CAP Veterans Association - 3 Oct 1945

CIVIL AIR PATROL
HEARINGS
BEFORE
SUBCOMMITTEE NO. 4 OF THE
COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON
H. R. 1941 and H. R. 2149
BILLS TO PROVIDE FOR RECOGNITION OF
ACTIVE-DUTY MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL
AIR PATROL AS VETERANS OF
WORLD WAR II
OCTOBER 3, 1945
Printed for the use of the Committee on Military Affairs
*
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
78623 WASHINGTON : 1945
COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS
SEVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS
ANDREW J. MAY, Kentucky, Chairman
R. EWING THOMASON, Texas
OVERTON BROOKS, Louisiana
JOHN 3. SPARKMAN, Alabama
PAUL I. KILDAY, Texas
CARL T. DURHAM, North Carolina
CLIFFORD DAVIS, Tennessee
JOHN EDWARD SHERIDAN, Pennsylvania
ROBERT L. F. SIKES, Florida
PHILIP J. PHILBIN, Massachusetts
PAUL STEWART, Oklahoma
ARTHUR WINSTEAD, Mississippi
CHET HOLIFIELD, California
JAMES A. ROE, New York
MELVIN PRICE, Illinois
WALTER G. ANDREWS, New York
D.EWEY SHORT, Missouri
LESLIE C. ARENDS, Illinois
CHARLES E. CLASON, Massachusetts
J. PARK-ELL THOMAS, New Jersey
PAUL W. SHAFER, Michigan
THOMAS E. MARTIN, Iowa
CHARLES H. ELSTON, Ohio
FOREST A. HARNESS, Indiana
IVOR D. FENTON, Pennsylvania
J. LEROY JOHNSON, California
CLARE BOOTHE LUCE, Connecticut
JOSEPH R. FARRINGTON, Hawaii
E. L. BARTLETT, Alaska
JEStS PINRERO, Puerto Rico
JuLIA WAnEasoN, Clerk
SUBCOMMITTEE No. 4
Mr. DURHAM, North Carolina, Chairman
MR. THOMASON, Texas MR. ANDREWS, New York
MR. DAVIS, Tennessee MR. THOMAS, New Jersey
MR. SHERIDAN, Pennsylvania MR. MARTIN, Iowa
MR. SIKES, Florida MR. HARNESS, Indiana
YIR. WINSTEAD, Mississippi MRS. LUCE, Connecticut
MR. ROE, New York
MR. PRICE, Illinois
II
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Statement of- Page
Hon. A. L. Bulwinkle, Representative in Congress from North Carolina- 2
Hon. Joe W. Ervin, Representative in Congress from North Carolina- - 2-5
Hon. Angier L. Goodwin, Representative in Congress from Massachu-
setts ............
5-6
Lt. Col. Frank E. Dawson, president of the Association of Civil Air
Patrol Veterans-
6-7
Elbert C. Isom, second national vice commander, Association of CAP
Veterans -
7-14
Dan F. Ritchie, national treasurer, CAP Veterans Association --- 14-17
Maj. Ralph Earle, ex-base commander, Suffolk Airport and Falmouth- 18-21
G. C. Moreland, representing CAP Association ------------------ 21-22
George W. Witney, representing CAP organization 22-32
Hon. Graham A. Barden, Representative in Congress from North
Carolina -----------------------------------------------
32-41
I
CIVIL AIR PATROL
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1945
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SUBCOMMITTEE No. 4 OF THE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS,
Washington, D. C.
The subcommittee met at 10:30 a. m., Hon. Carl T. Durham
presiding.
Mr. DURHAM. The committee will be in order. This is the hearing
called for consideration of H. R. 1941, introduced by Mr. Goodwin
and H. R. 2149, by Mr. Ervin. We are glad to have with us this
morning some Members of Congress, among them Mr. Bulwinkle.
If you have a statement to make at the present time, Mr. Bulwinkle,
we will be glad to hear you.
(The bills are as follows:)
[H. R. 1941, 79th Cong., 1st sess.]
A BILL To provide for recognition of active-duty members of the Civil Air Patrol as veterans of World
War II
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That in the administration of the pension laws
or any laws conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon persons honorably
discharged from the armed forces of the United States, or upon the widows,
children, or dependent relatives of such persons, members of the Civil Air Patrol
(an auxiliary of the Army Air Forces) who served -on active duty as such after
December 7, 1941, and prior to the termination of the present war, and who have
been separated from such service under other than dishonorable conditions, shall
be held and considered to have served as members of the armed forces and to
have been honorably discharged from such service.
SEc. 2. No pension, pay, bounty, or other benefit shall be held to have accrued
by reason of this Act prior to the date of its enactment.
[11. R. 2149, 79th Cong., 1st sess.l
A BILL To provide for recognition of active-duty members of the Civil Air Patrol as veterans of World
War II
America in Congress assembled, That in the administration of the pension laws or
any laws conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon persons honorably dis-
charged from the armed forces of the United States, or upon the widows, children,
or dependent relatives of such persons, members of the Civil Air Patrol (an
auxiliary of the Army Air Forces) who served on active duty as such after Decem-
ber 7, 1941, and prior to the termination of the present war, and who shall have
been separated from such service under other than dishonorable conditions, shall be
held bnd considered to have served as members of the armed forces and to have
been honorably discharged from such service.
2 CIVIL AIR PATROLS
STATEMENT
OF HON. A. L. BULWINKLE,
A REPRESENTATIVE
IN
CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE
OF NORTH
CAROLINA
Mr. BULWINKLE. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee,
I have known something
about the Air Patrol-just
a little-but
two
men from my county were killed in the service, which brought it very
forcibly to my attention,
and I had great difficulty in obtaining
for
the widows and children of these men any insurance or compensation
or whatever you might call it.
There were about 4,600 men, is my understanding,
in the Civil Air
Patrol in the United States; 1,200, approximately,
of those went into
the military or naval services, leaving about 3,400 in the Patrol.
I do not know so much about it outside of North Carolina, but I
do know that in my immediate community in North Carolina these
men were called who owned planes or who could fly planes, to the
service along the coast, and they did a tremendously good job. I
think probably from my immediate district there must have been 15
or 20 or more who were in active service, who were at the beck and
call of the War Department, who went wherever they were needed,
who flew old planes out over the ocean, and did a great job, first in
protecting the tankers and then protecting the shipping along the
Atlantic seaboard. There were about 40 or 50-I don't remember the
exact number-men killed in active duty. These men gave up their
jobs in many instances because they felt they were doing a patriotic
service, and some of them could ill afford to do it. There are persons
here today, Mr. Ervin, the author of the bill, and others, who know the
full facts and can give them to you. The only thing that I am here
for is to simply ask you to give favorable consideration to the matter
of taking care of these men who served their Government just as well
as anybody else did in the military service, and for that reason I am
turning it over to Mr. Ervin.
Mr. DURHAM. Thank you very much, Major, for coming before us.
Mr. Ervin, as the author of H. R. 2149, if you have a statement we
would like to hear you at this time.
STATEMENT OF HON. JOE W. ERVIN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Mr ERVIN. Mr Chairman and gentlemen, I wish to thank you for
your timely consideration of the Civil Air Patrol bill and for your kind
invitation to me to testify at this time
This bill, if passed and approved, would give military status to
active-duty members of the Civil Air Patrol.
The Civil Air Patrol was a valiant fighting unit of this war, filling a
gap which could not be filled by the regular military forces.
The patriots who saw active duty with the Civil Air Patrol during
this war participated principally in the antisubmarine campaign.
They were assigned to duty under the supervision and orders of the
War Department. The active-duty members of the Civil Air Patrol
were under orders of the War Department to "seek out the enemy and
engage him in combat." These orders were carried out patriotically
and effectively. The active duty members of the Civil Air Patrol
were subjected to all of the rules and regulations of Army life and had
defective equipment. There were 4,612 members of the Civil Air
CIVIL AIR PATROLS 3
Patrol who saw active duty in connection
with the CAP coastal patrol,
CAP tow-target units, CAP liaison patrol and the CAP Courier
Express. Thirty-seven of them lost their lives at sea, while engaged in
actual combat. Approximately 1,200 other members later joined the
Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The active service of the Civil Air
Patrol lasted for about 24 months.
I heard one person say that this bill should not pass, for the reason
that the-passage of this bill would encourage other persons who were in
close proximity to the war to seek military status for their groups.
However, there is one feature about this question which distinguishes
the active-duty members of the Civil Air Patrol from any other group.
That distinction arises from the fact that the Civil Air Patrol was the
only group, not enjoying military status, which was under orders to
"seek out the enemy and engage him in combat."
In complying with this order, the active-duty members of this
valiant organization customarily operated their planes as far as 100
miles from shore, carried bombs weighing from 250 to 350 pounds,
released these bombs on enemy submarines, destroyed many subma-
rines, and suffered all of the perils of being in the armed forces in actual
combat.
I understand that some man in the Pentagon Building objects to
this bill. I wonder- what he would think about the bill if he had
accompanied one of the 37 Civil Air Patrol members who was killed
by the enemy far out at sea.
One of the men in this committee room is Col. Frank Dawson, of
Charlotte, N. C., who is commander of the North Carolina wing of the
Civil Air Patrol. Colonel Dawson saw active service with the Civil
Air Patrol and has the distinction of having been arrested by an NIP,
deprived of his liberty and threatened with court martial for violating
Army rules and regulations, even though he did not have military
status. I will be glad for him to tell you about that. There was
nothing dishonorable about it. He was trying to save manpower.
All together, there were approximately
125,000 members
of the
Civil Air Patrol. It is contemplated
that only 4,612 of them, who
were engaged in the more active duties, would be benefited by this
bill. In order that there may be no doubt as to the number who would
be benefited
by the passage of this bill, it has been suggested,
and I
now suggest, that the bill be amended by adding, after the figures
"1941" in line 9, a comma
and the following
language:
in connection
with Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol, Civil Air Patrol tow-target
units, Civil Air Patrol liaison patrol, and Civil Air Patrol Courier Express,
I might say that I have a copy of the bill with that interlined, and
for your convenience
I attach hereto a copy of the bill in question
with the suggested
amendment
written
in with a typewriter.
In the consideration
of this bill, I trust you will keep in mind that
some of the widows
and orphans
of the 37 members
of the Civil Air
Patrol who died in the service
of their country
are in want and that
the husbands
and fathers of those widows and orphans were engaged
in actual
combat
as fully, and to all intents
and purposes,
and made
the supreme
sacrifice,
as if they had died on Anzio beachhead
or
Okinawa.
I hope you will keep in mind that the surviving
active-
duty members
of the Civil Air Patrol exposed
themselves
to the fire
of the enemy as fully as if they had landed
on the beaches
of France
or had
crossed
the Rhine
River.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
To date, they and their widows and orphans have received all of
the burdens and none of the benefits of military service, except the
benefit of a gallant service well performed for the freedom of their
Nation. You cannot forget the crucial days when our merchant
ships and oil tankers were being sunk in large numbers in our coastal
waters, to the dismay of our people. The Civil Air Patrol saved the
day. There have been very few times when so many in this country
owed so much to so few.
These sacrifices were made willingly in the defense of their country
and I cannot believe that our great Nation would order these men to
"seek out the enemy and engage him in combat" and then deny
them the military status which they have patriotically and valiantly
won.
I will submit herewith a copy of the amended bill.
[H. R. 2149, 79th Cong., 1st Sess.]
[Insert the part printed in italic]
A BILL To provide for recognition of active-duty members of the Civil Air Patrol as veterans of
World War II
America in Congress assembled, That in the administration of the pension laws
or any laws conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon persons honorably dis-
charged from the armed forces of the United States, or upon the widows, children,
or dependent relatives of such persons, members of the Civil Air Patrol (an auxil-
iary of the Army Air Forces) who served on active duty as such after December
7, 1941, in connection with Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol, Civil Air Patrol tow-targel
units, Civil Air Patrol liaison patrol, and Civil Air Patrol courier express, and prior
to the termination of the present war, and who shall have been separated from
such service under other than dishonorable conditions, shall be held and consid-
ered to have -served'as members of the armed forces 9nd to have been honorably
discharged from such service.
Mr. Chairman, I do not know that there is anything else I desire to
add. I should say that Col. Frank Dawson, who is here, and some
other gentlemen in the room could give you more detailed information
about the nature of the service performed by this valiant organiza-
tion.
Mr. HARNESS. I would like to ask you a question or two, Mr. Ervin.
How can you take the position that only a few of these 125,000 would
be benefited by the bill?
Mr. ERVIN. The language is "who served on active duty," and the
proposed amendment which I suggest would describe in detail those
who would be considered active-duty members.
Mr. HARNESS. Well, all of these people who were part of the Civil
Air Patrol throughout the country were on active duty from time to
time, were they not?
Mr. ERVIN. I think, strictly speaking, if one of them put on his
uniform and attended a mass meeting in his home town of other Civil
Air Patrol members for the purpose of considering the performance of
the duties generally, that would have been active duty, but I don't
think a man who merely put on his uniform and went to some confer-
ence about it should be considered an active duty member for the pur-
pose of being given military status.
Mr. HARNESS. You have no idea of the percentage of the 125,000 in
the Civil Air Patrol that were actually on active duty, have you?
CIVIL AIR PATROLS 5
Mr. ERVIN. Yes; I do have. J have obtained the information from
the War Department. I asked them that specific question, how
many were engaged in these four types of service, and the War De-
partment told me 4,612, and I am sure that any representative of the
War Department who testifies will confirm that information.
Mr. HARNESS. You mean out of 125,000, dnly 4,612 saw active
duty?
Mr. ERVIN. Active duty of the type described in the proposed
arffendment, coastal patrol, tow target units, liaison patrol, and
courier express. They are the ones who exposed themselves to the
fire of the enemy and who did seek out the enemy and engaged him
in combat.
