAP crews spotted two stranded vehicles with five persons near the Kansas state line, along with several trucks whose crews chose to stay with their rigs, Lt. Hamilton said.

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January 4, 1942: N.Y. Times Reports Women CAP Fliers Face Wait To Fly

2011-01-04T02:01:00.001-06:00

On this date in 1942, the New York Times reported that women Civil Air Patrol fliers would likely face a long wait before seeing an airplane cockpit.

Image via CrunchBase

An excerpt from the NYT article:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 -- Women fliers taken into the Civil Air Patrol probably will put in considerable time in ground service before receiving their wings, according to Miss Cecile Hamilton of this branch of the Office of Civilian Defense. Miss Hamilton spoke at a symposium of aviation publication publishers, editors and writers held here yesterday by the Civil Air Patrol.

Special: First Items in Lt. Col. Dick Forman CAP Historical Collection

2011-01-03T12:57:00.003-06:00

In June of 2010, Dr. Dick Forman, a thirty year-plus member of the South Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, died. Lt. Col. Forman had also taught at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. for 50 years. His wife and son were also involved in CAP and they too rose to the rank of Lt. Col.

Lt. Col. Forman's family not only donated a fund for cadet programs at the Sioux Falls Composite Squadron in his honor, but also donated his many CAP items, ranging from model airplanes, aviation books, uniform items, patches, ribbons, and a many, many other items.

As squadron historian, with the help of several of our cadets, I have been slowly going through the collection. My goal is to put together a physical display of some of the more more interesting and unique items at our squadron. But I also wanted to make sure the collection can be accessed online, so I have began "digitizing" the collection.

Here is the first group of items I've photographed. Believe me, there's much more to come. I need assistance on identifying some of the items. Please leave a comment or email me at eppcap(at)gmail(dot)com if you have any additional information you can add.

Lt. Col. Forman influenced generations of Augie students and CAP cadets and senior members. I greatly appreciate his and his family's service to CAP and for this generous donation!

Item description starting at top right and going clockwise. 1. 1980s "Smurf Suit." 2. Obsolete CAP clip-on tie. 3. Ham radio vehicle window sticker. 4. Classic CAP bumper sticker. 5. Mess dress CAP emblem. 6. Ribbon holder. 7. Old SDWG patch. 8. (Top left) Old CAP/AFX patch.
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January 3, 1942: CAP Announces It Can Ferry Military Aircraft

2011-01-03T00:39:00.002-06:00

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On January 3, 1942, the CAP announced it could ferry military aircraft within the United States.

From the Washington Post:

Civilian Pilot Corps May Ferry Army Planes Within U.S.: "The newly organized Civil Air Patrol may provide pilots to ferry military planes to points within the United States, Maj. Gen. John F. Curry, national" commander, said yesterday.

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January 2, 2007: Kansas, Nebraska CAP Wings Help Spot Motorists Stranded in Blizzard

2011-01-02T00:01:00.003-06:00

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On this date in 2007, Civil Air Patrol pilots from the Kansas and Nebraska Wings helped authorities spot motorists stranded from a massive central plains blizzard.

An excerpt from USA Today:

Utility crews in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma worked to restore power to thousands cut off for up to four days since the powerful storm struck the region from Thursday through Saturday. Civil Air Patrol pilots in Colorado and Kansas spotted stranded motorists and abandoned cars, then radioed locations to ground rescuers.

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December 31, 1941: First Connecticut CAP Squadron Founded

2010-12-31T02:01:00.001-06:00

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On this date in 1941, the first Civil Air Patrol squadron in Connecticut was founded in Meriden, Conn.

December 29, 1998: New Hampshire CAP Helps in Search for Fatal Crash

2010-12-29T01:15:00.000-06:00

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On this date, the New Hampshire Wing of the Civil Air Patrol assisted in the search of a single engine Piper Arrow carrying two New Jersey men. The plane fatally crashed in the mountains.

An excerpt from the New York Times:

The plane took off from the Berlin Airport in Milan, N.H. about 7:30 P.M. on Sunday and headed south. Air traffic controllers tracked it as it climbed to about 5,600 feet, but then it disappeared from their radar, according to the Civil Air Patrol's New Hampshire Wing.

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December 23, 1943: CAP-Themed Film, "Cowboy in the Clouds" Released

2010-12-23T00:39:00.000-06:00

On this date, "Cowboy in the Clouds," a movie short featuring a Civil Air Patrol plot line, was release.

An synopsis of the short from Associated Content:

Ranch boss Steve Kendall (Charles Starrett) goes to the aid of the Civil Air Patrol, which is under fire from Amos Fowler (Davison Clark), the richest man in the state. Steve, aided by Dorrie Bishop (Julie Duncan), his sidekick Cannonball (Dub Taylor) and his cowhands (Jimmy Wakely, Foy Willing and Shelby Atchison) battles thundering hoofs, gunfire, air attacks and a forest fire.

