Pearl Harbor propelled the United States into World War II, but many
Americans saw the AXIS threat long before Dec. 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 Robb Wilson
and supported by Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold, resulted in the creation
of the Civil Air Patrol on Dec. 1, 1941 - one week before Pearl Harbor.
First organized under the Office of Civilian Defense, 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 Air 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 valiantly during
the war. They 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-a-million hours, sinking two enemy submarines, 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 Truman signed Public Law 476 that
incorporated CAP as a benevolent, nonprofit organization.
And on May 26, 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557 which permanently
established CAP as the Auxiliary of the new U.S. Air Force. This law also gave
the Secretary of the Air Force the authority to provide financial and material
assistance to the organization.