Mr. HARNESS. Wouldn't that open the door to all these others of
the 125,000, to get the same rights and benefits that we grant to
these?
Mr. ERVIN. I don't think so, and I think the Civil Air Patrol,
which is a right closely knit organization, has fully considered that
entire question, and it is the unanimous opinion, as I understand it,
of the entire organization, that only those who served in these four
capacities should have the benefits.
Mr. HARNESS. I do not mean to minimize the service of some of
these men by my questions. I am simply seeking information.
Mr. EAVIN. I am sure of that, but I think that some of these
gentlemen who are officially connected with the organization can
assure you on that point, and the thing that I want the committee
to remember when you go into executive session is this one fact:
there were many people who were in close proximity to the war, but
this is the only group not having military status who were ordered
by the War Department to seek out the enemy and engage him in
combat, and that is the thing that distinguishes this group, the men
performing these four types of service, from any other civilian in
America, the fact that they had explicit orders to seek out the enemy
and engage him in combat, and they complied with those orders very
valiantly.
Mr. DURHAM. Are there any questions? Thank you very much,
Mr. Ervin.
Congressman Goodwin, if you would like to make a statement, we
will be glad to hear you at this time.
STATEMENT OF HON. ANGLER L. GOODWIN, A REPRESENTATIVE
IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
Mr. GOODWIN. My statement will be very brief, Mr. Chairman.
My name is Angier L. Goodwin. I represent the Eighth Massachu-
setts District. I introduced H. R. 1941 on the 1st day of February
of this year. Subsequently, I believe, although I have not seen it,
Congressman Ervin also introduced a similar bill, or the same bill.
I have no pride of authorship. I am not interested particularly or
solely in my bill. I am interested in the principle involved in the
bill, and Congressman Ervin has certainly covered the ground very
fully. I agree that the amendment which he has suggested is a
desirable one, because it narrows the bill to that body of 4,612 who
78623--45- 2
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
did actual active service. I believe that these individuals who had
active service, actual active-service in the three or four units men-
tioned in his amendment, and actually served with the armed forces,
certainly deserve recognition, and I trust that the committee in its
wisdom may see fit to report either one of these bills.
Mr. DURHAM. Thank you very much, Mr. Goodwin. Our next
witness is Lt. Col. Frank E. Dawson. Will you proceed, Colonel?
STATEMENT OF LT. COL. FRANK E. DAWSON, CHARLOTTE, N. C.
Colonel DAWSON. Mr. Chairman, I know that the time is moving
along, and I would simply like to say that as president of the Associa-
tion of Civil Air Patrol Veterans, Inc., who are sponsoring this bill in
the interest of our widows and orphans and members of the Civil Air
Patrol who served on the active duty unit on coast patrol, tow target,
liaison, and Army air express, we have not only taken up the matter
of our bill with the various 48 wing commanders throughout the
United States, and the members of Civil Air Patrol, but in order to
answer the questions of one member of the committee, I wish to say
that the Civil Air Patrol is wholeheartedly supporting our bill, even
though they were not on active duty with these units.
I would like to hurry along, and one reason that I am particularly
interested-and I might say I had the pleasure not only of being a
wing commander, but also of organizing two coast patrol bases in my
State-I am interested from the standpoint that one of my men came
to me one day when he was fixing to take off over the ocean on some
mission 50 or 60 miles out to sea, to convoy some merchant ships, and
he said to me: "Major, you know I have a wife and four children.
I understand we have been taken into the Army now." We were told
by the Army Air Force officers whose command we were under, that
when the War Department took over they took us over for two
reasons:
1. That they needed us because the Army and Navy did not have
the ships or the pilots-I refer to airplanes-at that time to combat
the submarine menace, and
2. So they could give us the proper life-saving equipment to do the
work.
Mr. DURHAM. What date was that?
Colonel DAWSON. I will give you that in just a few minutes. It is
in our booklet that has just been given you-and I told him that
I felt that our country and the Army and the Army Air Force would
see that these widows and orphans of any bf our men who were killed
were properly taken care of. At this time, Mr. Chairman, I would
like for Mr. Isom from the State of New York to outline to you in
the saving of time just exactly what we have done and what we are
asking for and why. I want to thank you for this audience.
Mr. DURHAM. Thank you very much, Colonel Dawson. We will
be glad to hear Mr. Isom. Will you state your name and position,
whom you represent?
CIVIL AIR PATROLS 7
STATEMENT OF ELBERT C. ISOM, SECOND NATIONAL VICE
COMMANDER, ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL AIR PATROL VETERANS,
NEW YORK CITY
Mr. IsoM. Mr. Chairman, my name is Elbert C. Isom, and I am
second national vice commander of the Association of Civil Air
Patrol Veterans. I am here in that capacity, and I am going to try
to give you, as briefly as possible, the bare facts in this matter.
The Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Storey v.
Perkins defined an army as a body of men whose business is war.
We will show that members of the Civil Air Patrol who, according
to the ruling of the Judge Advocate General, were serving in the field
with the Army of the United Stagtes did in fact compose such a body
or unit thereof; that they were employed by the United States for
the business of war; that they were sworn into that service by a
binding oath of enlistment, were subject to military discipline and
the jurisdiction of court martial, wore Army uniforms with certain
distinctive insignia, were armed by the United States Government,
and ordered by the Army into combat with an armed enemy beyond
the territorial limits of the United States.
Mr. DURHAM. Have you got a copy of that order?
Mr. ISOM. Yes, sir.
Mr. DURHAM. Will you submit it for the record?
Mr. ISOM. It is in some of the documents that are being submittep
here. In short, the- members of the Civil Air Patrol were lawful
belligerents, a unit of the United States armed forces and are there-
fore entitled to recognition as veterans of World War II in accordance
with the provisions of House bill 2149.
Early in the spring of 1942, when enemy submarines were taking a
frightful toll of our shipping in plain sight of our own coast, the Army
and Navy were pitifully short of equipment and skilled-pilot personnel
with which to combat this paralyzing menace. The Army therefore
turned to the newly organized Civil Air Patrol, with its wealth -of
flying skill and equipment, to take to the air against the enemy.
Immediately German-submarine activities in American waters began
to decline, until early in the following year when, except in rare
instances, they ceased altogether. The Civil Air Patrol flew small,
single-engine land planes, ideal for the purpose, but hazardous to fly
a hundred miles or more from shore. They were equipped by the
Army with bomb sights, and bombs and depth charges lethal to the
largest submarine. For security reasons, such strict secrecy sur-
rounded this action that the full story has never been told and probably
never will be. All we can do here is to give you a few pertinent facts
bearing upon the bill now under your consideration.
When the Civil Air Patrol was established in the Office of Civilian
Defense, pursuant to Executive Order 8757 of May 20, 1941, as
amended by Executive Order 9134 of April 15, 1942, the active duty
members of the Civil Air Patrol set up 21 bases along the Atlantic
seaboard, pursuant to letter of instructions No. 1, headquarters,
Army Air Force Antisubmarine Command, dated November 27, 1942.
This letter charged these units with the following mission:
To patrol coastal shipping lanes as directed during daylight hours for the
purpose of protecting friendly shipping and of locating and reporting enemy
submarines, enemy warships, or suspicious craft, and to take action as equipment
8 CIVIL AIR PATROLS
permits in destruction of enemy submarines; to conduct such special antisub-
marine missions as are directed by headquarters, Army Air Force Antisubmarine
Command.
Pursuant to like direction of the Army Air Force Antisubmarine
Command, the aircraft of the Civil Air Patrol were equipped with
100-pound fragmentation bombs and/or 250-pound or- 325-1-ound
depth charges. The patrols flew some 24,000,000 miles over the
ocean and -are credited with spotting 173 eneiny submarines and of
attacking 57 submarines. Civil Air Patrol is officially credited with
sinking or damaging two enemy submarines in addition to those sunk
by the Army or Navy called to the scene by the Civil Air Patrol
aircraft. There is a long story in connection with that.
These activities, in view of the. civilian status of the Civil Air
Patrol, created an anomaly. Until April 29, 1943, the pilots and
copilots of the Civil Air Patrol were civilians, in brief, armed guerillas,
since they were engaged in offensive action against the enemy, pursuant
to orders of the Army Air Force Antisubmarine Command. On
May 8, 1942, the Judge Advocate General handed down an opinion
(SPJGW 373.1), which held that coastal patrol units of the Civil
Air Patrol-I
are accompanying or serving with the Army of the United States in the field, and
that under the provisions of article of war 2 (d) they are amenable to military
discipline and subject to the- jurisdiction of military courts.
The personnel of the Civil Air Patrol were thereupon directed, in
order to constitute them lawful belligerents, to obey their officers,
wear Army uniforms with certain distinctive insignia, carry openly
such arms as may be required, and conduct operations according to
the laws and usages of war.
Thus it was sought to give the personnel of the Civil Air Patrol
semimilitary status and to make them lawful belligerents under the
Rules of Land Warfare. The anomaly, however, continued, and
grave doubts existed whether upon capture such personnel of the Civil
Air Patrol would be considered lawful belligerents by the enemy.
In a further effort to clarify the status of the Civil Air Patrol the
President, by Executive Order 9339, dated May 29, 1943, caused the
Civil Air Patrol to be-
transferred to the Department of War, to be administered under the direction
or supervision of the Secretary of War by such officers, commands, agencies, or
persons under his jurisdiction as he might designate.
Thereupon the Civil Air Patrol became an auxiliary of the United
States Army Air Forces, and it was thus vested with lawful status,
according to the Rules of Land Warfare as a member of the armed
forces, and entitled to all the honors of war. The personnel on
active duty was required to enlist and to take the same oath as was
administered to enlisted personnel of the Army, which concluded
with the following paragraph:
I do solemnly swear I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of
America; that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies
whomsoever; that I will fully and faithfully perform all duties assigned to me and
obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers
appointed over me subject to the Rules and Articles of War.
The active-duty members were also required to sign affidavits under
the Hatch Act like any other employee of the Federal Government.
As early as March 12, 1942, Harry H. Blee, colonel, Air Corps,
training and operations office of Civil Air Patrol by command of
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Major General Curry, issued an operations directive No. 7, Rules of
Land Warfare, to the Civil Air Patrol coastal patrols. Each member
of the Civil Air Patrol on active duty was ordered to active duty
status by orders of the Army Air Forces. These orders undoubtedly
established an enlistment, voluntarily undertaken, and is tantamount
to a mustering in to the Federal service. Each flight made by the
personnel of the Civil Air Patrol was likewise made pursuant to defi-
nite orders of duly constituted officers of the Army Air Forces or Civil
Air Patrol, who were vested with authority by direction of the Army
Air Forces. Thus the ill-starred flights .on which lives were lost were
in the course of such enlistment and in line of duty.
It is thus seen that the active-duty members of the Civil Air Patrol,
although at first civilians, placed at the disposal of the United States a
wealth of pilot training and air equipment at a time when it was
sorely needed in the war effort. The United States utilized such skill
and equipment in offensive action against the enemy and made the
Civil Air Patrol a military organization and later an auxiliary or
agency of the Army Air Forces. This transition took place at the
behest of the Army Air Forces and for the more effective utilization of
such flying skill and equipment in the exigencies of war. There is no
doubt that the relationship of employer and employee existed under
an enlistment oath as complete and broad as the enlistment oath of
any enlisted personnel of the Army Air Forces.
You will note that the bill was intended to affect members of the
Civil Air Patrol only who saw active service on the antisubmarine
patrol, the border patrol, the courier service, tracking and other official
missions ordered by the Army Air Forces. This group totals about
4,500 members out of a total of non-active-duty members of more than
100,000. A considerable portion of the 4,500 members who were on
active-duty assignments later went in the Army, Navy, or Marines,
and automaticall r became veterans of the war. From information
which I deem accurate, I estimate this figure at about 25 percent, or
about 1,100 members, leaving approximately 3,500. individuals
affected by the proposed legislation.
Of-this number about 37 pilots and copilots were killed on anti-
submarine patrol and an approximate equal number in other active
duties ordered by the Army, such as border patrol, tow target and
tracking missions, and courier express. No accurate information of
the number of dependents of such personnel is available at the moment,
but the number of widows and children, based upon information at our
disposal and believed to be accurate, does not exceed 100. The num-
ber of personnel suffering from service-connected disabilities, from like
information, does not exceed 50.
From these figures it will be seen that those affected by the proposed
legislation are comparatively small in number, and that no long-range
commitment of doubtful cost is undertaken by the proposed legislation.
In making provision for the disabled and the dependents of those
who died in the service of the United States, Congress has legislated
two comprehensive
programs (a) the Veterans' Administration
and
(b) the United States Employees Compensation
Commission.
It would seem that under the liberal construction of Veterans Regu-
lation No. 1 (a), members of the Civil Air Patrol on active duty, pur-
suant to orders of the Army Air Forces, are protected without addi-
tional legislation.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Application for relief under that regulation has been denied.
(Letter of Frank T. Hines, Administrator, Veterans' Administration,
to Senator Walter T. George, June 26, 1945, to that effect.) The
basis of the denial would seem to be the rather insubstantial one that
the members of the Civil Air Patrol on active duty were volunteers,
and neither enlisted nor employed by the military service. That is.
not the case.
The other source of compensation, the United States Employees
Compensation Commission, has likewise denied relief. That Commis-
sion recognizes that the members of the Civil Air Patrol on active duty
were employed by the United States, and that the relationship of em-
ployer and employee did in fact exist. They decline to award com-
pensation for the reason that such active duty members of the Civil
Air Patrol were not paid a monthly salary. This objection relates to
the mechanical computation of the sums to which the disabled and
dependents might be entitled. In this connection, it should be said
that the personnel on active duty were paid by check of the Treasurer
of the United States for living expenses and personal services in ac-
cordance with per diem Operations Directive No. 13 (d) issued by
Headquarters United States Army Air Forces and signed by Harry
II. Blee, Colonel, Air Corps operations officer.
Mr. HARNESS. Right there, it would appear that you have not ex-
hausted your remedy yet against the Veterans' Administration or the
Unemployment Administration Board. You have made application.
