August 31, 1943: CAP Coastal Patrols Ended

Image by trixie via Flickr

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Largely in reaction to the Civil Air Patrol’s activities, enemy submarine close-in operations along the East Coast were withdrawn and, on August 31, 1943, Civil Air Patrol coastal patrols were ordered to stand down (cease operations).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.

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

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.

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

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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Want to learn more or join the Civil Air Patrol? Browse http://gocivilairpatrol.com

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

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."

--Want to learn more or join the Civil Air Patrol? Browse http://gocivilairpatrol.com

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

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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Want to learn more or join the Civil Air Patrol? Browse http://gocivilairpatrol.com

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April 29, 1943: CAP Becomes an Auxliary of the AAF

Image via Wikipedia

On this date in 1943, the Civil Air Patrol was transferred from the Office of Civilian Defense to the War Department and made an auxiliary of the Army Air Forces.

An excerpt from Wikipedia:

The Civil Air Patrol's success with the cadet program, along with its impressive wartime record, led the War Department to create a permanent place for it in the department. On April 29, 1943, by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the command of the Civil Air Patrol was transferred from the Office of Civilian Defense to the War Department and given status as the auxiliary to the Army Air Forces. 

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Want to learn more or join the Civil Air Patrol? Browse http://gocivilairpatrol.com

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April 27, 1943: Spartanburg, SC CAP Drops "Bombs" in War Bond Drive

On this date in 1943, the Spartanburg,  South Carolina Civil Air Patrol "bombed" the city for a War Bonds Drive.

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Want to learn more or join the Civil Air Patrol? Browse http://gocivilairpatrol.com

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April 4, 1950: Minnesota Wing's Disney "Gremlin" Patch Approved

On this date in 1950, the Minnesota Wing received approval for their "Gremlin" patch.

The origin of the patch stems from a failed Disney project during World War II.

An excerpt from incountry.us:

In a major show of patriotism, Walt Disney Productions had been creating hundreds of emblems for the American military during World War II. Shortly after Civil Air Patrol came under control and direction of the Army Air Forces, Minnesota Wing submitted a request to Disney for permission to use one of their Gremlins in an emblem. Major Horace E Read, Minnesota's second?/third? Wing Commander, announced in March 1943 that the folks at the Disney studios had agreed to get behind Minnesota Wing's request and design an emblem featuring a Gremlin.

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Want to learn more or join the Civil Air Patrol? Browse http://gocivilairpatrol.com

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March 10, 1943: "Washington Merry-Go-Round's" Drew Pearson Gives the CAP a Shoutout

On this date in 1943, noted Washington journalist gave the Civil Air Patrol a "shoutout" for their work in the war effort with little support or equipment from the federal government.

An actual excerpt form the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post:

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March 5, 1943: Connecticut Governor Tells Hartford Squadron That War Effort Spending Should Be "Sane"

On this date in 1943, according to the Hartford Courant,  Connecticut Governor Baldwin told the Hartford Civil Air Patrol Squadron that the federal government needed to provide a more "equitable, sane and useful distribution of funds" for war purposes.

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March 4, 1943: Civil Air Patrol Placed Under the Army Air Force

Image via Wikipedia

On this date in 1943, the Civil Air Patrol was under the supervision of the Army Air Force.

An excerpt from StateMaster Encyclopedia:

On March 4, 1943, the War Department issued Memorandum W95-12-43, which assigned the AAF the responsibility for supervising and directing operations of the CAP.

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