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December 22, 1941: Time Reports LaGuardia's Big Plans for the CAP

2010-12-22T03:48:00.000-06:00

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On this date, Time magazine reported that Civil Defense Director Fiorello LaGuardia had big plans for the Civil Air Patrol during the WW II.

An excerpt:

Mayor LaGuardia announced that he will enlist 90,000 licensed pilots, 90,000 student pilots, 100,000 ground workers to serve in a Civil Air Patrol for the war's duration. Under the command of Major General John F. Curry of the U.S. Army Air Corps, CAP will operate from 2,000 airports in the U.S. which are not used for military or commercial flights.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,931953,00.html#ixzz17qHRUcjT

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December 21, 2003: California Finds Downed Helicopter and Survivors

2010-12-21T00:27:00.000-06:00

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On this date, the California Civil Air Patrol Announced it had discovered the crash of a Robinson R-22 helicopter in the mountains of San Diego County. The crew survived.

An excerpt from the CAWG's release:

TEMECULA, CA – A Civil Air Patrol (CAP) aircraft and flight crew located the site this afternoon where a helicopter had crashed late Saturday afternoon in rugged terrain in northern San Diego County. The CAP was alerted by the United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. The AFRCC immediately notified the CAP of a possible aircraft crash in the Southern California area. The CAP dispatched an aircraft and aircrew Sunday afternoon to locate the source of a radio distress signal believed to be coming from an aircraft Emergency Locator Transmitter in the Ramona or Julian area of northern San Diego County, approximately 25 miles north of San Diego, according to Capt. Bob Keilholtz, a spokesman and Incident Commander with the CAP.

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December 20, 1968: Two California Civil Air Patrol Members Killed While Searching for Missing Airplane

2010-12-20T01:36:00.001-06:00

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On this date, two members of the California Civil Air Patrol were killed when their search plane crashed into Tecate Peak in California while searching for a missing Piper Cherokee PA-28-100. The Piper had indeed crashed killing all three on board. That plane was located December 24, 1968.

An excerpt from LOSTFLIGHTS:

As the flight progressed westerly towards San Diego, the turbulence and visibilty became increasingly worse near the mountainous Laguna Range. Fighting turbulence and spatial disorientation, it was not long before the single-engine Piper departed controlled flight (possible in-flight breakup) and impacted the snow covered slopes of Cuyapaipe Mountain fifty miles east of it's destination. All three were killed.

The next day an air search was mounted for the missing aircraft which was mostly conducted in poor weather conditions. Tragedy struck twice while in the process of the search, two members of the local Civil Air Patrol were killed when their own plane collided with nearby Tecate Peak.

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December 19, 2005: IMLogic Announces "Real Time" Messaging Capabilities with CAP

2010-12-19T23:55:00.002-06:00

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On this date, IMLogic announced that the Civil Air Patrol was using its "real time" messaging service.

An excerpt from a press release:

WALTHAM, Mass. -- The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) depends on IMlogic IM Manager(TM) to secure emergency real-time communications with volunteers across the country for search and rescue flights, Department of Homeland Security missions and disaster response. CAP coordinated its vital missions in the South following the devastation wrought by hurricanes Katrina and Rita using instant messaging to plan hundreds of missions to find survivors, take aerial photographs and help bring aid to those in need.

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December 18, 1982: WVWG Assists in Finding Downed Medivac Helicopter

2010-12-18T01:59:00.001-06:00

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On this date, the West Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol assisted in the search of a fatal Medivac helicopter crash near Beverly, W.Va.

An excerpt from the New York Times;

A medical transport helicopter that crashed while ferrying a critically ill heart patient was found today by searchers and all three people aboard were dead, the state police said.

The helicopter ''was tore all to pieces,'' said Maj. Kermit Miller of the Civil Air Patrol.

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December 15, 2007: CAP Assists in Project to Use Computers to Fight Wildfires

2010-12-15T01:54:00.000-06:00

Image by slworking2 via FlickrOn this date, the New York Times reported on a researcher's plan to use computers to fight wildfires and how the Civil Air Patrol was assisting in the project.

An excerpt:

The United States Forest Service is supplying data on soil moisture. The Civil Air Patrol, the civilian air-rescue arm of the Air Force, is sending images from its training flights. Ash from the fires in California is being analyzed in Colorado and will be used to help project Grand County’s expected ash composition from fire.

The researchers say that if ever there was a place to see what fire science can achieve before a fire actually erupts, Grand County is the candidate. The population and number of second homes are growing rapidly, and the forest that tucks in around the new homes is dying, attacked by beetles that are killing lodgepole pines in numbers that scientists say they have never seen.

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December 14, 2008: HAWG Assesses Kauai Flood Damage

2010-12-14T01:35:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, the Hawaiian Wing of the Civil Air Patrol performed aerial assessment of large-scale flooding on Kauai.