They have made rulings which you say are not in accordance with the
facts or based upon facts. Could you not pursue that further and try
to get legal action?
Mr. IsoM. I did not present the facts to them myself, btit I under-
stand they were presented with facts and felt that additional legis-
lation was necessary to clarify the issue.
Mr. HARNESS. But I understand you take the position that under
existing law there is a remedy?
Mr. IsoM. We say it would seem that under existing law such
should be the case, but we took it up with these agencies and they
ruled against us. They say they have to have further clarification by
legislation. The United States Employees' Compensation Commis-
sion is unable to determine what part of the per diem was for services
and what part was for living expenses. That is where the catch comes
in with them. In other words, the Commission feels itself unable to
apply the percentages because it is unable to determine the denomi-.
nator of the fraction, to wit, the monthly compensation.
Thus you will see, that congressional regard for the disabled and
dependents of those who died has already been expressed. Present
legislation would appear to be adequate to include the active duty
members of the Civil Air Patrol, yet both the agencies administering
the benefits feel that additional legislation is necessary to make the
matter quite clear.
We have presented the bare facts, gentlemen, and in view of thesc
facts, the Association of Civil Air Patrol Veterans asks your approval
of House bill 2149, in order that proper care may be provided for the
injured, and the widows and orphans of those who died in the service
of their country and that the living may be justly recognized as
veterans of World War II. I thank you, gentlemen.
Mr. DURHAM. Does that complete your statement?
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
11
Mr. ISoM. Yes, sir.
Mr. MARTIN. Have any of your members been discharged from the
service?
Mr. IsoM. From the Army?
Mr. MARTIN. Yes. They took on oath on entering the service.
Have any of them terminated their service by any formal discharge?
Mr. ISOM. That was only for the duration and 6 months. Those
not on active duty with the armed forces have the privilege of resigning
from the Civil Air Patrol or being placed on inactive status. Some of
them have taken advantage of that privilege.
Mr. MARTIN. What mechanics have you gone through in separating
them from the service?
Mr. IsoM. On August 31, 1943, the Army Air Forces officially
pulled out the coastal patrol, leaving it to the Navy, and we were put
out with them on that date. We were given then a little typewritten
slip which said we were hereby relieved from active duty with coastal
patrol number so and so-whatever it was. Later we were presented
with a certificate by the Civil Air Patrol, which said that we, the indi-
vidual, had served in the antisubmarine patrol with rank such and
such. That was all. Does that answer your question?
Mr. MARTIN. Yes; that is what I had in mind.
Mr. HARNESS. Mr. Chairman, the thing that bothers me all the
way through this thing-I wonder if you or the witness could give us
his reaction to the statement of the Secretary of War that this legisla-
tion would establish a precedent for granting veterans benefits to
other groups of civilians? He points out, among others, contractors'
crews, civilian contractors' crews who probably worked on some of
the islands in the Pacific or in the Atlantic or the Caribbean; civilians
serving on Army transports,
civilian pilots of the Air Transport.
Command.
Mr. Isom1. May I refer to my notes a moment?
Mr. HARNESS. Further he points out civilian instructors of the
Air Forces, war correspondents,
personnel of the Army Specialist
Corps-a corps that was formed originally,
I believe, about the time
the war started-the
merchant
marine, various State guards, the
women's auxiliary service pilots, and certain personnel of the Red
Cross who were serving with the combat units.
Mr. IsoM. I cannot answer all of those because I do not have the
information
covering
all of those points, but I can give you the story
on a good many of them. You mentioned
civilians serving on Army
transports.
Civilians
while serving on Army transports
are employees
of the United States and receive compensation
under title 5, section
751-791
and 793, United States Code Annotated.
Mr. HARNESS.
In other words, they are covered?
Mr. IsoM. They are covered.
Civilian
pilots of the Air Transport
Command
and civilian
instructors,
Air Forces.
Such of these per-
sonnel as were paid monthly
compensation
by check of the Treasurer
of the United States are entitled
to compensation
provided
by title 5,
751-793 supra.
Merchant
marine:
All members
of the merchant
marine
while serv-
ing as members
of the crew of a ship operated
by the United
States
Shipping
Board
are likewise
entitled
to compensation
under
title 5
mentioned
above.
If they were serving on a ship operated
by a pri-
vate contractor,
such crew members
are entitled
to compensation
pro-
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
vided by the operator of the ship, and in many cases this compensation
exceeds that provided by the United States.
Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots: These pilots' status is very clear.
They were civil-service employees paid a monthly salary and are en-
titled to all the benefits as civil-service employees of the United States
Government. There is no question about them. Their status is very
clear-cut, and they were very well provided for. And, as Congressman
Ervin pointed out to you earlier, the distinction between our group
and all of these is that we engaged in offensive warfare. We were
armed by the United States, by the Army. We were armed and were
sent out under orders beyond the territorial limits of the United States,
to seek out an armed enemy, engage him in combat, and destroy him.
Gentlemen, we did just that.
Mr. DURHAM. These groups did not take any oath, did they?
Mr. IsOM. Yes, sir.
Mr. DURHAM. I mean these groups that you just covered. Did they
take an oath?
Mr. IsoM. I can't tell you about that.
Mr. HARNESS. They were under civil service.
Mr. ISOM. I don't know that they did.
Mr. MARTIN. I wonder if any of those groups that Mr. Harness
named there were given an oath similar to the oath that the Civil Air
Patrol took?
Mr. ISOM. I don't know. All I know is about our own group. The
gentleman mentioned some others, the Army Specialist Corps, the
tate Guards, certain personnel of the Red Cross. I have no infor-
mation concerning them, but I have no doubt that any members in-
jured or killed, members of these various branches of civilian defense
work, are provided for by their organization.
Mr. HARNESS. The difference between the treatment accorded those
groups that you have mentioned there and your proposal here is that
those serving in the CAP on active service would be considered as
having served in the armed forces of the United States and would be
veterans of the war.
Mr. ISOM. Yes, sir.
Mr. HARNESS. The same as a man who is drafted into the service
and sent over to Germany or Japan.
Mr. ISOM. That is right. Or one that volunteered for the service.
Mr. HARNESS. And this would take into that group as World War
II veterans all of those who saw active service in these three branches
that are mentioned in the bill?
TAXfr. ISOM. Yes, sir.
Mr. HARNESS. Some 4,600 of them, and leave the door open for the
rest of the 125,000 who wore a uniform and took the oath-leave the
door open to say that they want the same benefits, the same privileges
as World War veterans, would it not?
Mr. ISOM. I hardly think they could justly claim that, and in
fact, I am certain there is no intention on the part of the Civil Air
Patrol to accomplish any such thing. Only those who actually
served with the Army in the field are entitled to be considered veterans
of World War II.
Mr. HARNESS. We have men who served here in the United States,
wore the uniform, were inducted into the service by the draft boards,
were accepted by the Army and the Navy, and assigned to supervisory
CIVIL AIR PATROLS 13
jobs in defense plants. They did not fight the enemy, yet they have
the privileges, the same privileges as the man who went into action
in Germany. That is through no fault of their own, because they
were assigned to do that job, so wouldn't the same argument prevail
with respect to those CAP men who did nothing, perhaps, more tharm
assist the Red Cross in certain communities?
Mr. Isom. I can answer you that, if you will pardon my using'my
own personal experience, but in the last World War I was an officer
in the United States Navy assigned to the Transport Force. We
made 18 trips across in convoy. We saw very little action, had a
very nice cruise back and forth across the ocean. I saw a great deal
more active duty in the Civil Air Patrol in this war than I saw in
World War I, yet I am a veteran of World War I with all the veterans'
privileges, but not of World War II at the present time.
Mr. HARNESS. I don't want you to misunderstand me as under-
taking to indicate that these men did not do a good job and did not
render a service that I think should be recognized. I am thinking of
the precedent that might be established by such legislation. I think
that what you say is true about the Veterans' Administration and the
Unemployment Compensation Board. I think they have misinter-
preted the law. I can't see any reason why the dependents of these
men who were killed in these jobs should not be recognized by one or
the other. This proposal here might, as indicated by both the War
and Navy Departments, establish a precedent that you would not
want yourself.
Mr. IsoM. Don't you see, sir, that the line can be very clearly
drawn in this case between those who were serving under the oath
with the Army, and those who served in active duty under command
by Army officers and in Army organized units, and actually served
on active duty? The line can be very distinctly drawn between
them and the others who were in training service in their own home
town and wore the uniform two nights a week. They did not seek
out the enemy and engage him in combat.
Mr. HARNESS. I know a lot of them. A lot of- my friends were in
it.
Mr. DURHAM. Were you permitted to take out insurance under the
Life Insurance Act?
Mr. ISOM. No, sir.
Mr. MARTIN. It seems to me that this question about your status
as distinguished from the other groups there could be based on this
matter of taking the oath and entering into active duty or actual
service under that oath. That was the line, as I recall it, that we
followed in determining what groups might be qualified as veterans
of World War I. We had that very question up in the matter of the
SATC, and those who took the oath, although they were in training
only, were, I believe, given that status as veterans; whereas, those who
did not take the oath, although they were in the same training, were
not considered veterans. I believe that was the distinguishing point
in that field following World War I. If we have a clear-cut line of
demarcation as between this group and these others named in the report
Mr. Harness read, we may have some basis on which to proceed with-
out setting a dangerous precedent.
Mr. IsoM. Only the 4,600 who served in active duty took the oath,
and so those are the only ones that we ourselves feel are entitled to
this recognition.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Mr. MARTIN. But we must also examine these other groups as to
how wide the gate is opened. That is what I have in mind. We
should have more information about those other groups and all other
possible groups. Only the ones that went on active duty took this
oath? Is that correct?
Mr. IsoM. Yes, sir; those that reported for active duty.
Mr. Harness. Have you given any consideration to legislation
that might grant some relief to these folks without making them
veterans of the war, without bringing them in as having served ih the
armed forces?
Mr. IsoM. That, of course, would be helpful, but it works an in-
justice on the others. They gave up their jobs. Many of them sold
their businesses to rush to the defense of their country in time of need,
and now they come back and try to get their jobs back and the veterans
are given the preference, put in ahead of them. They have no status
in their communities as veterans of the war. It is the old story
about the little boy that said, "Daddy, what did you do in the war?"
You know the answer to that one. I think that in fairness and justice
then they should have the same privileges as any other veterans.
Mr. DURHAM. What percentage of these men are World War I
veterans? Do you know?
Mr. IsoM. A large percentage of them. I started to go into that
at one time but never did complete the figures, but on our base alone,
out of a flying personnel of 40 I think 7 of us were World War I vet-
erans. They facetiously called us "The old man's Air Corps." A
great many of them were World War I veterans. That is why we were
in the Civil Air Patrol, we were too old to get into active duty with
the Army in any other way.
Mr. WINSTEAD. Although you took the oath and went into active
duty?
Mr. Isom. We took the oath when we went into active duty.
Mr. DURHAM. Are there any further questions? Thank you very
much, Mr. Isom.
Our next witness is Lt. Dan F. Ritchie. Will you give your full
name and position for the record, please?
STATEMENT OF DAN F. RITCHIE, NATIONAL TREASURER, CIVIL
AIR PATROL VETERANS ASSOCIATION, CHINA GROVE, N. C.
Mr. RITCHIE. My name is Dan F. Ritchie, national treasurer of
the Civil Air Patrol Veterans Association, China Grove, N. C. I was
a pilot at one of the bases. I flew something over 100 missions. I
saw something of what went on. Prior to going down there I was a
reserve officer in the ORC, having been such since 1926, having the
rating of-I am not even sure about that. I had a rating of captain,
that I unfortunately dropped 2 years previously, and I don't know
what my status would have been. However, at the time I was offered
a majorship by the Army engineers to go over with the Army engi-
neers, but the plea at that time was: "We need experienced fliers of
200 hours or better. For God's sake, come and help us." That is
just the language they used. We answered that call.
Mr. DURHAM. Whom did that appeal come from?
Mr. RITCHIE. That appeal came from the Civil Air Patrol head-
quarters, wing headquarters in North Carolina. At the same time,
the officers' procurement office, which was then located in Atlanta,
was also inquiring if I would not go back into the service. I was
over age, consequently, although being a former officer, I had reached
my thirty-seventh birthday without having kept my commission on
an active status, having let it expire in approximately 1935, due to
not attending sufirmer -camps or having sufficient points to do so.
That is the background, gentlemen.
The first thing I, want -to say is in answer to a question that you
just raised about where the line of demarcation might be. If I may
be permitted to do so I would suggest this line of demarcation: We
are the only organization in the history of the United States, so far
as the records disclose that we have been permitted to find-not even
counting the minute men of 1776-who were ordered by constituted
authority to proceed against a common enemy, find him, and engage
him in offensive, mortal combat. That is in essential terms, you
might say, the basis on which we ask what we are coming to you for.
I don't think we could be by international law considered in but
one of two categories; we were either soldiers or armed guerillas. I
don't think there is any middle ground.
Now, in regard to the oath, my serial number was 4486-450 back
in the early days when we were civilians and were doing civilian work,
training, and so forth. At that time we took one oath, which was a
school-children's oath. We were investigated by the FBI to see if we
were citizens, loyal citizens, and those of us that had no birth certifi-
cates had to prove that we were born, which sometimes was not so
bad. But we did have to do that, and produce birth certificates.
But upon being appointed to active duty we were then-not until
then were we required to subscribe fully to the military oath of alle-
giance, the same oath I took when I received my shavetail commission
for the URC, except some stronger. Those things might seem a little
strange to you, but those are the things that actually happened.
