Central Florida Composite Squadron-259

e leaders through Cadet Programs. And through our Emergency Services training, we answer the call to save lives on SAR, Disaster Relief, and Homeland Support missions as the U.S. Air Force's Official all-volunteer Auxiliary. You may not often hear of us, but we've been serving our nation's communities since 1941. When the call comes, we'll be there: Saving Lives, Shaping Futures, and doing our part for a better tomorrow. For more Information, please visit
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/about/who-we-are


from CAPP050-005, Introduction to Civil Air Patrol:
"The Civil Air Patrol began as an idea by aviation enthusiasts and pilots who were concerned about the future of general aviation in America in the years before World War II. In the mid to late 1930’s, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan created an alliance called the Axis, and were taking over much of Europe, North Africa and Indochina. Their actions were beginning to threaten America’s allies and vital interests. A by-product of the Axis’ aggression was the stifling of civil aviation in conquered countries. Also, in those countries not yet threatened by Axis power, civil aircraft flight was either drastically curtailed or eliminated as authorities realized the need to better control air traffic through restriction to military flights only. During the period 1938-41, United States civilian aircraft pilots, aviation mechanics and aviation enthusiasts became increasingly concerned about the international situation. They began to understand – as many Americans did – that if the Axis powers were even marginally successful in their plans for conquests, America would be forced to intervene. If so, they concluded that the government would most probably severely limit aviation in an attempt to reduce the risk of sabotage. These air-minded Americans realized that the United States – and the aviation community – would be better suited if civil aviation could be put to use when hostilities opened instead of being restricted by the government. During that period, there were approximately 25,000 light aircraft, 128,000 certified pilots, and over 14,000 aircraft mechanics in America. Fearing these repercussions, many of these aviation enthusiasts searched for ways to both serve their country and preserve civil aviation’s strength. While many pilots and mechanics entered the Royal Air Force or the Royal Canadian Air Force to “get on with it,” others joined the US armed services. Those who could not join a military service because of age, physical condition or for other reasons still had the desire to help. They were prepared to endorse any plan whereby they and their aircraft could be put to use when the time came in defense of the nation. The concept of a national civil air patrol was first envisaged in 1938 when Mr. Gill Robb Wilson, a noted aviation writer of the time, returned from a writing assignment in Germany. While there, he noticed Germany’s aggressive intentions first-hand. Upon his return to his home state of New Jersey, he reported his findings to Governor Edison and pleaded that New Jersey organize and use its civil air fleet as an augmenting force for the war that he was convinced would come. Governor Edison approved the concept and Mr. Wilson formulated a plan to consolidate general aviation into a public service organization devoted to supporting America’s war effort. In this way, private pilots could use their skills to help defend their country; and stay in the air! This plan, backed by the Chief of the Army Air Corps, General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold and the Civil Aeronautics Authority, called for the utilization of single-engine, propeller-driven aircraft for liaison work and patrolling uninhabited stretches of coastline and vital infrastructure such as dams, aqueducts, pipelines, etc., to guard against sabotage. In addition, security measures, such as policing the airports and fingerprinting those people associated with light aviation, were to be performed by Civil Air Defense Services personnel (as Wilson’s organization in New Jersey was named). Other efforts were made following the pattern of the New Jersey Civil Air Defense Services. The Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (a national organization that still exists today) had its “Civil Air Guard” units in several metropolitan cities across the nation. The Civil Air Guard was started by Mr. Milton Knight in Ohio. In time, other states followed the pioneering efforts of New Jersey. Colorado and Missouri had state air squadrons; Florida formed an organization known as the “Florida Defense Force.” Soon states from across America had their own organizations. But of all these organizations, it was Gill Robb Wilson’s Civil Air Defense Service that was the blueprint for Civil Air Patrol. Meanwhile, the US Army Air Corps and the Civil Aeronautics Administration had instituted what it saw as a first step towards utilizing civil air strength, by formulating a civilian pilot refresher course and a civilian pilot training program. But these two activities made provision only for military use of those trained, with the objective of raising the existing reservoir of civilian airmen who could be placed into military service when needed. However, there were still many civilian pilots who were not deemed as acceptable for this step. The second step pertained to the civil air strength in being. The program’s objective was to organize civilian aviation personnel so that their efforts could best be used in what loomed on the horizon as an all-out war effort. It was from this second step that Civil Air Patrol came into being. As with any program of such magnitude, there were varying opinions, and much thought and effort were spent before a workable program could be devised. Some highly responsible men believed military use should be made of civilian “know-how.” Others, equally responsible, believed that civil aviation should be curtailed in time of war, as in Europe. Divergent viewpoints concerning control arose even among those who advocated military use of civilian aircraft. One group was convinced that light-plane aviation interests should be unified under a national system, while another group believed that control would be more appropriate at the state level.


1941 – Realization of a National Civil Air Patrol

The advocates of a nationwide Civil Air Patrol made innumerable contacts in their effort to establish their proposed organization as an element of America’s defense. But first, the problem of how to best use Civil Air Patrol for military missions had to be solved through Federal government approval and direction. Preparation
On 22 April 1941, Mr. Beck, Chairman of the Board of the Crowell-Collier Publishing Co., prepared and presented to President Franklin D. Roosevelt a plan for the mobilization of the nation’s air strength. Mr. Beck discussed his plan with Mr. Guy P. Gannett, owner of a New England newspaper chain. On 20 May 1941, the Office of Civilian Defense (OSD) was established as an agency of the Federal government with former mayor of New York City, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, as its director. National Civil Air Patrol advocates, including Mr. Wilson, Mr. Beck, and Mr. Gannett, presented their plan for a national level CAP to Mr. LaGuardia. Having been a pilot during World War I (WW I), LaGuardia saw merit in the plan and expressed his enthusiasm for it, but he also recognized that its success would hinge upon the support of the War Department, specifically the US Army Air Corps. LaGuardia appointed Wilson, Beck, and Gannett to a special aviation committee with instructions to “blueprint” the organization of national aviation resources on a national scale. By June 1941, a plan for the proposed organization took shape, although many of the details still needed to be worked out. Gill Robb Wilson accomplished this task, assisted by Mr. Reed Landis, a WW I ace, aeronautical expert, and the OSD aviation consultant. Wilson and Landis had the advice and assistance of some of the country’s leading airmen as they worked to finalize the plan. By early October, the planning was completed. What was left was the drawing up of directives, design of basic forms, and a few other administrative details. To see to these remaining details, and to accomplish the important task of selecting wing commanders (one for each state), Wilson left his New York office and traveled to Washington DC, as the Civil Air Patrol’s first executive officer. Military Approval
To solidify the plan under the approval of the military establishment, General “Hap” Arnold – who had encouraged the plan from the beginning – convened a board of military officers to review the final plan presented by Gill Robb Wilson and his colleagues. General Arnold appointed General George E. Stratemeyer as presiding officer of the board, which included Colonel Harry H. Blee, Major Lucas P. Ordway, Jr., and Major A.B. McMullen. General Arnold asked the board to determine the potential of the Civil Air Patrol plan and to evaluate the role of the War Department in making CAP an agency of the new Office of Civilian Defense. The board approved the plan, while recommending that Army Air Forces (AAF) officers help to start up and administer the new organization. Now with military approval, the Director of Civilian Defense (Mr. LaGuardia) signed the formalorder creating the Civil Air Patrol on 1 December 1941. Early Days and Wartime Activities
On 8 December 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Forces, Director LaGuardia published a document called Administrative Order 9. This order outlined the proposed organization of Civil Air Patrol and designated its first national commander Major General John F. Curry, US Army Air Corps..."