The Civil Air Patrol was founded on December 1, 1941 by over 150,000 citizens concerned about the defense of America's coastline. Their efforts were led by writer and aviator Gill Robb Wilson, and supported by General
Henry "Hap" Arnold. In 1943, CAP was assigned to the War Department under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Forces. Assisting the War Department, CAP pilots flew over one-half million hours, were credited with sinking two enemy submarines, and rescued hundreds of crash survivors during World War II. On July 1, 1946, President Truman established CAP as a federally charted benevolent civilian corporation. On May 26, 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557, which made CAP the official auxiliary of the new United States Air Force. CAP was charged by Congress with three missions:
Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs and Emergency Services.

Today, there are nearly 60,000 people who continue the original mission, serving on the ground and in the air, saving lives and property. They proudly volunteer their time, skills, and talent, upholding the tradition of service to America as members of the Civil Air Patrol.

Aerospace Education - CAP has both internal and external Aerospace Education programs. The internal program is mandatory for Cadet members and elective for Senior members. Aerospace Education provides CAP members and
the community with hands-on activities, field trips, classroom materials, teacher training and other educational aids which promote the understanding of aviation and space programs.

Cadet Programs - The CAP Cadet Program develops the skills and potential of youth ages 11 to 21 as they learn, and put into hands on practice, aerospace education, moral, ethics and leadership training, and physical fitness in a military environment. Cadets progress through 15 achievements in a 5
phase program with exciting aviation and aerospace activities occurring on local and national and international levels. Parents and educators credit the cadet program for communicating the importance of integrity, self-discipline and trust in their children's personal and professional success. It is a rewarding program that is designed to be fun and
challenging.

Emergency Services - CAP is most commonly associated with the mission of emergency Services. CAP volunteer pilots fly 85% of all inland search and rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. CAP volunteer members also provide disaster relief support, including air and
ground transportation and aerial reconnaissance, to agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). CAP's extensive communication network is available to local, state, and national disaster relief agencies free of charge. CAP transports
time-sensitive medical materials in support of humanitarian organizations. The live organ transport program is credited with saving an average of 10 lives every year. CAP counterdrug operations through formal agreements with
the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Customs Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Forest Service provides aerial reconnaissance, airborne communications support, and airlift of law enforcement personal in support of our nations war on drugs.

There are eight geographical regions composed of 52 wings -- one for each state, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Wings are divided into groups, squadrons and flights for a total of 1,900 units and more than 58,000 Cadets and Senior Members. CAP corporation and its members own and
operate more that 5,000 light aircraft, the world's largest civilian fleet, and volunteers fly about 140,000 hours each year on CAP missions. The National Headquarters is located at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.