About Us

Civil Air Patrol is a non-profit volunteer organization that formed during WWII in 1941. Initially, CAP was seen as a way to use America’s civilian aviation resources to aid the war effort. The organization assumed many missions including anti-submarine patrol and warfare, border patrols, and courier services. During that time, CAP pilots sighted over 170 enemy U-boats and even sank two.

After the war, the Civil Air Patrol was rechartered as the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force and declared that it would never again participate in direct combat activities. On July 1, 1946, President Harry Truman signed Public Law 476 incorporating Civil Air Patrol as a benevolent, nonprofit organization. On May 26, 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557 permanently establishing Civil Air Patrol as the auxiliary of the new U.S. Air Force. Three primary mission areas were set forth to include aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services.  

Currently comprised of over 65,000 members, CAP is a congressionally chartered civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. CAP operates a large fleet of single-engine general aviation aircraft which are used to execute various missions including search and rescue and orientation flights for cadets. Because of these extensive flying opportunities, many CAP members become licensed pilots.