Sulphur Springs Civil Air Patrol TX450

The Civil Air Patrol was founded at a time of national crisis, mobilizing civilian volunteers to defend the nation as in no time since the American Revolution. No wonder they were called “Flying Minutemen.”

In today’s post-9/11 world, it’s instructive to see how America — and America’s civilian pilots — answered the call to help defeat a foreign threat on America’s shores and coastal waters.

The story continues through the Cold War to more recent times in the same spirit of the CAP Subchasers of WWII.

The Gathering Threat

War clouds loomed in Europe and Asia long before U.S. entry into WWII. Pilots remembered enemy sub operations off U.S. coasts in WWI, feared civilian flying would be banned, and knew small planes could play a role in national defense.

A number of civilian groups were organizing, but Gil Robb Wilson, head of the N.J. Division of Aeronautics, advanced the N.J. Air Guard as a model.

Wilson sold the concept to NY mayor Fiorello LaGuardia (also national Civil Defense chief), who sold it to the Roosevelt administration.

CAP’s insignia illustrated its original connection with Civil Defense. The standard CD insignia (blue circle, white triangle) was modified with symbols for scores functions… air raid wardens, ground spotters, etc. For CAP, a red propeller appeared inside the triangle.