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The History of Civil Air Patrol
CAP was founded in December 1941, one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor by over 150,000 citizens concerned
about the defence of America's coastline. 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 chartered 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 with three missions:
Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, and Emergency Services.
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