Video of story available here from KITV-TV and an excerpt:

Raging flood waters washed away cars and disturbed piles of abandoned vehicles, Kauai residents say the water rose 6 to 7 feet.

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December 13, 2009: ORWG Participates in Mount Hood Search and Rescue of Climbers

2010-12-13T01:43:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, the Oregon Civil Air Patrol assisted the U.S. Coast Guard and local search and rescue teams in attempting to three lost climbers on Mount Hood.

An excerpt from the Salem News (Ore.):

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue Coordinators and volunteers remain actively engaged in the ongoing rescue mission on Mount Hood. One of the climbers died on the mountain and has been recovered, but his two climbing partners remain missing.

"The Oregon Army National Guard has deployed a helicopter to Mount Hood to assist with this aerial surveillance requested by the Sheriff's Office. In addition, a Civil Air Patrol fixed wing aircraft is also participating in this search and focusing attention around the targeted Reid Glacier, at the 9,000' level of Mount Hood."

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December 9, 2003: AOPA Demonstrates ADS-B to CAP

2010-12-08T23:28:00.004-06:00

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On this date, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) demonstrated a new tracking technology to CAP brass.

An excerpt from the AOPA Online.

AOPA Senior Director of Advanced Technology Randy Kenagy took CAP Executive Director Col. Al Allenback (USAF-Ret.) and Director of Operations Lt. Col. John Salvador (USAF-Ret.) for a demonstration flight in an aircraft equipped for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, or ADS-B.

ADS-B technology transmits an aircraft's GPS-derived position, altitude, airspeed, and projected track via datalink to other aircraft similarly equipped and to ground stations. The datalink capabilities also allow ground stations to uplink information about transponder-equipped non-ADS-B aircraft using the FAA's traffic information system-broadcast (TIS-B) system, as well as both textual and graphical weather data via the flight information system-broadcast (FIS-B) system.

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December 8, 1941: CAP Director LaGuardia Publishes Administrative Order 9

2010-12-08T00:01:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, the Civil Air Patrol was given organizational shape following Pearl Harbor.

An excerpt from AllExperts:

On December 8, 1941, Director (Fiorello) LaGuardia published Administrative Order 9. This order outlined the Civil Air Patrol's organization and named its first national commander as Major General John F. Curry. Wilson was officially made the executive officer of the new organization. Additionally, Colonel Harry H. Blee was appointed the new operations director. The very fear that sparked the Civil Air Patrol "movement"â€"that general aviation would be haltedâ€"became a reality when the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harboron December 7, 1941.

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December 7, 1941: Most Civil Aviation Grounded After Pearl Harbor Attack

2010-12-06T16:43:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, the federal government suspended nearly all civil aviation in the United States in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

An excerpt from the San Bernardino Squadron 5 website:

The Civil Air Patrol Movement was sparked by the fear that General Aviation would be halted. The fear became reality when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when all air traffic, with the exception of airliners, was halted. The ban was lifted only two days later and General Aviation went back to its normal business.

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December 5, 2009: CAP WWII Subchaser Hero Col. Edmond "Eddie" Edwards Dies

2010-12-05T00:01:00.003-06:00

On this date in 2009, one of the first Civil Air Patrol pilots to spot a German U-boat, Col. Edmond I. "Eddie" Edwards, died at the age of 96.

An excerpt from the Salem (Ore.) News:

One of Civil Air Patrol’s most famous World War II “subchasers,” honored for heroism by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, died on Saturday, Dec. 5, after a long illness. He was 96 years old. Col. Edmond I. “Eddie” Edwards was widely known as the first Coastal Patrol (later Civil Air Patrol) pilot to spot a Nazi U-boat and radio its position to U.S. naval forces. The vessel crash-dived and headed farther out to sea, where it was less of a menace to U.S. shipping. This occurred on March 10, 1942, near the start of the war. “He was probably one of the first subchasers to see the enemy,” said Roger Thiel, a senior member and independent historian with CAP.

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December 2, 2004: Alaska Newspaper Details Extensive Search for Pilot

2010-12-02T15:19:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, the Homer (Alaska) News detailed the happy ending of bush pilot Michael Holman's nearly week long ordeal over the Thanksgiving holidy in the wilderness and the Alaska Civil Air Patrol's extensive search to try and find him.

An excerpt:

CAP squadrons from Kenai, Seward and Homer joined the search over the next week. By the time Holman was found, the CAP and guard flew 79 trips and logged 238 hours, searching an area of about 4,000 square miles from Palmer to Seldovia. Pilots from Homer and Seldovia also helped in the search.

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December 1, 2001: Because of 911 Tragedy, CAP's 60th Anniversary Celebration Postponed

2010-12-01T02:01:00.001-06:00

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Because of the 911 attacks and the nation's recovery, celebration of the Civil Air Patrol's 60th Anniversary was pushed back from December 1, 2001 to March 2, 2002.