Now the colonel-we call him colonel, he is now Mr. Dawson-a
man came to him before he was going out on a mission and asked him
if he should be killed to look after his wife and children. The man
was killed, and the colonel is attempting to fulfill that obligation.
Mr. MARTIN. How was he killed?
Mr. RITCHIE. He was killed in the performance of his duty under
authority of the colonel, under the command issued to him by the
War Department.
Mr. MARTIN. I mean was he shot down?
Mr. RITCHIE. He was killed by aircraft failure, not by being shot
down. In fact, the majority of our men, who were killed, were not
shot down. In other words, the enemy shootiAg at us was almost like
shooting at a fly on the wall. We were most too small for him to hit,
unless we got in range of his machine guns. So we were not so afraid
of his weapons as we were the inadequacy of the equipment that we
had to fly. When a man is killed as a result of a mechanical deficiency
in his plane, he is just as dead as if he was shot through the head with
an enemy bullet. I can't see that there is any difference, gentlemen.
Those of us that served take great pride in the fact that we were able
to do so, and the satisfaction of having served has its own reward, but
that does not put bread in the mouths of our workers, nor does it
look after our dependents;
neither does it look after the mother of
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Mr. Cook, Lieutenant Cook he was then, whose body was not found
for several months after he went down, and as a result thereof she is
in the insane asylum. She used every authority she could to try and
find something of the boy. He went down on the 23d of December,
and we found his body the second week of March, I believe-what
remained of it. It was found as the result of investigation of a floating
mine. His body happened to be floating near it and was picked up by
the Coast Guard.
It is a serious matter to us, gentlemen, and we realize that while we
have several strikes against us, we believe from sheer misunderstand-
mng. The War Department and the Navy Department say we were
civilians, but there is nothing whatsoever that we can locate in Army
law, we can find nothing whatsoever in the annals of history of our
country where anybody has been sent out by constituted authority
and armed to destroy an enemy and exposed to all the hazards of
combat, knowing only one of you is going to come back, and yet says
after all that, "You are civilians." Always in the past our Nation
has taken care of its own. We are coming to you asking- only that
you permit our widows and children-we don't want benefits-in fact,
our bill so states-we only want it from thereon.
Some of us go back to our civilian occupations and find our jobs are
taken by veterans who have never seen any action, never even fired a
gun, who have been in training and developed some physical disability
in training. If we come to the Federal Government or the State
government for employment, we have a 10 percent strike against us to
begin with, and a veteran is appointed, whether it is civil service or
anything else. That is why we are asking for veteran's status. We
don't want mustering-out pay. We are not asking for that. What
I am trying to say in the best words that I can muster is that we are
asking what we firmly believe we are entitled to, not for our individual
selves necessarily, but for the group as a whole. We went out there
to discharge what we thought was our duty, our way of life, if you will
permit me to use what may be a rather worn phrase, but many of us
still believe in it. We did what we thought we were called to do, and
believe it or not, we developed a peculiar psychology that I under-
stand is shared by our brothers.
For instance, our Regular Army men who armed our planes with
bombs set them for 700 feet, so they would detonate on contact at
700 feet. There was that timing so the plane could get away before
the bomb went off. Many of us pleaded with those boys to set them
for 200 feet-"if we catch a big boy out there, let's lay it on the deck.
We know we can't get away, but so what? Suppose we don't get
away?" We were under the impression all the time that our depend-
ents would be looked after. Our commanding officer told us so. He
was under that impression, so we were just about as desperate as
many other brothers in arms. We saw every day survivors as a result
of enemy action, enemy torpedoes.
Mr. HARNESS. how many submarines were destroyed by the Civil
Air Patrol?
Mr. RITcHIE. Officially we are credited with sinking unassisted'
two submarines, with bombing 57 or 58. That is within 1 or 2 of
being correct. We were credited with sighting in excess of 170.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Now then, if I may let my hair down, so to speak, here is what the
official sinking consisted of, as we understand it; if the submarine was
destroyed and proof was submitted or proof was gotten by the con-
stituted authorities that it was destroyed unassisted, and there was no
other surface craft involved, then we were credited with it, but if that
submarine was sunk and there were other surface craft in the vicinity,
we being subordinate to them, they received the credit, and frankly,
gentlemen, we didn't receive a "much obliged." That hurt us in
many cases, but wejust thought, "Well, this is war."
Mr. HARNESS. Were your planes all equipped with radios?
Mr. RITCHIE. Yes, sir, two-way radios, every one of them. We
were not permitted to take off at all without a two-way radio that
worked. We flew in pairs as another safeguard against radio failure
and as mutual protection. We flew in pairs, two planes, each carry-
ing a pilot and an observer. The observer served also as the bombar-
dier and radio operator. Each plane was equipped with the arma-
ment it could carry. Bear in mind, these planes were garnered from
the airports of the country. Ninety-horsepower was the minimum;
from there on up to whatever could be obtained, begged, borrowed or
stolen, speaking figuratively. Those ships were armed with whatever
armament they would carry, the 100-pound bomb, the 275-pound
depth charge, and-the 300-pound depth charge. The larger ships
would carry the depth charge; the smaller ships could not carry any-
thing over 100 pounds. That is why they were so armed, and that
was determined and the weight balances run on those planes by the
Army Air Corps themselves, not by our personnel. The bomb were
put on by the regular servicemen of the Army. We were not per-
mitted to arm our own planes. They were armed for us, because we
were told we were not sufficient technicians.
Mr. MARTIN. Of these 4,500 men involved here, what percentage of
them were pilots and members of air crews?
Mr. RITCHIE. Well, sir, I can answer that, I believe, only as a fair
estimate.
That can be obtained from the War Department,
but we
had, ourselves,
approximately
25 observers or pilots out of the 86
personnel.
Mr. DURHAM.
There is a very important
bill on the floor of the
House now and a quorum call, so it is evident we cannot finish with
the witness now. We will adjourn until 2 o'clock this afternoon.
Colonel DAWSON.
Mr. Chairman,
we have only one more witness.
Mr. DURHAM.
We can finish with him this afternoon.
Probably
some of the members would like to question the present witness.
We will come back at 2 o'clock.
(Whereupon, at 11:30 a. in., a recess was taken until 2 p. in. this
day.)
AFTER RECESS
The hearing was resumed
at 2 p. in., pursuant
to recess.
Mr. DURHAM.
The committee
will come to order. This is a con-
tinuation
of the hearing this morning
on the Civil Air Patrol bill.
Our next witness
is Maj. Ralph Earle.
Will you state your full name
and position
for the record,
please?
CIVIL AIR PATROLr
STATEMENT OF MAJ. RALPH EARLE, FOURTEENTH FLOOR,
FINANCE BUILDING, PHILADELPHIA, PA
Major EARLE. Gentlemen, I am, or was, the ex-base commander at
Suffolk Airport and Falmouth, which had the patrol from Point
Pleasant, N. J., to Boston, taking in New York Harbor and Boston,
Harbor.
I will take only a few minutes of your time, because these other
gentlemen will also have something to say. Most of them were not
at the original base, and it might be helpful to give you a little inkling
of how the thing started. Atlantic City and Rehoboth were the two
original bases. At that time the sinkings, as you know, were all
along the coast. Tankers were burning, oil was not getting through,
and they called upon us for help. Robert Wilson, who was an old
Army officer, called on ex-serN ice men, such as myself, who had been
in the Air Corps, to see what we could do. We immediately left for
Atlantic City, where a base was opened. I was stationed in Atlantic
City. On our first day out, three ships were burning when we got
there. The results there worked out so well that all bases were
opened from Maine, or from Canada, you might say, to the Gulf.
There were 21 bases.
At Atlantic City there -was no way whatever to pay the men, to
clothe them, or anything else, so we just wore arm bands in case we
got shot down. The pressure was so great and we had so few pilots
at that time that many of the pilots averaged 10 hours a day of flight.
They were so stiff when they came in from the planes that we would
have to lift them out. Food ran very low. We raised money wher-
ever we could. Gasoline ran low. It looked as though the thing was
closing down, when the oil companies came to our rescue. We had
proven that we could stop the German submarine at these two bases,
and they raised a fund called the tanker fund, and with that money
they were able to keep the organization going until such time as we
received real aid. But I have seen pilots get out of planes and faint
from hunger. In fact, I went to Philadelphia one time to help raise
money to keep the meals going until we got the thing under way.
That was the Coast Patrol starting. The result from there on was
that wherever we put in a base, if the submarines had been there they
would move on to another location. Finally we had the 21 bases in,
and those 21 bases put an umbrella from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico
over all shipping. I can remember plainly when at one time we didn't
know how far we could fly near the merchant ships. They were not
armed at that time. After they were armed, if you got within 1,500
feet they were ordered to shoot at us, but up to that time we would
fly right alongside, and many times the sailors, you would see them
get down on the deck praying to us, they were so glad to see us. We
were the only people out there. And from that this submarine Civil
Air Patrol, CAP, Coastal Patrol, grew.
Now, I am not going to take your time on this because you really
have men here that know the legal end. I know that is what you
want, and I want to see if we can show you the way out. Here is an
example. Some of the men got up this little book of dedication to
Gordon Pyle, intelligence officer at base 718, who by his energy,
efficiency, knowledge, and skill was instrumental in saving the lives
of all of his comrades who crashed at sea, who was overtaken by the
-fate from which he saved so many, they and the other members of
the base affectionally dedicate this book.
Gordon Pyle went out over New York Harbor, Sandy Hook, and
with him was an Army officer, and from the time they left the radar
picked them up for about an hour or so; after that all contact with
them was lost and neither the ship nor two men were ever heard of
again.
Gordon Pyle left a wife and widow, and I don't know whether the
Army officer was married or not, but there were two men on the same
line of duty; the Army officer was covered by the GI bill of rights;
Gordon Pyle left his wife and widow without anything. That is the
situation you find all along this coast, and that is what I am hopeful
you gentlemen can help us out with. We have carried this thing
from one department to another. I believe every department would
have liked to help us out. They feel that we are sincere. They
feel that the boys did a good job. I also know that if we can't get
help here you may say we should try somewhere else, and so forth,
but for over a year we have all tried back and forth with different
heads, the veterans' organization, and we have gotten nowhere, and
I just mention these two little things to show you the situation, how
two men in the same line of duty, one is taken care of and the other
is not,
That is my story. I know that we got the tankers through. I
also know that when the 21 bases were started, nothing more happened
except in a few cases, and the submarines moved out. At that time
the Army felt we were the real stuff, and we were, I think. To prove
that, men who stayed in CAP, regular Army officers who were officers
at national headquarters, moved from captain to major, to lieutenant
colonel and colonel, right on up through the ranks, and I think that
proves that the Army felt that this was a very important service.
I have nothing more to say, gentlemen.
Mr. DURHAM. Are there any questions?'
Mr. MARTIN. Did your CAP pilots have ratings and promotions
that you considered adequate for the work you were doing, that is,
in comparison to the promotions you speak about in the Army?
Major EARLE. I will answer that in this way: I rose from the rank
of captain to major, but there is no difference in pay. A pilot re-
ceives the same pay whether he is a captain or a major. We got the
rank but no extra pay, and the pay that we received as major was
not really pay, it was living expenses.
Mr. DURHAM. You got your per diem pay regardless of what your
rank was?
Major EARLE. That is right. In other words, the base commander
received $10 a day. Eventually I took over two bases, and I still
received $10 a day.
Mr. DURHAM. Why did you have trouble securing food in the
early days?
Major EARLE. You see, nobody even guessed what we were, and
we were just called on to see what we could do, and in those two bases
we proved ourselves
and then we spread out. It was something
that had never happened before, I guess, in the annals of this country.
Mr. DURHAM.
But we had plenty of food in this country.
There
was no excuse for that. Somebody had authority to feed you.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Major EARLE. No, that was the trouble, we were not in any branch
of the service at that time, -and each department was afraid to give
us anything for fear they might be criticized for it.
Mr. DURHAM. Where did Maj. Gil Robb Wilson, that you spoke
of, where did he get his authority from?
Major EARLE. He received authority, I suppose, to go down there
and fly over the ocean. It must have been from the War Depart-
ment, because at that time all civilian flying had been shut down.
Mr. DURHAM. He could not have flown unless somebody gave him
authority?
Major EARLE. That is correct.
Colonel DAWSON. I would like to say along those lines, Mr. Chair-
man, as was brought out here this morning, we received our orders
from the War Department through the Twenty-fifth Wing of the
Army Air Force Anti-submarine Command, whose headquarters are
at the Eastern Sea Frontier in New York City, to open up our bases
and start flying over the ocean, destroying German submarines if we
located any of them, but we could not get the Army, even the Army
officers, due to the shortage, so I understood, and the legal status, to
give us Mae Wests, so we were down there on the North Atlantic
coast, and we used to stand on the beach and see the ships torpedoed
and burned, and when some of the survivors were washed ashore, we
couldn't stand it any longer, and being real red-blooded Americans, we
just took some dead bodies and took the life vests off of them, and
went to work. It seemed like there was some legal status that they
didn't have. the authority to give us-they didn't give us Mae Wests
until the time we were taken into the Army, the War Department
order. I think that was explained by Mr. Earle's statement.
Mr. MARTIN. When was this situation you have just described
corrected?
Major EARLE. That was from the War Department, headquarters
of the Army Air Force, Washington, May 25, 1943.
Mr. MARTIN. Up to that time you had had this trouble you have
been describing?
Major EARLE. That is right.
Mr. MARTIN. And from that date, May 25, 1943, you had no more
trouble?
Major EARLE. Things began to improve immensely.
Mr. DURHAM. How long did you work under those conditions?
