What is the Civil Air Patrol?
CAP was founded in December of 1941, one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, by over 150,000 citizens concerned about the defense of America’s coastline. Flying under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Forces, CAP pilots flew over one-half million hours, were credited with sinking two enemy submarines, and rescued hundreds of crash survivors during World War II. On July 1, 1946, President Truman established CAP as a federally chartered benevolent civilian corporation. Congress passed Public Law 557 on May 26, 1948, which made CAP the auxiliary of the new United States Air Force. CAP was charged with three primary missions: Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services.