An excerpt from the CAP NHQ history website:

Saturday, December 1, 2001, was CAP's 60th anniversary. A gala was planned for that day, along with a reception to be fittingly held at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. But because of the tragic events and this nation on a wartime footing, it was decided, and rightly so, to reschedule it for March 2, 2002.

November 28, 2007: Mississippi Wing Finds USAF Trainer Crash Site

2010-11-28T22:00:00.001-06:00

On this date, members of the Mississippi Wing of the Civil Air Patrol successfully located the crash locations of two United States Air Force T-6 Texan II trainers. Both pilots ejected safely.

Commentary from one of the participants in the search:

On November 28, 2007, our Civil Air Patrol Squadron was called to search for the wreckages of a crash of two T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft based at Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi. The aircraft had collided in mid-air near an auxilliary air strip near Shuqualak, Mississippi. . . Our mission was to locate the aircraft and photograph the crash sites. . . Although the air crew of this plane had been recovered, they had apparently been walking some distance when they were found, and so the location of this crash site was unknown until our aircrew found it.

Photo by Roger Smith.
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November 21, 1941: Pennsylvania Newspaper Reports Civil Air Patrol "Ready To Take Off"

2010-11-21T02:01:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date in 1941, the Reading (Pa.) News reported that after months of delay, the Civil Air Patrol was "ready to take off."

The story:

The civil air patrol, though held up for months in the office of civilian defense, will get the "take-off" sign any minute now, and add a patriotic stimulus to civilian flying that will not only give women flyers but men who are unfitted for actual military service an opportunity to spread their wings for national defense.

November 14, 2008: CAP Member Col. Eric Boe Pilots Space Shuttle Mission

2010-11-14T00:01:00.001-06:00

On this date in 2008, United State Air Force Col. Eric Boe, a former Civil Air Patrol Cadet and current member of the Florida Wing of the CAP, piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavor, which lifted off this day.

And excerpt from NASA:

STS-126 Endeavour (November 14-30, 2008) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It was NASA’s 4th shuttle flight in 2008 and the 27th Shuttle/Station assembly mission. Highlights of the almost 16-day mission included expanding the living quarters of the space station to eventually house 6 member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine, and a water recycling system, and included a total of four EVAs (spacewalks) by three members of the crew. STS-126 also delivered a new resident to the station, replacing Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17-18 with Sandy Magnus, Expedition 18. STS-126 returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.

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November 8, 2007: Two CAP Members Die in Crash During Fossett Search in Nevada

2010-11-08T00:01:00.001-06:00

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On this date in 2007, the Civil Air Patrol lost two members during their search for adventurer Steve Fossett when their single-engine CAP Cessna 182 Skylane crashed into Mount Potosi southwest of Las Vegas.

An excerpt from a Nevada blog:

The crash was estimated to be about 1,300 feet from the top of the 8,514 foot tall Mount Potosi, according to the National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report. The glass cockpit Cessna 182 was destroyed by fire. Killed were the Nevada Wing Commander of the Civil Air Patrol, Colonel Dion E. DeCamp and the Pacific Region Director of Operations and a former national vice commander, Colonel Edwin W. Lewis Jr. The National Transportation Safety Board Report

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November 3, 1997: Two Members of California CAP Die in Plane Crash

2010-11-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

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On this date, two members of the California Civil Air Patrol died in the crash of a Cessna 182.

An excerpt from Airborne Law Enforcement Association:

Captain Jess Ceniceros died when his Skylane crashed at 1743 hours near Markleeville, GA. (sic), during a SAR mission. Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Nettell was also killed.

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October 30, 1949: Civil Air Patrol Pilot Helps Set Helicopter Duration Record

2010-10-30T00:01:00.003-05:00

On this date in 1949, a Civil Air Patrol pilot helped to set a new helicopter duration record.

From the USAF:

Lt. G. A. Rullo and M. D. Kembro (Civil Air Patrol) flew a Sikorsky helicopter to an unofficial record of 755 miles in 10 hours, 50 minutes.

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October 26, 2002: CAP Honors the AOPA for Its Post 911 Support of General Aviation

2010-10-26T00:09:00.001-05:00

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On this date in 2002, the Civil Air Patrol honored the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for its support of general aviation following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

An excerpt from an AOPA press release:

On behalf of CAP's 61,000 members, Brigadier General Richard L. Bowling, CAP national commander, presented the award to Phil Boyer, AOPA president, during AOPA Expo 2002 in Palm Springs, California. Bowling applauded AOPA's staunch support of general aviation following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. "AOPA played a key role in keeping non-military pilots informed after restrictions were suddenly placed on aircraft following the attacks," Bowling said. "The Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress to support civil aviation, and AOPA is a significant partner in CAP's ability to provide such support," he continued. "In the post-9/11 world of general aviation, CAP pilot members have depended a great deal on AOPA's efforts to disseminate accurate information as the new rules of airspace restrictions were defined and frequently changed.