Major EARLE. Conditions at Rehoboth and Atlantic City, after
we had proven those two cases and the oil companies came to our
rescue and came down here and fought our battles to a certain extent,
from that time on things began to improve right along, but for about
the first 3 months we didn't know just what would happen next.
None of us did.
Mr. MARTIN. How long had you been operating at the time of the
change you mentioned, May 25?
Major EARLE. This is May 25, 1943, and the first base at Rehoboth
and Atlantic City started in the sDring of 1942.
Mr. DURHAM. Are there any further questions? Thank you very
much, Mr. Earle.
Our next witness is G. C. Moreland, Washington, D. C. We will
be glad to hear you now, Mr. Moreland.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
STATEMENT OF G. C. MORELAND, WASHINGTON, D. C., REPRE-
SENTING THE CIVIL AIR PATROL ASSOCIATION
Mr. MORELAND. Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, at the present
-time I am representing the Civil Air Patrol as a veteran, of the Vet-
erans' Association. My connection with the Civil Air Patrol began
in the early spring of 1942 with a group of men who formed what
'was then known as the Civil Air Patrol at Home. Later on we were
given an opportunity to enlist for active coastal patrol duties.
We were not told where this base would be located. The first
knowledge we had that we had been accepted for coastal patrol duty
-came in the form of an order addressed to me under frank, with an
envelope 'from the War Department telling me to report for active
coastal patrol duty at Manteo, N. C., July 27, 1943.
Mr. DURHAM. What were you then, just a civilian?
Mr. MORELAND. I was a civilian working as a public accountant.
So I reported to the base commander. The base was just in the
process of being organized. We had the same financial difficulties
that have been mentioned in the case of other bases. Popular sub-
scriptions were taken up among the businessmen at home, and
through those donations we were able to start our base operating
with a capital of some $3,000. The Standard Oil Co. was kind enough
to extend credit to us for the necessay gasoline and oil that we needed
-at the base.
As soon as the base was formed and started operating I was made
administrative head of base 16. My duties principally were those
of contact with outside suppliers and.to organize the office and keep
the records.
All of the orders that we operated under, as has been stated before,
came to us either by mail or through teletype connection, and we
,considered ourselves at the time as a part of the armed forces of the
United States under the headquarters
at Mitchel Field, N. Y. That
condition existed throughout the term of my enlistment at the Civil
Air Patrol base. That is a brief outline of my duties there.
In connection with several of the questions that have been asked
here, particularly with reference to the establishment of a precedent,
I wonder if we are out of order or if a precedent is being established
by our asking for approximately
the same privileges
that the Coast
Guard Auxiliary
men enjoy, due to legislation
that was passed in
September of 1944?
Mr. DURHAM. It is always the privilege of a citizen to come in and
ask for anything you want.
Mr. MORELAND.
That will be all that I have to say with reference
to the situation as it now exists.
Mr. SYKES. Has the Coast Guard Auxiliary
been given military
status yet?
Mr. MORELAND.
To the extent that the members
are given vet-
erans' preference
by the Civil Service Commission.
Mr. SYKES.
I understood
they were given civil-service
status, but
not veterans'
preference.
What is the situation?
Mr. MARTIN.
That was my recollection
of it, but I am not pre-
pared to make any final statement
on that. Are you saying here
that there was more than that given to them?
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Mr. MORELAND. No, although I could definitely make the state-
ment from information that comes to me-came from them in my
own office, from members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Mr. SYKES. I think we should determine that point, because this
organization, apparently, is more closely related to the services under
which the Coast Guard Auxiliary operated than any other that I
know of.
Mr. MORELAND. Well, there is ore point that I would like to make
very clear while we are speaking about the Coast Guard. We of the
Veterans' Association of Civil Air Patrol do not intend or do not want
to create the impression that we are finding fault with anything that
any other organization may have.
Mr. DURHAM. We understand that.
Mr. MORELAND, I want to make that point clear.
Colonel DAWSON. You were told in your office that they were given
preference while Civil Air members were not?
Mr. MORELAND. I applied to the Civil Service Commission for
veterans' preference, and that was denied me.
Colonel DAWSON. But it was given to the Coast Guard, you were
told in your office?
Mr. MORELAND. Yes, sir.
Mr. MORELAND. Yes, sir.
Mr. DURHAM. Are there any questions? Thank you very much,
Mr. Moreland.
Our next witness is Mr. George W. Witney, of Philadelphia.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE W. WITNEY, PHILADELPHIA, PA.,
REPRESENTING THE CIVIL AIR PATROL ORGANIZATION
Mr. WITNEY. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I am a member of the
general Civil Air Patrol organization that was connected with bases
17 and 18 particularly, and the one base at Charleston, S. C.
My purpose here today is to give you if possible the legal back-
ground on which these various operations were based, and to try to
straighten you out, if I can, in the questions that have been raised by
the various members of the committee on the differences between the
status of the Civil Air Patrol active-duty group and other groups and
other sections of that same organization.
The Civil Air Patrol was set up originally on May 20, 1941, about 7
months before Pearl Harbor, and was set up by Executive Order No.
8757, issued by the President when he set up the Office of Civilian
Defense. Later on, by Executive order issued April 15, 1942, Execu-
tive Order 9134, the functions were elaborated and the experiences
that they had gained in the preliminary coastal patrol work were more
or less solidified and crystallized in the organization that had to do
specifically with protection of the coast.
Mr.,MARTIN. That was a little over a year later, a year after
Pearl Harbor?
Mr. WITNEY. Not quite a year later, but about 4 months after
Pearl Harbor. Major Earle and myself in the Pennsylvania area,
and Lieutenant Newcomb here, and some of the other men, were in
the Civil Air Patrol before Pearl Harbor. The Government thought
at that time it would be desirable to organize all civilian pilots for
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
purposes of defense of this country. At that time we were not en-
gaged in any coastal patrol work. We were organizing units all over-
the country for all sorts of purposes that had to do with local defense.
They were going to use these older pilots and civilian planes in air-
plane work in the general defense of the country. As you may know,
in 1940 the country was engaged in defense activities, and the Civil
Air Patrol was organized as a part of that work. Later on, as Major
Earle pointed out, the need for coastal patrol by airplane became very
great because of the large number of merchant vessels which were
being sunk off of our coast. Then Civil Air Patrol was given the job
of establishing coastal bases and patrolling the sea lanes with the
civilian planes that were generally available.
Mr. DURHAM. Did we have any other patrol work at that time?
Mr. WITNEY. Yes; we had the Coast Guard work, but not by
airplane, and we had some airplane work, as I remember it, by the
limited number of planes that were available in the Army and Navy,.
but they were usually required for other work, and that is why these
,
men were put on duty, because there were no other resources available-
for immediate use. As you may know, they used land planes going-
out over the sea. It was a new venture for them and for the entire.
organization. It was organized very carefully, and the patrol system
was set up where they went out in pairs with two-way radio equip-
ment. These bases were all set up as a complete team and unit,
operating for the sole object of patrolling the sea lanes along the coast.
As Colonel Dawson has pointed out to you, in some parts of his area
it was necessary for them to go out 100 miles at sea before they got
into the sea lanes. Further north the sea lanes were closer to the
shore.
Mr. DURHAM. Did your group do all the repair work on the .planes?
Mr. WITNEY. Every base was a complete unit in itself, did their
own repair work, took care of all their own feeding, did all of their
own service work. The planes in many cases were completely re-
built, the engines were re-serviced and overhauled right on the base.
It was necessary for the civilians to get together and group all of their
facilities under one central base and operate these patrols and keep
them going. The Army did send the equipment for bombing and did
train the men in bombing work and also in navigation work, as it was
possible to do so. Each base had its own teletype connection with
the proper officers in the air, the Coast Guard, Army and Navy officers,
and there was a complete and very rapid liaison between the base and
the other defensive units. That was set up gradually through the
cooperation of the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy, the Coast
Guard and the Coastal patrol. These men later on, by directive
No. 9339, Executive order dated April 29, 1943, which is a year later,
became an integral part of the War Department. From that point
on all of the orders that came out were fundamentally based upon
orders of the Army Air Force, and were transmitted to the office of
the nationalcommander of the Civil Air Patrol, who was an Army
officer, and he had his staff all Army officers.
We were fundamentally set up through these Executive orders, first
as a civilian defense set-up, then on the coastal patrol work exclusively,
then as part of the War Department. Those are generally the three
basic Executive orders for control. Based on those general orders
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
this coastal patrol work, under instructions No. 1, headquarters,
Army Air Force Antisubmarine Comniand, dated November 27,
1942, which was after the second directive order, charged these units
with this particular duty-and I have here communications from the
national headquarters of the Civil Air Patrol, in which those orders
as transmitted by the Antisubmarine Command were transmitted to
the base commander. This is, of course, a confidential communication,
but as I understand, those restrictions are no longer binding, and for
that reason I am taking the liberty of giving this information to the
committee. Those orders are very explicit and they state in here that
this coastal patrol work is to consist of patrolling coastal shipping
lanes, as directed, during daylight hours for the purpose of protecting
friendly shipping and of locating and reporting enemy submarines,
enemy warships, or suspicious craft, and to take such action as equip-
ment permits in destruction of any submarine, for conducting such
special antisubmarine missions as are directed by the headquarters
of the Army Air Force Antisubmarine Command.
Now, the Judge Advocate General, based upon an opinion given
under date of May 8, 1942, preceding these orders, has stated that the
personnel on duty in these Civil Air Coastal Patrol bases-
are accompanying or serving with the Army of the United States in the field, and
that under the provisions of Articlse of War 2-B, they are amenable to military
discipline and subject to the jurisdiction of military courts.
We feel that these men were actually in the Army in the field, work-
ing under specific instructions given by a unit of the Army. I would
like to submit this as part of the record in this case. Here is the
original, and I have a typed copy of it which I would like to leave, if
it is agreeable, or I can get you a photostat of it.
Mr. DURHAM. Without objection this will be made a part of the
record.
(The paper referred to follows:)
[Confidential]
OFFICE OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D. C
CIVIL AIR PATROL, NAIIONATJ READ QUARTERS,
Washington, March 80, 1948.
Subject:
Military
status
of CAP coastal
patrols.
To: All CAP coastal patrol commanders.
1. The following is in response to requests for a statement as to the military
status of CAP coastal patrols received by this headquarters from several coastal
patrol commanders.
2. The coastal patrol units of Civil Air Patrol are operating under authority
contained in letter of instruction No. 1, headquarters, Army Air Force Antisub-
marine Command, November 27, 1942, which charges these units with the follow-
ing mission:
"To patrol coastal shipping lanes as directed during daylight hours for the
purpose of protecting friendly shipping and of locating and reporting enemy
submarines, enemy warships, Or suspicious craft and to take such action as
equipment permits in destruction of enemy submarines; to conduct such special
antisubmarine missions as are directed by headquarters, Army Air Force Anti-
submarine Conbmand."
3. In the opinion of the Judge Advocate General, as expressed in SPJG 373.1,
May 8, 1942, the personnel on duty with CAP coastal patrol units "are accom-
panying or serving with the Army of the United States in the field and that
under the provisions of Articles of War 2 (d) they are amenable to military dis-
cipline and subject to the jurisdiction of military courts."
4. Attention is invited to the fact that this document is classified on con-
fidential military information and is required to be safeguarded as such.
By direction of National Commander Johnson:
(Signed) HARRY H. BLEE,
Colonel, Air Corps,
Operations Officer.
Mr. WITNEY. Subsequently, after the third directive had come out,
under date of May 25, 1943, the War Department, headquarters,
Army Air Forces, issued AAF Regulation No. 20-18, which gives the
organization of the Civil Air Patrol, and this particular directive
states in paragraph 3 exactly what is stated in the previous directive,
that the duties of the coastal patrol under the Army Air Forces acting
from the War Department to these bases, are-
Coastal patrol units of the Civil Air Patrol are authorized, as directed by the
commanding general, Army Air Forces-
that shows they were under that command-
to patrol coastal shipping lanes for the purpose of protecting friendly shipping
and of locating and reporting enemy submarines, warships, or suspicious craft
and to take such action as their equipment permits in the destruction of enemy
submarines.
That puts them directly on the offensive front in the war effort.
I would like to have this identified for the record, and I would like
to have the privilege of sending a photostatic copy.
Mr. DURHAM. Without objection, that may be done.
At that time were you people issued uniforms?
Mr. WITNEY. Yes, they were always in Army uniform. The pur-
pose of that was this: Under the various operation directives that
were issued from the national headquarters of the Civil Air Patrol,
every man on active duty was instructed in the various Articles of
War, was required-and among other things they were particularly
warned that they might be taken prisoner, for that reason it was
necessary for them to be in uniform, and, also, they were directed how
they should act when they were taken prisoner.
I want to read to you from Operations Directive No. 7, dated March
12, 1942, when they were still in the Office of Civilian Defense. The
training and operations officer directed all of these base commanders
that should an air patrol, Civil Air Patrol member, be captured by
an enemy, the enemy intelligence officers would probably ask them
questions in an attempt to learn as much as possible about our Army
and Navy. Under the rules of land warfare it is not necessary to
answer these questions. Prisoners of war, under these rules, are
required to give only the following information for the enemy: Name,
grade, and serial number. I merely cite this as being typical of the
kind of directives that were issued through national headquarters to
these base commanders in the training of their men.
In the handling of these operations, they were further directed to
keep everything strictly confidential. Operations directive No. 22,
dated June 3, 1942, was particularly
addressed to this particular sub-
ject, and-it states as follows:
All information
pertaining to Civil Air Patrol task force operations is hereby
classified as confidential
military information,
and will at all times be safeguarded
as such. All correspondence,
reports, and other documents
having to do with the
said operations
will be handled in the manner prescribed
in directive No. 14,
"Safeguarding
military information."
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Article 4 of that same directive says:
Violations of the foregoing instructions will result in immediate dismissal from
-the Civil Air Patrol and such court proceedings under the Espionage Act as the
Government of the United States may deem necessary and proper.
