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Show Provo Unit of Civil Air Patrol Observes 36th Birthday today The Provo Unit of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) will be joining more than 1,900 other CAP units throughout the nation and Puerto Rico in celebrating its 36th anniversary an-niversary on Dec. 1, 1977. Civil Air Patrol was founded on Dec. 1, 1941 by a group of light aviation enthusiasts en-thusiasts and private pilots as a means of donating their time and aircraft for the nation's civilian defense effort. The founders were vividly aware of America's shortcomings in air power, as compared with the combatants in the early stages of the war in Europe. CAP is a civilian, volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force, but it is not a military organization itself nor an agency of the federal government. Despite its public services, CAP is almost entirely self-supporting. Practically all of its operating conducts a comprehensive program of aerospace education, youth motivation, and leadership training. The organization seeks to promote American supremacy in aviation and the aerospace sciences. Teenage members are motivated toward careers in these fields through the cadet program. In 1976 CAP spend 17,604 hours flying time on air search and rescue missions nationwide and save d 34 lives through these and other emergency service activities. The Utah Wing found three downed aircraft during this time. The Provo Squadron meets at the Provo Airport at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday nights. Commander Mike Kanzee invites anyone interested to drop by. Any male-or female 13 years of age or older is eligible for membership. funds come from annual dues paid by its members. The organization won fame during World War II for its extensive civil defense operations when they flew their light airplanes on coastal patrol helping spot enemy submarines along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. They also performed a great variety of other civilian defense tasks during the war years to help the war effort. Civil Air Patrol was chartered in its present form in 1946 by an act of Congress and made a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force in 1948. CAP has units in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in Puerto Rico. National headquarters is located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, where CAP Brigadier General Thomas C. Casaday serves as National Commander. Today CAP conducts air force authorized air search and rescue missions, assists with relief activities in periods of disaster, cooperates with civil defense agencies and |