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October 23, 1986: WWI, Former CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Lucas V. Beau Dies

2010-10-23T02:01:00.000-05:00

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On this date in 1986, Maj. Gen. Lucas V. Beau, one of the early commanders of the Civil Air Patrol, died in Washington, DC according to the New York Times.

An excerpt:

Lucas V. Beau, a retired Air Force major general whose career included service as a World War I pilot and as commander of the Civil Air Patrol, died Wednesday at Sibley Memorial Hospital here after suffering a heart attack. He was 91 years old.

October 16, 1944: Vermont CAP Cadets Save Member of Bomber Crew Crash

2010-10-16T00:01:00.003-05:00

On this date in 1944, five Cadets in the Vermont Civil Air Patrol saved one of the crew members of an AAF bomber that crashed, one of the worst aviation disasters in the Green Mountain State's history.

An excerpt from the National Capital Wing's website:

According to a WCAX-TV report, a U.S. Air Force bomber was on a routine mission in 1944 when it crashed into the side of the mountain with 10 crewmen onboard. Nine of the men died, but 18-year-old Jimmy Wilson was saved, thanks to the heroic efforts of five Civil Air Patrol cadets.

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September 26, 2005: Civil Air Patrol Begins Hurricane Rita Assessment Flights

2010-09-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

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On this date in 2005, the Civil Air Patrol began flying photo reconnaissance missions to assess damage caused by Hurricane Rita.

An excerpt from the USAF:

Civil Air Patrol pilots from across the nation came to Houston to support the assessment of Hurricane Rita's impact. This was the second day of flight operations after the Texas CAP was requested to begin operations in Houston. By the end of Sept. 26, they completed 50 sorties, providing photo reconnaissance of potential damage, oil spills, traffic congestion, flood assessment and live multispectral imagery for state and federal agencies.

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September 25, 1960: Aviation Legend, CAP Lt. Col. Ruth Rowland Nichols Dies

2010-09-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

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On this date in 1960, famed aviatrix and early Civil Air Patrol pilot Ruth Rowland Nichols died.

She is the only woman yet to hold simultaneous world records for speed, altitude, and distance. Nichols was also a lieutenant colonel in the CAP and a friend of Amelia Earhart.

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September 19, 2008: CAP Takes NWS Metoerologists up in the Air for Post Hurricane Ike Assessment

2010-09-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

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On this date in 2008, the Civil Air Patrol flew National Weather Service meteorologist along the east Texas coast as Hurricane Ike waned.

An excerpt from the Houston Chronicle's tropical weather blog:

``This mission is going to help us with our ground data,'' said Patrick Blood, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. ``Now we have aerial photos and video that we can tie together for our complete coastal report.''

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September 18, 2007: Nevada Civil Air Patrol Scales Down Search for Steve Fossett

2010-09-18T02:01:00.000-05:00

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On this date in 2007, the Nevada Wing of the Civil Air Patrol reduced its search for missing adventurer Steve Fossett.

An excerpt from the BBC:

The search for US adventurer Steve Fossett has been scaled back two weeks after his plane vanished over the Nevada wilderness, officials say.

Nevada Civil Air Patrol has suspended aerial searches and put two planes on standby to follow any new leads.

September 10, 1984: Massachusetts CAP to Fly Anti-Pollution Missions

2010-09-10T00:01:00.007-05:00

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On this date in 1984, the Christian Science Monitor reported that the Civil Air Patrol might fly missions in Massachusetts to monitor pollution.

An excerpt:

Under an agreement with the state, CAP pilots will monitor the state's lakes, landfills, and coastline to gather evidence of environmental pollution such as sewage overflows, midnight dumping of toxic waste, and liquid seeping from landfills into wetlands. The state budget includes $78,000 for the aerial surveillance, which is the first formal program involving the CAP, the civilian auxiliary of the US Air Force, with state environmental protection efforts.

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August 31, 1943: CAP Coastal Patrol "Stands Down"

2010-08-31T00:01:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, the Civil Air Patrol's Coastal Patrol program along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts was deactivated.

An excerpt from Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol:

CAP planes got bombs and depth charges after a crew watched in vain as a grounded sub off Cape Canaveral, Florida, escaped before the military arrived. CAP Coastal Patrol flew 24 million miles, found 173 subs, attacked 57, hit 10 and sank two. By Presidential Executive Order, CAP became an auxiliary of the Army Air Forces on April 29, 1943. The military had resisted "those country-club pilots" and their "toy planes," but 21 CAP Coastal Patrol bases from Maine to Texas had soon deterred close-in submarine operations. By August 31, 1943, it was time for Coastal Patrol to stand down. A German commander later confirmed that coastal U-boat operations were withdrawn "because of those damned little red and yellow airplanes."