These men were thoroughly drilled in all of these particular Articles
,of War, and the conduct that would be required of them as members of
the military forces.
Under date of September 11, 1944, Army Air Force regulations,
AAF No. 20-18, were further amended, amending those given out on
May 25, 1943, and this was after the coastal patrol bases were expanded
and the national command of the Civil Air Patrol was given other
activities which included the tow target and tracking missions, and
search missions for lost Army aircraft, which some of these bases were
-converted into after they finished their coastal patrol base. The
important thing about that is to show that there was an expansion of
their duties. Officially the bases were terminated, the coastal patrol
work was terminated as of August 31, 1943, and at that time the follow-
ing orders were issued by the national commander of Civil Air Patrol
-under date of July 15, 1943. The first paragraph is important. I am
quoting:
The Navy has ordered the discontinuance of CAP coastal patrol at sundown,
Tuesday, August 31, 1943-
and this is the important part-
-since the Navy now has adequate equipment and personnel to carry on this
operation.
That is the important fact. That was the order issued to end the
base work as of August 31, 1943. In the operations of the bases
between-those two dates, when they started on August 31, 1943, every
base commander had teletype instructions almost hourly from the
antisubmarine commander in the various headquarters of those anti-
-submarine commands, directing where they were to make their special
searches, if any. We haven't any of those orders because they were
all in teletype and were supposed to have been destroyed every day,
but in the book that I showed the chairman and some of the members
-a few minutes ago, we do have a photograph of the briefing room
wherein the chief communications officers and the operations officer
would take the men who were going out on the next flight, and point
,out on the map where the last submarine or last convoy, or where any
particular point that had to be watched was located, and show them
just what they were to look out for, where they-were to look out for
it, and what they were to report back on. Those instructions were
given to these men through the commander of the base through his
.executive officer, the operations officer, and this briefing officer would
then transmit to the men on a particular flight that was going out at
that particular time.
I would like to put into the record this picture of the briefing room,
-showing how they briefed an antisubmarine mission, the same as you
will find in any Army base. I have marked this "Briefing an anti-
s ubmarine mission, base 17."
Mr. DURHAM. If there is no objection, it will be submitted for the
record.
Mr. WITNiY. I might also point out that the other pictures on the
pages show not only the kind of planes that were used-they were land
planes-the kind of uniforms that the men were wearing, which were
Army uniforms with the Civil Air Patrol insignia on them, and the
kind of lifesaving equipment they were equipped with when they
went out on these missions both in the summer and the winter. In
the wintertime they had those lifesaving heavy suits with life rafts
that went along with them.
There is also a picture of the cafeteria where they were fed every
day, and the various groups of men discussing their various activities.
In the final orders that were given to the base commanders, ter-
minating their services, this particular phrase appears, which was
given to one of the base commanders, who is present in the room here
today, when his work as tow target operator was terminated on
May 31, 1944. He is t.lkipg now about this tow target:
Said unit has been on official active duty assignment serving with the Army
of the United States in the field.
When he was told to terminate that work, he was told that his unit
had been on official active duty assignment serving with the Army
of the United States in the field.
After that work was finished these men were in every sense-
Mr. DURHAM (interposing). Who signed that?
Mr. WITNEY. This is signed by Col. Harry H. Blee, of the Air
Corps, operations officer, Civil Air Patrol. You may have this if
you would like it. I would like to put this in as a final order, identi-
fied as "Special Order No. 152," dated May 31, 1944, addressed to
BEST AVAILABLE COPY
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
the commanding officer, Lieutenant Dawson-Colonel Dawson now-
who happens to be here today.
Mr. DURHAM. Very well.
(The paper referred to follows:)
(Restricted)
SPECIAL ORDERS No. 152
NATIONATAL HEADQUARTERS,
CIVIL AIR PATROL,
New York 18, N. Y., May 81, 4944.
4. Authority Army Air Forces Regulation No. 20-18, "Organization-Civil
Air Patrol," May 25, 1943, effective 2400Q, May 31, 1944, Lt. Col. Frank F.
Dawson (4-4--4), who has served continuously as commanding officer of CAP
Field Unit No. 21 from September 7, 1942, the date of activation of this unit as
coastal patrol No. 21, through May 31, 1944, the date of completion of its assign-
ment as tow target. Unit No. 21; throughout which time said unit has been on
official active duty assignment serving with the Army of the United States in the
field; is hereby relieved of appointment as commanding officer of said unit and of
active duty assignment thereto, as said unit is this date officially inactivated. In
announcing this action, this headquarters hereby expresses its sincere thanks
and appreciation of the loyal, untiring, efficient, service rendered by Colonel
Dawson and congratulates him on the outstanding contribution he has made to
the war effort.
By direction of National Commander Johnson.
HARRY H. BLEE,
Colonel, Air Corps,
Operations Officer.
Official:
(Signed) HOWARD S. STERNE,
Major, Air Corps.
N Assistant Operations Offcer.
Mr. WITNEY. Immediately upon the issuance of the orders, that
terminated the operations of these coastal patrol bases, every one of
the Government agencies with which they had been cooperating. were
very commendatory in their praise of the work that had been done.
Here is a letter that I would be glad to put in the record if the chairman
thinks it is necessary-confidential also-written August 11, 1943,
from Ernest J. King, commander in chief of the United States Fleet
and Chief of Naval Operations, addressed to the Chief of Staff, United
States Army, General Marshall.
Subject: Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol.
1. On August 31, 1943, the subject organization will be relieved from their
duties with the Navy on the eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States.
2. I request you express to them a "well done" for their enthusiastic, loyal,
and constant cooperation in combatting the submarine menace, patroling our
coast line and assisting in the locating of survivors and ships in distress.
The Civil Air Patrol is very proud of that letter, and every base
commander received a copy from the national commander.
I submit a letter from Admiral Adolphus Andrews, commander of
the Eastern Sea Frontier, headquarters, 90 Church Street, New
.York, N. Y.:
AnonST 27, 1943.
To: Commanding
officer, CAP coastal patrol No. 21.
Via: Commander, Twenty-fifth Wing, Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command,
Subj.: Services, appreciation of.
1. Your unit has rendered invaluable services to this command in fulfillment of.
its war mission or protecting shipping and combatting the submarine menace.
2. The tasks performed by CAPCP have been many, including antisubmarine
patrols, escort missions, searches for known or suspected submarines, and assisting
in rescues after marine and aerial casualties.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
3. In the performance of these tasks there has been displayed a skill, energy,
resourcefulness, and disregard for danger which are in the highest tradition of the
American armed forces.
4. Now on your departure fyom the Eastern Sea Frontier I extend to you and
to your men my thanks for your cooperation and wish you all the greatest success'
in your next assignments. Well done.
(Signed) ADOLPHUS ANDREWS, Admiral.
Here are two more short letters, one from Col. John G. Fowler,
commanding the Air Corps, Twenty-fifth Antisubmarine Wing,
90"Church Street, addressed to the commanding general, No. 1,
former command:
It is a pleasure to add my commendations to that of the commander, Eastern
Sea Frontier, and to have been associated with an organization as outstanding in
the performance of its mission as the Civil Air Patrol, coastal patrol.
That is dated August 21, 1943.
This letter is dated September 11, 1943, addressed to the Command-
-ing General, Army Air Forces, Washington, D. C., from Col. G. A.
McHenry, colonel, Air Corps, commanding the Bomber Command,
90 Church Street, New York:
I am pleased to forward this commendation of the CAP Coastal Patrol Unit
No. 17, which has been operating in the area of the Eastern Sea Frontier, and to
add my commendation for the willing cooperation given the Twenty-fifth Anti-
submarine Wing in carrying out all operational missions assigned.
Here are two more letters, one from Edward T. Osborn, commander,
United States Coast Guard, who is now a captain in the United States
Coast Guard, section Coast Guard officer, Long Island section, ad-
dressed to Maj. Ralph Earle, commanding officer at base 17, which
covers New York Harbor and later Boston Harbor:
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD,
East Moriches, N. Y., September 14, 1948.
Maj. RALPH EARLE, CAP,
Suffolk, Airport, Riverhead, N. Y.
DEAR MAJOR: When I first heard the reports that your organization was to be
transferred from this vicinity I hoped against hope that such was not to be.
However, since it is now an established fact, I am writing to tell you just how sorry
I am that you and your splendid organization will not be with us during the
remaining months of the war.
I particularly noted your manner of administration and the good work ac-
complished thereby, and was greatly impressed with the thought that your work
carried many common elements with that of the Coast Guard. I have often
thought how fine it would have been if your organization was actually a part of the
Coast Guard. Naturally, these are my own personal views and cannot be given
any official emphasis, but I feel that there is logic in my reasoning.
In leaving us, I sincerely desire that you take with you the good wishes of the
Long Island section, United States Coast Guard, and that you accept our appre-
ciation for the cooperation extended by you to us during the entire time we have
been working together. Please extend this to your officers and men.
Before you actually leave, if you find time, I would be very happy to have you
and anyone else you care to bring along come over and have lunch with us.
With best personal. regards and wishes for the continued success of your organ-
ization, r am,
Sincerely yours, E. T. OSBORN,
Commander, United States Coast Guard,
Section Coast Guard Officer,
Long Island Section.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
One final letter. This is addressed to Colonel Dawson, aft that time
Major Dawson, commanding officer of Coastal Air Patrol No. 21,
Beaufort, N. C.:
HEADQUARTERS, FIFTH NAVAL DISTRICT,
NAVAL OPERATING BASE,
Norfolk 11, Va., August 28, 1948.
From: Corn Five.
To: CO CAPCP 21, Beaufort, N. C.-Maj. Frank E. Dawson.
Subject: Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol, 5nd.
1. The three CAPCP units, operating in the naval district, have rendered
substantial services in prosecution of the war.
2. These units have flown a total monthly average of 2,136 hours, representing
a monthly average of 325 escort, 406 patrol, and 34 search flights. Thirteen
submarine sightings, 10 ship disasters, and 22 plane accidents at sea were reported.
A close check was maintained on commercial fishing vessels operating in this
area. A comprehensive survey of wrecks in these waters was conducted.-
3. CAPCP 21, Beaufort, has flown a monthly average of 917 hours, representing
a monthly average of 153 escort, 164 patrol, and 15 search flights. This unit
played an important role in the protection of merchant shipping along the ap-
proaches to Lookout Bight.
4. The commandant is cognizant of the difficulties and dangers which have
attended your operations. For the energy, persistence, skill, resourcefulness, and
daring displayed, as well as for the fine patriotism manifested, you and the
members of your command are-commended.
5. The commandant also desires to express his thanks for the valuable
assistance rendered by CAPCP 21, Beaufort, to him in the discharge of his
responsibilities.
H. F. LEARY.
That is only to complete the record, showing the feeling that existed
between the various members of the armed forces and this group, the
fact that we were set up in a regular unit as a regular unit of the
Army in every respect.
Now, one more thing that I think proves that. Here is the applica-
tion for active duty assignment. When I joined tha Civil Air Patrol
I signed an application for membership and took a short oath, but
these men when they were assigned to their active duty assignments
had to sign a special application for active duty assignment, which
will answer the question raised by the member of the committee this
morning, and when they went on active duty, before they could per-
form any mission at all at the base, they were compelled to take a new
oath and sign this, and they had to be sent to Washington, a copy kept
at the base. This oath is more comprehensive than any other oath
that was given to the members of the Civil Air Patrol, and starts off,
the first paragraph like this:
I, a member of the Civil Air Patrol, an agency of the United States of America
hereby voluntarily enlist, subject to any and all orders of the national commander
of the Civil Air Patrol, to a specified term of continuous active service each year
as follows.
That had to be a full year tour of duty. Then he had to say further:
This pledge is binding upon me for the duration of the war and for 6 months
after its termination.
When he went on active duty he was signed up for the duration plus
6 months. Then it continues:
I hereby agree to be available for duty continuously and at all times during my
assigned term of active service.
He then went on to take the regular oath that officers and men in
the enlisted service take, and he said further:
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
In the event that I shall not report or be available for active duty at any time
during my assigned term of service, or if I.shall not faithfully and fully perform
during said term of service all duties assigned to me, I hereby consent to the revo-
-cation and cancellation of my license to own, operate, and service any aviation
and radio equipment, as a court martial may direct.
This man in every sense of the word was an active member of the
armed forces of the United States by taking that oath.
I would like to submit that as an exhibit. Some of these are the
only copies we have, and I would like to submit photostats of them.
Mr. MARTIN. Was he given a serial number?
Mr. WITNEY. Yes.
Mr. MARTIN. By the War Department?
Mr. WITNEY. Not by the War Department; no, sir. He had his
serial number when he entered. He got no new serial number.
Mr. MARTIN. That serial number that he had when be entered, is
that a special series for the Civil Air Patrol, or was it the number
issued by the War Department?
Mr. WITNEY. It was a special series, but they bad identification
cards which say on them-I have one here which I will show you-an
identification card to show that you were a member of the Army Air
Force. Here is one. It says "Civil Air Patrol, Army." You see it
here indicatingg.
Mr. DURHAM. Who issued that?
Mr. WITNEY. It was issued by the Army, National Air Patrol
Headquarters, which was the unit of the War Department at that
time.
Mr. WITNEY. No, sir. These facts are being put in to draw a
distinction between the acti~e-duty men and other members of the
Civil Air Patrol. In the first place there was a difference in their
application and in their oath. The second one was that no man
ever went on active duty unless he had an order a-signing him to
active duty.
I have here two specimen orders where men were assigned to active
duty. Here is one including a whole group, dated May 12, 1943,
Special Orders No. 132, Authority LI-1, AAF, and the Submarine
Command, dated November 27, 1942.
