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

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

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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."

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February 11, 1942: CAP Submits Plan for Coastal Patrol

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

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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.

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January 30, 1942: Washington, DC CAP Unit Forms

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

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.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,932308,00.html#ixzz0lEd7GiJm

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

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

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.

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January 3, 1942: CAP Announces It Can Ferry Military Aircraft

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

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

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

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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 19, 1942: Flagler Beach, Fla. CAP Coastal Patrol Flies First Mission

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On this date, the Flagler Beach (Florida) Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol Squadron flew its first mission.

Source: Flying Minute Men

1941-48 Civil Air Patrol History

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May 12, 1942: CAP Coastal Patrol Base Established at Daytona Beach

On this date in 1942, a Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol base was established at Daytona Beach, Florida.


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May 5, 1942: CAP Planes Carry Bombs, Find Crippled Ships off Florida Coast

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On this date in 1942, Civil Air Patrol aircraft located the S.S. Delisle, S.S. Amazone, and S.S. Halsey off the Florida coast.  The ships  had been attacked by German U-boats. 

Also on this day, CAP planes begin carrying bombs on their sub spotting missions.

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May 3, 1942: James Island, SC Coastal Patrol Squadron Activated

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On this date in 1942, the James Island CAP Coastal Patrol near Charleston, South Carolina was activated.

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April 23, 1942: Christian Science Monitor Reports that CAP Opens Flying to Women

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On this date in 1942, the Christian Science Monitor reported that the Civil Air Patrol had opened pilot training to women.

An excerpt:

ST. LOUIS, Mo. April 23--The Civil Air Patrol has opened a vast --formerly almost unattainable-- field to women aviation enthusiasts.

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March 30, 1942: CAP Establishes Coastal Patrol Base at West Palm Beach, Florida

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On this date in 1942, the Civil Air patrol established a base at Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida.  The based will later move to Lantana, Florida.

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March 15, 1942: CAP Spots Sunken Tanker in Atlantic Ocean

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On this date in 1942, a Civil Air Patrol aircraft spotted a sunken American tanker in the Atlantic.

An excerpt from a Navy report at the U-boat Archive:

104th Observation Squadron reported that the Civil Air Patrol had sighted a tanker under water at about 39-15 N., 74 W.* Small boat and life raft in vicinity; no survivors observed. One life boat sighted 2 miles North of sunken tanker.

*Coordinates appear to be incorrectly written down in original report as this lat/long is in the middle of Delaware.
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March 8, 1942: CAP Patrols Authorized up to 60 Miles off the Florida Coast

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On this date in 1942, Civil Air Patrol planes were authorized to fly up to 60 miles off the coast of Florida.  The permission ran from March 8 to May 18, 1942.

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February 12, 1942: CAP Gives "Props" to the Now Famous Propeller in Triangle in Circle Symbol

On this date in 1942, Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters approved the now famous logo of the organization, according to the CAP NHQ historical website.

An excerpt: 

Operational Directive No. 2 February 12, 1942, (OD No. 2) � National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol Office of Civilian Defense (Washington) 

The Civil Air Patrol insignia (blue disk with superimposed white triangle and with red three-bladed propeller superimposed on white triangle) shall be placed on the wings and fuselage of all aircraft engaged in official Civil Air Patrol Missions. Any aircraft while displaying such insignia shall be flown exclusively by members of the Civil Air patrol.

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