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August 30, 2003: CAP Adds Surveillance to Its Post-911 Reportoire

2010-08-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

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On this date, the Boston Globe reported that the Civil Air Patrol had added aerial surveillance to its mission reportoire.

An excerpt from the Boston Globe:

LAS VEGAS -- For six decades the Civil Air Patrol, the volunteer auxiliary arm of the US Air Force, has been flying search and rescue missions, hunting for lost hikers and downed aircraft. But since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the patrol has been flying security missions, and is using cutting-edge technology to improve its surveillance abilities with an aviation standby -- single engine Cessnas.

The US Department of Defense used Civil Air Patrol services to provide aerial security surveillance over venues at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and the patrol has also been routinely used to fly surveillance and security missions over the nation's harbors, reservoirs, nuclear power plants, military bases, gas pipelines, and other sensitive sites.

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August 29, 2008: NHQ Says CAP Ready for Hurricane Gustav

2010-08-29T20:07:00.000-05:00

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On this date, National Headquarters of the Civil Air Patrol announced it had made preparations for the imminent landfall of Hurricane Gustav along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

An excerpt from CAP NHQ via WSFA-TV:

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. - As Hurricane Gustav moves closer to the Gulf Coast of the United States, Civil Air Patrol members are making preparations to safeguard CAP assets and preparing to respond to requests for assistance after the storm makes landfall.

Gustav is forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico this weekend and it could impact the gulf states by early next week. The storm is projected to move in a northwesterly direction but it is too early to tell specifically where landfall will occur.

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August 28, 2006: ARCHER-equipped Airplane Brought in for North Dakota Search

2010-08-28T00:01:00.002-05:00

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On this date in 2006, an ARCHER-equipped Gipsland Airvan joined elements of the Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Civil Air Patrol in the search for a missing pilot.

An excerpt from the Sioux City Journal:

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Officials brought in an airplane with a special imaging system on Sunday to help search for a small plane that went missing in stormy weather on Thursday. The Gippsland GA-8 Airvan, an Australian-made aircraft based in Minneapolis, is one of 15 aircraft stationed across the nation equipped with the ARCHER system, said Rick Robinson, a spokesman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. ARCHER stands for Airborne Real-Time Cueing Hyper-spectral Enhanced Reconnaissance system. . . The search on Sunday, which was called off around 8 p.m., included two aircraft from North Dakota, five from South Dakota and seven from Minnesota. With two ground crews, there were a total of 70 Civil Air Patrol personnel involved in the search.

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August 21, 2007: Three Die in CAP Plane Crash in Wyoming

2010-08-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

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On this date in 2007, three people died in Wyoming when a Civil Air Patrol plane crashed during a search for a missing teen who was found alive an hour after the mishap.

An excerpt from the Sioux City Journal:

SHELL, Wyo. (AP) -- A Civil Air Patrol plane being used to search for a missing teenager crashed and burned in the Bighorn National Forest, killing the three people aboard, officials said Tuesday. The plane went down Monday evening and was destroyed by fire, said Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration.

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August 15, 2008: Colorado CAP Searches for Plane with Missing Texas Family

2010-08-15T00:01:00.002-05:00

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On this date in 2008, Colorado Civil Air Patrol aircraft were called in to search for a plane carrying a family from Texas in the Steamboat Springs area.

An excerpt from the Steamboat (Colo.) Pilot:

Routt County — Civil Air Patrol is searching for a missing Texas family who departed the Steamboat Springs Airport on a private plane Friday morning and never made it to their destination. The family of four, two adults and two children, failed to arrive in eastern Texas as scheduled Friday, and concerned family contacted Civil Air Patrol on Saturday, Maj. Mark Young said.

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August 1, 1945: Civil Air Patrol Celebrates Army Air Force Day in San Francisco

2010-08-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

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On this day in 1945, the Civil Air Patrol celebrated Army Air Force Day in San Francisco, California.

An excerpt from The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco:

August 1, 1945
Civil Air Patrol hosted dinner celebrating Army Air Force Day at the Palace Hotel. Gen. Hap Arnold's movie "Victory in the Air" premiered. Mayor Lapham also spoke.

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July 17, 1999: Civil Air Patrol Joins Search for John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Airplane

2010-07-17T00:10:00.003-05:00

On this date in 1999, Civil Air Patrol aircraft joined in a massive air and sea search for John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s missing 1995 Piper Saratoga II HP. The plane apparently crashed the evning of July 16, 1999 on a flight from New Jersey to the Kennedy compound on Martha's Vineyard. Kennedy, the son of the slain President John F. Kennedy, his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette, were all killed.