In other words, based upon the order of the Army Air Force,
Antisubmarine Command, the following personnel are assigned to
active duty at Coastal Patrol Base No. 21, Beaufort, N. C., and the
names are listed. First there had to be that, order issued, and then
the individual got his authority, L-1 AAF, Antisubmarine
Command,
November 27, 1942, Communications
Officer So-and-So reassigned to
active duty, or assigned to active duty, as the case may be. Each
man got an order of that kind. When his duty ended he was relieved
of duty in the same manner, but you have the distinguishing
mark
for these men on active duty that they were given special assignment
for active duty, and they were relieved from active duty and then
sent back to their normal wing, where they were kept in the Civil
Air Patrol as regular members.
Mr. DURHAM.
Are there any further questions?
Thank you for
your statement, Mr. Witney.
Congressman
Barden of North Carolina
is here. We will be glad
to hear you, Mr. Barden.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
STATEMENT OF HON. GRAHAM H. BARDEN, A REPRESENTATIVE
IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Mr. BARDEN. Mr. Chairman, I am here as the representative of-
the Third North Carolina District, in which district is located the
town of Beaufort, and I want to express the gratitude and apprecia-
tion of the people of that section who were served and aided and
assisted by the Civil Air Patrol at a time when there was great distress
and need and danger on that coast.
I doubt if I know any of the members of the Civil Air Patrol. I
spent some time at Beaufort and had the pleasure of meeting some of
them, although I have forgotten their names.
I was not requested to come here, and I doubt if any one of the
interested gentlemen knew my mission here when I came in, but
I did feel that I should come and express my feeling in this matter.
I visited Beaufort when ships were being blown up at the rate of
one to three a night. The Air Patrol went there on a field that was
hardly a good cow pasture. I think it cost the fabulous sum of about
$26 to make it an airfield, with a tractor and some drags. How they
ever lifted their planes off of it is beyond my comprehension, but I
have been out there early in the morning when it was so dark you
could hardly see anything, but those boys were up and off in their
planes. They did a grand job. I think three of their men lost their
lives out there. I believe I have the names of the three men that
I checked in my file, Lt. Guy T. Cherry, Capt. H. L. Lundequist,
Sgt. B. S. Williams. They saved, I think, some 40 or 50 people
that they rescued. They sighted submarines; they were a real ray
of hope in about the darkest time we have seen on that coast. Few
people in this country realize the fact that the eastern coast of North
Carolina was the hottest spot on the entire American coastline, and
I doubt if there are any two places which added together would
show as high a number of ships on the bottom per mile of coastline
as that area down in the vicinity of Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras,
Morehead City, Beaufort, where this field was located.
I have been aware for some time that these men were there in the
armed forces of the United States. They served as gallantly as any
group of men I have ever observed. They did a good job with the
sorriest equipment you could imagine. They did not have the half-
million-dollar planes that the Navy had. Many of them that I saw
flying around over me and over the water were what we sometimes
called puddle jumpers. Now, if you come down to analyzing the
situation I don't know of anything that would require more real
coui age to do than to take off and fly out over the Atlantic in oneof
those puddle jumpers looking for a submarine. They did a good job
and I for one am extremely anxious that the service not only be
recognized but that the men be recognized for the service they
rendered. I think they have been extremely modest about this thing,
and frankly, I have a feeling, and a very keen feeling, that they should
not be called upon to come in and ask for consideration. I think our
duty is, and I think the American people would heartily approve of
the Congress taking the forward move and giving proper recognition
by enacting the propel legislation.
I could talk on at lenght about this, but I believe from the brief
remarks I have made you can see how I feel about it. The records
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
will support my position. I have been down there and seen the
ships, two at a time, big 10,000- or 12,000-ton ships out there burning
as .the result of submarine attacks. And at one time there was not
one single craft down there, either Navy, Army or anything else, to
eithe look over the situation or report on it or protect us. These
boys moved in. They did a good job with a minimum amount of
equipment, and I feel very strongly that some favorable action on this
bill should be taken. Again I want to repeat I doubt if there is a
single one of these boys that votes in my district. I doubt if any
one of them would recognize me either by sight or sound, but I am
here simply because I am one American that really appreciates the
very fine patriotic service rendered by a fine group of men in a time of
great need of this country. I thank you, gentlemen.
Mr. DURHAM. Thank you very much, Mr. Barden.
Mr. WITNEY. I have just a few more remarks, Mr. Chairman. I
merely want to cite the differences between this service and some of
the other services which the War Department has indicated they think
might be brought in. I submit this record for that particular purpose,
because I feel that with this record you can see that we feel we were
engaged in active combat duty in a way that no other group ever was.
We were the front line, helping the Army, the Navy, and the Coast
Guard. We have letters here from every one of those units telling us
how much we helped them and what they think of the work we did.
These other units in one form or another did not have the status that
we had. They were either civil service or they were in direct civilian
status with full pay for what they did, and compensated with extra
pay for the hazards that they took. They did not have the status as
far as the uniform is concerned, or in any other instance that we know
of. We feel that they in no instance, with the possible exception of
the merchant marine, were ever equipped for combat duty, but as be-
tween us and the merchant marine we engaged in offensive work, seek-
ing out the enemy and trying to destroy him, destroy his purpose.
The others were all engaged in defensive work. We were to find the
enemy and take such action as our equipment permitted. Every base
acted as an integral unit for that one sole object. We were in the'
armed forces on the outskirts, beyond " the territorial waters of this
country, and in active combat contact with the enemy. We feel that
there are at least 4,612 of those men who should receive special recog-
nition. We do not think there is any problem connected with the
other members of the Civil Air Patrol organization,
of which I am one.
I am not in this group for which we are asking recognition.
I did
not go on active duty. I served with these boys to help them, but I
am typical of the other type, and I think that the esprit de corps
which these men have developed has prevented
them, as the Congress-
man very well pointed out, from coming in and actively trying to force
this on the Congress. They are stating their demands modestly, tust
trying to place the facts before you, and we hope your action will be
favorable.
We wish to give any other information
you want and cooperate
in
any way that the committee
feels will be helpful.
Mr. MARTIN.
One question
before you conclude.
Some of these
men in the group that would
come under this bill served
as ground
crewmen, did they. not?
Mr. WITNEY. Yes.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
Mr. MARTIN. But they were all along the coast line?
Mr. WITNEY. They were all on the coast line where they might
have been struck by the enemy.
Mr. MARTIN. This would not reach to any member of the Civil Air
Patrol who served in the interior?
Mr. WITNEY. It covers three units, the Coastal Patrol, the Border
Patrol, the Liaison Patrol, and the Tow Target and Tracking. Those
were not all attacking forces, but they were just as hazardous and dan-
gerous, and the boys had to do whatever work they were assigned to,
do. They were on active duty when they did it.
Mr. MARTIN. The purpose of my question was to get at the matter
of the oath. Many of your members in the interior took this same
oath?
Mr. WITNEY. No; they only took the oath when they were on active
duty, giving all their time, and they were assigned then either to Coast
Patrol, Border Patrol, or to Tow Target.
Mr. M\IARTIN. That is a good line of demarcation?
Mr. WITNEY. Yes; if you make a distinction there you will be well
protected-active-duty assignment. If I am a member of the Civil
Air Patrol and I attend some meetings, that is not active duty. If I
was on active duty, before I could begin a single action, a single mis-
sion, I had to sign that oath, which is entirely different.
Mr. MARTIN. The only ones that took that oath were those assigned
to the three, particular types of service, and then only when they went
on-active duty?
Mr. WITNEY. That is right. When they reported they got an
assignment. If they did not report they did not become active. You
see, there are several things. They have an order that assigns them
to active duty. They have an order relieving them from active duty,
and they have an oath-three things. And they got Government
checks in payment for their work, their expense money. And, as
Colonel DaWson pointed out, they had to be qualified for the work
before they got any assignment. I could not qualify for the work.
Mr. DURHAM. Thank you very much, Mr. Witney.
Colonel DAWSON. Mr. Chairman, I think the gentleman over here
in uidform wishes to say a word.
Mr. DURHAM. Very well. 'This will be off the record.
Colonel DAwsoN. I want to state, Mr. Chairman, that our base,
our commander at Beaufort, N. C., started out at dawn each morn-
ing, and when we ended up we had flown there in 18 months a little
over a million miles, and we had sent approximately 40 men, pilots
and observers, out during the day from dawn until dark, and these
men flew on the average from 3 to 5 hours at a time. Sometimes I
have known cases when some of our pilots were sick and not on duty
the other pilots would fill in, and I have flown myself personally as
much as 10 hours, and so has Lieutenant Ritchie and Lieutenant
Groves, who is here with me now, in one single day. I think Lieuten-
ant Ritchie and Lieutenant Groves have flown in the neighborhood
of 1,000 hours.
Mr. DURHAM. Thank you very much, gentlemen. That completes
our list of witnesses and the committee is now adjourned.
(Whereupon, at 3:30 p. in., the subcommittee adjourned.)
(The following was submitted for the record:)
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
RESTRICTED
WAR DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY AIR FORCES
CIVIL AIR PATROL
OPERATIONS DIRECTIVE[
No. 13-D I
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, AFRCP,
Washington, D. C., June 2, 1943.
REIMBURSEMENT SCHEDULES FOR CAP COASTAL PATROLS
(This Operations Directive No. 13-D supersedes Operations Directive No.
13-C of August 26, 1942, which is hereby rescinded as of midnight., April 30, 1943,
and which will be removed from files. )This Directive is hereby classified as
"Restricted." Its distribution will be limited to Civil Air Patrol Command and
Staff officers for use in the performance of official duties. It will not be quoted,
published, posted, or otherwise made available to anyone unauthorized to receive
it or to the public.)
1. General
a. Reimbursement Schedules setting forth the Per Diem Allowances for per-
sonnel on duty with Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrols and the Hourly Rates and
Stand-by Allowances paid for the use of aircraft assigned to the Coast Patrols,
together with the Insurance Requirements for Coastal Patrol operations are
presented in this directive. These schedules apply to all operations of CAP
Coastal Patrols but do not apply to Border Patrol, Forest Patrol, Pipe Line
Patrol, Courier Service, or Miscellaneous Services.
b. Said Per Diem allowances for personnel and said Hourly Rates and Stand-by
Allowances for the use of aircraft are the only allowances made by the Govern-
ment to cover living expenses and personal services of personnel and expenses,
both tangible and intangible, incident to the operation, inspection, maintenance,
overhaul, repair, depreciation, replacement, and insurance of aircraft on duty with
CAP Coastal Patrols.
c. All Per Diem and Airplane Vouchers will be submitted to National Head-
quarters as of the fifteenth and last day of each month. Stand-by Allowance
Invoices will be submitted to National Headquarters as of the last day of each
month. No vouchers calling for payments in excess of the rates scheduled herein
will be approved, nor will payments be approved for personnel or airplanes
exceeding the authorized strength.
d. All missions of whatsoever nature performed by Coastal Patrols will be
covered by official Operations Orders in accordance with the provisions of Oper-
ations Directive No. 15-A, Administrative Procedure for CAP Coastal Patrols.
e. Daily operations reports on forms which will be furnished by National
Headquarters will be submitted to National Headquarters in duplicate. Such
reports will be signed by the Coastal Patrol Commanders
and will set forth the
required information for each day of operation. Following the NC number,
place an (A) to indicate that the plane is equipped with bomb racks, if such is the
case. In the column headed "Pilot", there will be included not only the name
of the Pilot but also the name of the Observer taking part in the flight.
2. Per Diem for Personnel
a. The following Per Diem Schedule will apply to all personnel on duty at
Coastal Patrol Bases until further notice:
(1) Commanding
Officer -------------------------
--- $10.00
(2) Operations
Offi cer .........
.-
8.00
(3) Engineering
Officer ---------
------------------
8.00
(4 ) I n te llig e n c e O ffi ce r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 . 0 0
(5) Assistant
Operations
Officer --------------.-.---------
8.-00
(6) Pilots (Including
pilot-observers)
---- ....... ....
8.-00
( 7 ) O b s e r v e r s . ( n o n -p i l o t ) . . . . . . . . . . ..
. . . . . . . .-
7 . 0 0
(8) A ssista n t E n g in eerin g O ffi cer . . . . . . -.. . . . . . . . .. . . .
7. 00
(9) Assistant Intelligence Offi cer -------------------------- 7. 00
(10) Airdrome Officer ------------------------
8. 00
(11) Flight Surgeon
.........-
-- 7.00
(12) Radio
Operators
......................
-.-- ------.
.
;J(j CIVIL AIR PATROLS
(13) Mechanics ----------------------------------------- $7.00
(14) Radio Mechanics ------------------------------------ 7.00
(15) Administrative Section Head_ 6. 00
(16) Plotting Board Operators ---------------------------- 5.00
(17) Clerk Typists -------------------------------------- 5.00
(18) Apprentice Mechanics ------------------------------- 5.00
(19) Servicemen ---------------------------------------- 5.00
(20) Guards -------------------------------------------- 5.00
b. The Per Diem Allowances set forth in the foregoing schedule will apply for
each day personnel are on duty at Coastal Patrol Bases. In cases of personnel
on duty for periods of thirty or more consecutive days, said Per Diem Allowances
will also apply for one rest day per week during such period. Rest days will not
be cumulative.
