CAP History

The attack on Pearl Harbor propelled the United States into World War II, but many Americans saw the Axis threat long before that fateful morning on December 7, 1941. Among them were nearly 150,000 men and women involved in aviation.

As early as 1938, they began to argue for the creation of an organization to harness their aviation resources to aid the nation in the event America entered the conflict. Their efforts, led by writer-aviator Gill Rob Wilson and supported by General Henry "Hap" Arnold, resulted in the creation of the Civil Air Patrol on December 1, 1941 - one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

First organized under the Office of Civilian Defense and headed by former New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, Civil Air Patrol members became the "Minutemen" of World War II, volunteering their time, resources, and talents to defend the nation's borders and fill the gaps as men and resources were being mobilized to fight abroad.

The War Department, especially the Army Armed Forces, recognized the important roles performed by CAP. In April 1943, CAP was reassigned from the Office of Civilian Defense to the War Department and placed under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Forces. These "Flying Minutemen," all volunteers, performed many missions, including coastal patrol to search for enemy submarines, search and rescue missions throughout the United States, cargo and courier flights to transfer critical materials and personnel, and even towing targets so Army Air Corps personnel could practice air-to-air gunnery techniques - a very risky mission with new gunners.

In all, these volunteers amassed a stunning record - flying more than half of a million hours, sinking two enemy submarines (German U-Boats), and saving hundreds of crash victims.

A thankful nation recognized the vital role CAP played during the war and understood the organization could continue to provide invaluable help to both local and national agencies.

On July 1, 1946, President Harry S. Truman signed Public Law 476, incorporating CAP as a benevolent, nonprofit organization.

On May 26, 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557 which permanently established CAP as the Auxilary of the newly created United States Air Force. This law also gave the Secretary of the Air Force the authority to provide financial and material assistance to the organization.

The above was adopted from CAP Manual 50-2, Marketing and Public Relations, CAP National Headquarters, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

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