An excerpt from Newsweek:

Between 7:30 and 7:55 Saturday morning, a C-130, 15 Civil Air Patrol planes, two Coast Guard helicopters, an Air National Guard chopper and a UH-25 Falcon took to the skies. A virtual armada--Coast Guard cutters, utility boats, patrol boats and search-and-rescue ships--combed an area 190 nautical miles long by 20 miles wide between Long Island and Cape Cod. By noon, the Air Force had turned to the intelligence community, asking the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, which reports to the director of Central Intelligence, to pull the CIA into the search. Intelligence sources tell NEWSWEEK that three advanced KH-11 photographic satellites in a standard polar orbit were in position to pass over the entire search area at different times.

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July 16, 1980: CAP Cadet Allegedly Sees UFO Near Pecos, New Mexico

2010-07-16T00:01:00.002-05:00

On this date in 1980, a CAP cadet reported that he allegedly saw a UFO near Pecos, New Mexico.

An excerpt from the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena:

10:30 AM. A Civil Air Patrol cadet along with several other witnesses observed a dull metallic, circular object maneuvering near Pecos, New Mexico. The cadet got closer to the object after it landed in a nearby clearing and took some photographs. He then observed a human looking figure dressed in a metallic suit emerge from the object and walk a few feet away from it. Moments later the figure returned to the object and it quickly took off and flew towards the northwest. The cadet was later approached by a mysterious man who wanted him to turn over the photographs to him. (Source: Timothy Good, Above Top Secret: The Worldwide UFO Cover-Up, p. 407).

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July 5, 1953: UPI Reports 13 States Use CAP Flights to Catch Highway Speeders

2010-07-05T00:01:00.006-05:00

On this date, the United Press International reported that 13 states were using Civil Air Patrol airplanes to help catch highway speeders.

An excerpt from the Milwaukee Sentinel:

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July 3, 2006: Arizona Wing's Lt. Col. Bohn Wanamaker Offers 4th of July Thoughts in USA Today

2010-07-03T00:01:00.002-05:00

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On this date in 2006, Lt. Col. Bohn E. Wanamaker of the Arizona Wing of the Civil Air Patrol had an essay featured on USA Today's opinion blog on the meaning of the 4th of July.

An excerpt from USA Today:

On this Independence Day, as we raise Old Glory, be still, listen and she will tell of the price paid for the freedom we have in America — paid by those young men who died so that America would be free. They died at Pork Chop Hill, Verdun, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, Okinawa and Corregidor. And when they died, the American flag wrapped them in love and draped honor over their caskets, on land and on the seas.

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July 1, 1946: Pres. Truman Signs Law Incorporating CAP as a Private Non-profit Corporation

2010-07-01T02:01:00.000-05:00

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On this date in 1946, President Harry Truman signed Public Law 476 incorporating Civil Air Patrol as a benevolent, nonprofit organization.

June 28, 1891: Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Born in Pennsylvania

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On this date, Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, military aviation pioneer and early Civil Air Patrol proponent, was born in Boyertown, Pa.

An excerpt from The Spaaztz Association website:

In March 1946 he succeeded General Arnold as commander in chief of the Army Air Forces, and he became the first chief of staff of the independent air force in September 1947. He held that post until retiring in July 1948 in the rank of general (he had been permanent major general since June 1946). He served subsequently as chairman of the Civil Air Patrol and for a time contributed a column to Newsweek magazine. Spaatz died in Washington, D.C., on July 14, 1974 and was interred on the grounds of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was inducted into the International Aerospace Hall of Fame in 1977.

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June 24, 1942: Beaumont, TX and Pascagoula, MS Coastal Patrol Squadrons Formed

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Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

On this date in 1942, the Beaumont, Texas and Pascagoula, Mississippi CAP Coastal Patrol Squadrons were formed.

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June 21, 1946: South Dakota Wing Hosts Air Show Featuring a Jet

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On this date in 1946, the South Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (my home wing) sponsored an air show at the Sioux Falls Army Air Base (now South Dakota Air National Guard Base) and featured a jet aircraft.

This item comes courtesy of Lt. Col. Mark Hess of the Georgia Wing. Thank you for an awesome find and sharing it!

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June 17, 2008: Hawaiian CAP Assists in Search for Missing Tour Plane

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On this date in 2008, the Hawaiian Civil Air Patrol aircraft were assisting in the search of a Cessna 172 tour plane.

An excerpt from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

A U.S. Coast Guard C-130 plane continued searching through the night and into this morning for a missing single-engine tour plane that disappeared yesterday afternoon somewhere over or near the Big Island with a pilot and two passengers from Japan on board.

Five aircraft from the Coast Guard, Hawaii County, and Civil Air Patrol were searching along the southern shores and inland, county Civil Defense director Quince Mento said.

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June 3, 1943: Former CAP Member Jane Champlin First WASP to Die

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On this date in 1943, Jane Champlin was the first Womens Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) graduate to die in a crash. She had earned her wings in the Civil Air Patrol.

