Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter
Dear CAP Volunteer,
Congratulations to the members of the Civil Air Patrol on the occasion of our 68th anniversary.
CAP was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to America’s involvement in World War II. Members of CAP’s Coastal Patrol quickly proved their worth during the war by conducting aerial patrols, vigilance that discouraged and eventually stopped deadly German U-boat attacks on shipping in American waterways.
Inspired by the highest sense of patriotism and pride in their mission, these volunteer aviators, known as “subchasers,” flew more than 24 million miles during 86,000 over-water missions – a total of 244,600 flight hours – to keep the U-boats away from America’s coasts. They spotted 173 subs, attacked 57, hit 10 and sank two; called in aid for 91 ships in distress; saved 363 survivors of sub attacks; discovered 17 floating mines; and flew 5,684 special convoy missions. Fifty-nine members of these courageous aircrews died, 26 were lost at sea and seven others were seriously injured.
We were reminded of the sacrifices of these early pioneers of Civil Air Patrol with the deaths this year of Cols. Benjamin H. Stone and Louisa Spruance Morse. Col. Stone, who died in September at the age of 95, was a founding member who provided flight training to many of CAP’s subchasers. Col. Morse, who died in October at the age of 96, was one of CAP’s first and longest-serving female corporate officers – who had served extended terms as a wing and region commander and as national controller. Their extraordinary lives represent CAP’s proud legacy of selfless sacrifice and service to country and community, which still thrives today through you and the other 59,000 citizen volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol. I salute you for your vigilance, which now affects communities in all of America’s 50 states, the nation’s capital and Puerto Rico.
As the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force when tasked with Air Force-assigned missions, Civil Air Patrol’s role has greatly expanded to a multitude of missions for America over the past seven decades. CAP has evolved into a world-class public service organization of everyday heroes – pilots, technology experts, communicators, chaplains, teachers, youth mentors and others – who provide emergency services to those in need, conduct youth programs at more than 1,500 locations and help thousands of students and schools.
CAP is indeed a tremendous force multiplier for the Air Force as well as other federal, state and local agencies, responding day or night when planes are overdue and emergency locator transmitters emit distress signals. Our aircrews and ground teams perform 90 percent of all continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. The searches often lead to rescues, like that of four men who crash-landed their helicopter in the Florida Keys. Three members from CAP’s Florida Wing – Lt. Col. Arnold F. Glauser, Maj. Gilbert T. Dembeck and 1st Lt. John J. Yeninas – quickly responded to AFRCC’s call for assistance, locating the four men stranded in the coastal waters near their overturned copter. In September, they were honored with the AFNORTH Commander’s Award. Such rescues are common for CAP, which is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually.
Our members also aid America through emergency relief missions, which help the nation’s communities recover from floods, wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters. Members of CAP’s Alaska Wing stepped up for such a humanitarian mission in 2009, aiding the Yup’ik Eskimo in the vast Delta region of southwest Alaska who were experiencing severe food shortages during the long winter months. Our members airlifted needed supplies to these starving people, putting their own lives on the line to fly in whiteout conditions and staying in the field away from their homes and regular jobs for weeks at a time.
In addition to our emergency services and search and rescue missions, CAP is ramping up to even more homeland security missions, assisting the Air Force in ensuring the skies above our nation are safe by flying target-intercept training for U.S. military pilots. Our pilots also assist federal and state law enforcement agencies in taking millions of drug dollars off our nation’s streets.
CAP is known for all these things, but most notable to me is our youth development program. More than 24,000 youth benefit from exceptional growth opportunities provided by our cadet programs, which stress leadership, character development and physical fitness, and teach aviation and emergency response skills. We now have nearly 1,500 squadrons that meet weekly throughout America and Puerto Rico as well as special summer programs that teach cadets to fly, send them as representatives to other countries and educate them about career possibilities in the military, aviation, industry and the sciences.
CAP’s Aerospace Education, School Enrichment and Drug Demand Reduction programs touch the organization’s cadets, 1,500 educators and as many as 70,000 other youth in classrooms across America by conveying important aerospace concepts while increasing students’ physical fitness and teaching the value of a drug-free lifestyle. The effect of these programs is tremendous. Our students grow up to be the role models of tomorrow – role models like Air Force Col. Eric Boe, CAP’s first astronaut, who recently visited with CAP members at our annual conference in San Antonio. Boe, a former Georgia Wing cadet and current Florida Wing senior member, piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavour during a 15-day mission to the International Space Station in 2008 and is scheduled for a second flight into space in 2010.
Indeed, Civil Air Patrol makes a huge impact each and every day, going above and beyond to make a profound difference in America’s communities. As a vigilant CAP volunteer, you save lives and preserve liberty for all. Thank you for your service.
Always vigilant!
Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter
CAP National Commander
