Van Dyke Cadet Squadron
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Macomb County, Michigan
| Michigan's Premier Civil Air Patrol Squadron |
| Civil Air Patrol's Nationally Recognized Website for Excellence |
| Meetings: Tuesdays 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Clinton Township Police Department - 37985 Groesbeck Highway - Clinton Township, MI 48036 (1 mile north of 16 Mile Rd / Metropolitan Parkway) |
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| Send mail to the Webmaster with questions or comments about this website. Copyright © 2006-2008 Van Dyke Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol. All rights reserved. This is an official CAP Internet Operation conducted in accordance with CAPR 110-1. ©2001, Civil Air Patrol. Images and text are authorized for reproduction by news media and all Civil Air Patrol units. LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES. |
History
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
week before Pearl Harbor.
First organized under the Office of Civilian Defense,
headed by former New Your Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia,
Civil Air Patrol members became the “Minutemen” of
The War Department, especially the Army Air Forces, recognized
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 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.
CAP as the Auxiliary of the new United States Air Force. This law also gave the to
the organization.to the organization.
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
week before Pearl Harbor.
First organized under the Office of Civilian Defense,
headed by former New Your Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia,
Civil Air Patrol members became the “Minutemen” of
The War Department, especially the Army Air Forces, recognized
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 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.
CAP as the Auxiliary of the new United States Air Force. This law also gave the to
the organization.to the organization.
| "After the German surrender, one of Hitler's high-ranking naval officers was asked why the Nazi U-boats had been withdrawn from U.S. coastal waters early in 1943. The answer was exploded in a curt guttural: 'It was because of those damned little red and yellow planes!' ...from Robert R. Neprud's Flying Minute Men |