An excerpt from WWII Women Pilots:

Jane was born in Chicago and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Arcadia College and St. Louis University with a B.A. in 1937. She was the first alumni to die in WW II and a building on the campus is named in her honor. She was interested in horseback riding, diving, tennis, and of course flying. She learned to fly in 1940 while in St. Louis and got her pilot's license in the Civil Air Patrol

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June 2, 2007: Civil Air Patrol Provides Flyovers After Iowa Tornado

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Image via Wikipedia

On this date in 2007, a tornado hit eastern Iowa and the Civil Air Patrol assisted in the disaster assessment.

An excerpt from the Sioux City Journal:

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Cleanup efforts in eastern Iowa intensified Saturday following a tornado that damaged as many as 100 homes in three eastern Iowa communities, according to police. Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, working with officials from FEMA, had teams surveying Louisa and Muscatine counties Saturday morning for preliminary damage estimates. . . . State troopers patrolled the small town of Fruitland Friday night, which officials say has sustained heavy damage. The Civil Air Patrol also performed flyovers over the area.

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May 31, 2009: DNN Reports Alaska CAP Delivers Tons of Sled Dog Food

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Image via Wikipedia

On this date, the Disaster News Network reported that the Alaska Wing of the Civil Air Patrol had helped to deliver tons of sled dog food to Alaskan villages stranded by flooding and dependent upon dog sleds.

An excerpt from DNN:

The most immediate need to the villages of Eagle, Stevens Village, Circle and Tanana is approximately 8,000 pounds of dog food per week due to the large population of sled dogs in that portion of Alaska. According to officials, 10,000 pounds was delivered to these villages May, 25 by way of airplane provided by Samaritan’s Purse and the Civil Air Patrol in association with AKVOAD, the Alaska Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and private individuals.

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May 30, 1942: James Island CAP Coastal Patrol Squadron Flies First Mission

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Image by huggingthecoast.com food blog via Flickr

On this date, the James Island/Charleston, South Carolina Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol squadron flew its first mission.

Source: Flying Minute Men

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May 29, 1999: CAP Fights for its "Independence" from the USAF

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Image via Wikipedia

On this date in 1999, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the Civil Air Patrol was "fighting for its independence" from the United States Air Force.

An excerpt:

Now the Civil Air Patrol - which has a $30 million budget and 60,000 members nationwide - is fighting for its independence against an unlikely opponent: the Air Force.

A recent audit found lax spending practices and safety procedures at Civil Air Patrol national headquarters. It prompted the Air Force to ask Congress for control of the organization.

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May 26, 1948: Congress Passes Law Making CAP USAF Auxiliary

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Image via Wikipedia

On this date in 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557 permanently establishing Civil Air Patrol as the auxiliary of the new U.S. Air Force.

May 25, 1998: Massachusetts CAP Plane Crash Kills Two Crew Members

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Image via Wikipedia

On this date in 1998, a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 crashed in Massachusetts during a training flight, killing both crew members.

An excerpt from Aviation Safety Network:

The Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 was conducting what was briefed as a 1 hour instrument proficiency flight. After 30 minutes the pilots cancelled the instrument flight rules clearance and the flight continued under visual flight rules. About 15 minutes later the airplane was observed to conduct a low approach to a private airport, and then initiated a climbing right turn. During the climb, the bank increased and the airplane descended into trees with no change in engine power.

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May 24, 1942: Red Propellers Removed from CAP Coastal Patrol Aircraft Insignia

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On this date in 1942, Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters issued a memorandum ordering the removal of the now famous red propellers from Coastal Patrol aircraft to avoid confusion with enemy Japanese aircraft.

From the CAP NHQ history website:

General Memorandum-29, May 25 1942, (GM-29) with special classified addendum only for Coastal Patrol personnel and operations section. Now required the removal of the red three bladed propeller from the CAP aircraft emblem on all aircraft assigned. The official CP insignia now consisted of a blue circle with white isosceles triangle was the only authorized insignia for CAP-CP aircraft This was in keeping with the current practice of the AAF to avoid confusion with Japanese emblem. This directive and practice remained in effect till the Coastal Patrol units were disbanded in 1945.

May 23, 1947: SD CAP to Hold First Air Races Since 1934

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On this date in 1947, a South Dakota newspaper reported that the Civil Air Patrol was holding the first air races at the Sioux Falls airport since 1934 and sponsoring an air fair on May 25, 1947.

Below is an actual clipping of the article from, what I believe, is from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. The clipping is courtesy of Mark Hess, Lt. Col, CAP of the Georgia Wing.

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May 22, 1993: Bus with 23 CAP Cadets Overturns in California

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Image via Wikipedia

On this date in 1993, a military bus carrying 24 teens--23 of whom were CAP cadets--overturned on the way to an outing at Point Mugu, California.

An excerpt from the Los Angeles Times:

A bus filled with Southern California teen-agers on their way to an outing at Point Mugu overturned on a narrow, steep road near Camarillo on Saturday, injuring 17 youths and five adults, officials said.

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