Civil Air Patrol

Civil Air Patrol, formed in December 1941 from US civilian pilots ineligible for the armed forces through age or infirmity, who flew privately-owned light aircraft. It undertook fire patrol, rescue work, and freight carriage, and its anti-submarine coastal patrol squadrons were of a very high order. Though initially employed only for spotting submarines or survivors, the larger aircraft were later armed with a depth charge (see anti-submarine weapons) or two bombs. In April 1943 the patrol became an auxiliary of the US Army Air Forces, but its members, who were unpaid, remained civilians and their aircraft their private property. By June 1943 it numbered 75,000 personnel, 10% of whom were women. See also USA, 4.