Thanks to Cecil for pointing out the contributions of the CAP during WW2. The CAP continues the proud tradition of volunteer service to this day.
CAP flew the observation mission immediately after 9/11 and assisted in airspace observation and security during the recent Olympics. Hundreds of people per year owe their lives to the volunteer CAP Search and Rescue teams located around the nation. Thousands of young people learn about aerospace careers and learn discipline in the CAP cadet programs.
To learn more, see http://www.cap.gov
Hear, hear, lonshaul. I’m a former CAP cadet, and my son is currently a cadet, and I can say without reservation that CAP has one of the finest youth programs in the country. One of the very cool things about it is that the kids have an actual real-world mission. Instead of the program just kind of exsisting for it’s own sake, kids are trained to perform and actually do perform search and rescue missions, and save lives in the process Some of my best memories from my teen years are of being called at a moments notice to participate in a mission.
It’s really a shame so few people have heard of CAP. As lonshaul said, hundreds of lives are saved each year, not only with SAR missions, but with life flights of organs and blood by CAP pilots.
Welcome to the Straight Dope, lonshaul. Around here, it’s customary that when you comment on a column, you include a link to it. That way, if this thread sticks around for longer than the column is on the front page, folks will still be able to find it easily.
In this case, the column is Were WWII scrap drives just a ploy to boost morale?. For a simple link, you can just copy and paste the address into your post. If you want to make a fancier link, read the instructions on the vB code page
I’m currently in CAP and am doing quite well. Right now I’m a Cadet Technical Sergeant, soon to Be Cadet Master Sergeant. I am, as my SN suggests, Alpha Flight Sergeant.
It is an excellent program. It teaches real world skills and leadership. If a cadet reaches the Billy Mitchell award (Cadet 2nd Lieutenant) and enlists in the U.S.A.F., it is an automatic two stripe promotion(Instead of starting at E-1 you start at E-3). Cadets range in age from 11 years old to 21 years old.
I would like to point out that what Cecil did not mention is that CAP not only spotted subs, but actually attacked and sank multiple subs (in the area of four I think).
Not bad for a first post, I hope.
Chronos, thanks for the heads-up.
Alpha Flight Sgt, I refer you to:
http://history.nhq.cap.gov/from_the_cap_historical_research.htm
Some select quotes:
" Although the victory against the submarine was a joint operation of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and the CAP, it is a fact that the U-boats disappeared in direct proportion to the spread of CAP operations. The Berlin radio commenting on the dwindling effectiveness of its underseas campaign, complained of the unexpected appearance of the fleets of civilian aircraft as the main hazard which forces the U-boats out of our coastal waters. "
And my personal fave:
"While visiting a war criminals’ prison in Germany, he managed to get an interview with the ex-commander of the Nazi submarine ‘wolf pack’ that had operated off the U.S. Atlantic coast. Earle asked, ‘Commandant, what do you consider to be the most outstanding factor of your defeat off the Atlantic coast of America?’
The commandant angrily replied, ‘It vos dose gottdamned leetle red and yellow airplanes!’"