CITIZENS SERVICE COMMUNITIES ABOVE & BEYOND

Search and Rescue: Flying  95% of the nation’s inland search and rescue operations every year.

Disaster Relief: Providing vital roles for operations, providing Air & Ground Support services in time of national emergencies fire, flood, & disaster.

Air Force Support: Performing missions in support of the U.S. Air Force: damage assessment, communications & low-altitude route surveys.

Counter Drug: Providing photo reconnaissance assistance to law enforcement agencies in the confiscation or eradication of billions of dollars of illegal drugs annually.

Upcoming Events
KCCRL Squadron Meetings Saturday May 19, June 2nd and 16th  9-11 am
Signature Aviation MKC Hanger 1 – Conference Room
USAF Evaluated SAREX June 28, 2012 hosted @ Branson West Airport, SUS & MKC

Did You Know…1 December 1941 Civil Air Patrol is Formed

Less than a week before the attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the country into World War II, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), was founded. During World War II, its principal purpose was to allow private pilots to use their light aircraft and flying skills in civil defense efforts.  The Civil Air Patrol limited its role to liaison flying (unarmed support flights) along the East Coast and interdiction patrols on the southern border.  After Nazi U-boats began disrupting deliveries of gasoline and oil to the United States, and threatening the transport of vital war supplies being rushed to Europe, the new organization found a new mission–coastal patrols and submarine spotting.

Sponsored by oil companies such as Sunoco (Sun Oil) and civic organizations, 40,000 people from all walks of life volunteered to serve in civilian coastal patrols and the Civil Air Patrol.  Private pilots supplied their own aircraft and equipment, but their operating expenses often exceeded the $8 per day flight reimbursement provided by the government.  Civic groups held fundraisers and established “Sink-a-Sub Clubs” to provide financial assistance to the coastal patrol and Civil Air Patrol pilots.

In 1943, the organization came under control and direction of the Army Air Forces.  At that point, the Civil Air Patrol coastal patrols had flown 244,600 hours totaling 24 million miles (38.6 million kilometers), summoning help for 91 ships in distress and aiding in the rescue of 363 survivors of submarine attacks.  CAP patrols spotted 173 enemy submarines, attacking 57 with bombs or depth charges, damaging 10 and sinking two.  In recognition of its effectiveness, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order on April 29, 1943, establishing the Civil Air Patrol as the auxiliary of the U.S. Army Air Forces.  At the time of its transfer to the AAF, the Civil Air Patrol ranks had swelled to more than 75,000 volunteers.  By war’s end, Civil Air Patrol volunteer pilots had flown over 500,000 hours, but many also paid the ultimate price, more than 90 CAP aircraft were lost and 64 of its volunteer members died in their country’s service.