3. Hourly Rates for Aircraft
a. Until further notice, the following Hourly Rates will be paid for the use at
Coastal Patrol Bases of aircraft which are assigned to Coastal Patrol Duty and
which are not equipped with bomb racks:
Crash, Acei-
H. P. Range
Operation & Depreciation dent & Lia- Total
Maintenance
iblity Insur-
ance
90-120 ........................... -.------------ $4.71 $3. 50 $2.44 $10. 65
125-165 ----------------------------------------- 6 16 5.00 2.89 14.65
175-220 - 7.81 5.00 3.34 16.15
225-245 ----------------------------------------- 9 88 5. 00 4. 02 18. 90
250-295 ---------------------------- 11.18 6. 25 4. 92 22. 35
300-345 --------------------------------------- 13. 33 7. 50 7 17 28. 00
350-395 ---------------------------------------- 16. 28 5. 75 8 52 33. 55
400-445 ------------ . ..------------------------ 21.13 10. 00 9. 87 41. 00
b. Until further notice, the following Hourly Rates will be paid for the use at
Coastal Patrol Bases of aircraft which are assigned to Coastal Patrol Duty and
which are equipped with bomb racks. (These rates apply regardless of whether
bombs are actually carried on a particular trip since the insurance charges were
determined with the understanding that planes equipped with bomb racks would
not in every instance carry bombs):
Operation
Crash, Acci-
H. P. Range & Mainte- Depreciation dent & Lia- Total
nance
ability Insn.-
ance
90-120 ---------------.------------------------ $5. 35 $3. 50 $7. 25 $16. 10
125-165 --------------------------------------- 7.45 5.00 8. 15 20.60
175-220 -----------------------------------. 55 5. 00 9 05 22. 60
225-245 ---------------------------------------- 1 0.70 5.00 10.40 26.10
250-295 ---------------------------------------- 12. 10 6. 25 12. 20 30. 55
300-345 ---------------------------------------- 1 4 50 7.50 16.70 38.70
350-395 -------------------------------------- 17 60 8.75 19 40 45.75
400-445 ---------------------------------------- 22. 60 10. 00 22. 10 54. 70
c. Until further notice, the following Hourly Rates will be paid for the use at
Coastal Patrol Bases of air craft which are assigned to Auxiliary Service Duty:
Operation Crash, Acci-
If. P. Range & Mainte- Depreciation dent & Lia-
nane
bility Insur- Total
ance*
50-60 ----------------.------------------------ $2. 61 $2. 00 $0. 49 $5. 10
65-75 ------------------------------------------ 2.825 2. 50 0. 60 5.925
80-85 ------------------------------------------ 4.59 3.50 1.16 9.25
*In case the pilot carries with him any passengers, excepting members of the armed services of the United
States on active duty, add $0.09 to the hourlyinsurance premium charge for each such passenger and make
a corresponding increso m the total hourly rate.
d. Except for the routine services rendered by mechanics and other service
personnel assigned to duty at CAP Coastal Patrol Bases, all expenses, both
tangible and intangible, incident to the operation, inspection, maintenance, over-
haul, repair, depreciation, replacement, and insurance of aircraft on duty at said
Coastal Patrol Bases will be paid out of the payments made by th6 United States
Government on the basis of the Hourly Rates herein set forth in paragraphs 3 a.
3 b, or 3 c or on the basis of the Stand-by Allowances herein set forth in 'paragraph
4, as no other payments will be made by the Government for the use of said air-
craft.
e. The amounts herein above specified for operation and maintenance will be
set aside and placed in a general pool to be used for the purpose of operating and
maintaining the aircraft on duty at each Coastal Patrol Base as well as the Base
itself. The amounts herein specified ior insurance will be used for that purpose.
The amounts herein specified for delleciation will be paid to the owners of the
aircraft. There will be no departure from this procedure.
4. Stand-by Allowances for Aircraft'
a. Until further notice, the following stand-by allowances will be paid each
day for the use of aircraft on duty at Coastal Patrol Bases or dispatched there-
from on missions elsewhere:
- Allowances for airplanes Allowances for airplanes
H. P. Range H. P. Range
PWithout
With bomb
Without
With bomb
bomb racks racks bomb racks racks
50-60 ----------------- $0.3 -------------- 225-245 --------------- $0.72 $1.08
65-75 ---------... 8-.-18 250-295 ............... .90 1.35
80-120 *. 405 *$0. 608 300-345 1. 35 2. 025
125-165 --------------- . 495 .743 350-395 --------------- 1.62 2.43
175-220 .585 .878 400-445 1.89 2. 835
*All airplanes assigned to Coastal Patrol Duty are required to be of the three-place type or larger and of
not less than ninety horsepower (90 H. P.).
b. The stand-by allowance for the use of each airplane will be paid each day
(including the day the plane takes off from its home station under orders to report
for duty at a Coastal Patrol Base until the plane returns to its home station at
conclusion of service) regardless of whether the aircraft is engaged in flight and
will compensate the owner for the premium for Ground Insurance required under
paragraph 6 b hereof.
5. Horsepower Ratings of Airplanes
To determine the Hourly Rates and the Stand-by Allowances to be paid for
the use of airplanes assigned to Coastal Patrols, the horsepower rating (maximum,
except take-off) recorded by the Civil Aeronautics Administration for each such
airplane will be used. The use of higher octane fuels, changes in propelle pitch
and such other methods of "souping up" an engine, will not be considered in any
way as affecting the horsepower rating or as effecting a change in the Hourly
Rates or Stand-by Allowances.
6. Required Insurance
The following insurance is required on all operations covered by these schedules
and no aircraft will be put in service on said operations until such insurance has
been secured by the completion of an appropriate application form. Even though
no application form has been completed, all types of insurance are in effect from
the time a plane leaves its home station under orders to report to a Coastal Patrol
Base but in each instance the appropriate application form should be executed
by each aircraft owner or his agent and by all flying personnel immediately upon
arrival at the Coastal Patrol Bast. The details of the various types of insurance
and the procedures to be followed in connection therewith are set forth in General
Memorandum 61.
a. Crash, Accident and Laibility Insurance: The premium for all three types of
insurance will be paid from the aircraft allowances herein set forth in the schedules
presented in paragraphs 3 a, 3 b, or 3 c. The hourly premium charge for these
three types of insurance issued in connection with the operation of aircraft of
the various horsepower ranges will be as listed in said schedules.
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
b. Ground Insurance: The premium for Ground Insurance on each aircraft on
duty at Coastal Patrol Bases or dispatched therefrom on missions elsewhere
(including the day the plane takes off from its home station under orders to report
for duty at a Coastal Patrol Base until the plane returns to its home station at
conclusion of service) will be paid from the Stand-by Allowances herein set forth
in the schedule presented in paragraph 4 a which is exactly sufficient to cover such
premium.
7. Ouestions Regarding Schedules
Any questions regarding schedules or other requirement set forth herein will
referred to National Headquarters for a decision before any commitments are
made by Coastal Patrol Commanders.
By direction of National Commander JOHNSON:
HARRY H. BLE,
Colonel, Air Corps,
Operations Officer, Civil Air Patrol.
RESTRICTED
NATIONAL HEADQUARThRS
CIVIL AIR PATROL
500 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 18, NEW YORK
OPERATIONS DIRECTIVEt 1 JANUARY 1944
No. 42 1
REIMBURSEMENT SCHEDULES
CAP TOW TARGET AND TRACKING SERVICE
1. General
The Reimbursement Schedules presented herein cover the Per Diem Allowances
for personnel on active duty assignment with CAP Tow Target Units and the
Hourly Rates and Stand-by Allowances paid for the use of aircraft assigned to
said Units.
2. Per Die i for Personnel
a. The following Per Diem Schedule will apply to all personnel assigned to said
Units until further notice:
(1) Commanding Officer -- - $10. 00
(2) Pilot8. - --- 8.00
(3) Flight Surgeon ....-- - 8. 00
(4) Master Mechanic-Engineering Officer &... 8.00
(5) M echanic --------------- - ----------------------- 7. 00
(6) Mechanic, Tow Reel - 7. 00
(7) Radio Technician ................ . - 7. 00
(8) Technical Section Head .. --- 6. 00
(9) Clerk Technician ----- -- - - - -- - - 5.00
(10) Service Technician -------------------------------- 5. 00
(11) Security T echnician -........................ -.----- 5. 00
NoTE.-The Per Diem Allowances set forth in the foregoing schedule will apply for each day personnel
are on active duty assignment with CAP Tow Target Units. In cases of Personnel on duty for periods of
thirty or more consecutive days, said Per Diem Allowances will also apply for one rest day per week during
such period. Rest dayq wilt not be cumulative.
b. The foregoing Per Diem Allowances for personnel on active duty assignment
with CAP Tow Rarget Units are the only allowances made by the Government to
cover living expenses and personnel services of said personnel.
3. Hourly Rates for Aircraft
Until further notice, the following Hourly Rates will be paid for the use of
aircraft assigned to CAP Tow Target Units in the performance of authorized
missions:
H. P. Range*- Operation & Depreciation Insurance.. Total
Maintenance
(1)
(2) (3) (4) (5)
50-60 -----------------------------------
----- $2. 627 $2.00 $0. 592 $5. 219
65-75 ------------------------------------------ 2.844 2.50 .732 6.076
80-120"** ------------------------------------- - 4, 62 3. 50 1.437 9. 557
125-105 ----------------------------------------
6. 647 5. 00 1.722 13.369
175-220 --------------------------------
---- 7.68 5.00 2 002 14.682
225-245 --------------------------------------
9, 729 5. 00 2.422 17. 151
250-295 ----------------------------------------
10. 994 6. 25 2. 982 20. 226
300-345 ------------------------------------- 13046 7.50 4.392 24.938
350-395 ----------------------------------------
15.944 8.75 5.232 29. 926
400-445 -------------------------------------
20, 739 10. 00 6.072 36 811
*To determine the Hourly Rates to be paid for the use of airplanes assigned to Tow Target Units, the
horsepower rating (maximum, except take-off) recorded by the Civil Aeronautics Administration for each
such airplane will be used. The manufacturer's horsepower rating of an engine is not necessarily the same
as the "maximum, except take-of' rating recorded by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
**The figures presented in the Insurance column of the foregoing schedule include the hourly premium
charge for accident insurance fo Civil Air Patrol Pilots only. In case the pilot carried with him an observer
and/or passengers. excepting members of the armed services of the United States (Army, Navy, Marines)
on active duty, add $0.099 to the hourly insurance charge for each such additional occupant (this includes
members of CAP) of the airplane and make a corresponding increase in the total hourly rate. The insurance
rates shown in Col. (4) are ten per cent less than the normal insurance rates. This ten per cent deduction,
which has been added to the normal 0 & M allowances to make up the amounts presented in Col. (2), is
predicated upon the appointment for each Unit of a sole insurance agent who has agreed to such reduction
in commissions.
***Except in cases of emergency, auxiliary service flights and miscellaneous services will be limited to
airplanes of not more than 90 horsepower, unless otherwise specifically authorized in writing by National
Headquarters.
4. Stand-by Allowances for Aircraft
Until further notice, the following stand-by allowances will be paid each day
for the use of aircraft on duty with CAP Tow Target Units or dispatched there
from on missions elsewhere:
Daily H. P. Range Daily H. P. Range Daily
H. P. -Range Allowance ane Allowance Allowance
50-60 ---------
$0. 168 175-220 --------- .730 300-345---------------
1.687
65-75-----------------
.225 225-245 --------
. 90 350-395---------------
2.025
80-120 ---------------
:.505 250-295---------------
1. 125 400-445 ------- 2.362
125-165---------------
.618
NOTE.-The stand-by allowance for the use of each airplane will be paid each day, including the day the
plane takes off from its home station under orders to report for duty with a Tow Target Unit, until the plane
returns to its home station at conclusion of service, regardless of whether the aircraft is engaged in flight, and
will compensate the ownel for the premium for Ground Insurance required under paragraph 24 c of Oper-
ations Directive No. 41.
5. Payment of Aircraft Expenses
Except for the routine services rendered by mechanics and other service per-
sonnel assigned to duty with Tow Target Units, all expenses, both tangible and
intangible, incident to the operation, inspection, maintenance, overhaul, repair,
depreciation,
replacement
and insurance
of aircraft on duty with said Units will
be paid out of the payments made by the United States Government
on the basis
of the Hourly Rates for Aircraft herein set forth in paragraph
3 and on the basis of
the Stand-by
Allowances
herein set forth in paragraph
4, as no other payments
will
be made by the Government
for the use of said aircraft.
6. Operation
and Maintenance
Pool
The amounts
herein above specified
for operation
and maintenance
will be set
aside and placed in a general pool to be used for the purpose
of operating
and
maintaining
the aircraft on duty with each Tow Target Unit as well as the Base
itself.
The amounts
herein specified
for insurance
will be used for that purpose.
The amounts
herein slpecified
for depreciation
will be paid to the owners
of the
aircraft.
There will be no departure
from this procedure.
7. Submission
of Vouchers
a. All Per Diem
and Airplane
Vouchers
will be submitted
to National
Head-
quarters
as of the fifteenth
and last day of each month.
Stand-by
Allowance
Vouchers
will be submitted
to National
Headquarters
as of the last day of each
CIVIL AIR PATROLS
month. No vouchers calling for payments in excess of the rates scheduled hereinl
will be approved, nor will payments be approved for personnel or airplanes exceed-
ing the authorized strength.
b. In the preparation of vouchers, the only functional titles used in referring
to personnel assigned to Tow Target Units will be the titles listed in paragraph
2 hereof.
By direction of National Commander JOHNSON:
HARRY H. BLEED,
Colonel,
Air Corps,
Operations Officer, Civil Air Patrol.
RESTRICTED
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
CIVIL AIR PATROL
500 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 18, NEW YORK
OPERATIONS DIRECTIVES
No. 16 / 1 ULY 1944
REIMBURSEMENT SCHEDULES FOR SEARCH AND COURIER MISSIONS AND
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
(This Operations Directive supersedes Operations Directive No. 16-D, 15
April 1944.)
1. General
a. The Reimbursement Schedules presented herein cover the Per Diem Allow-
ances for personnel and the Hourly Rates paid for the use of aircraft on active
duty assignment in the performance of all authorized Civil Air Patrol operations
involving Search and Courier Missions and Miscellaneous Services. Such oper-
ations may be performed only at the request of, and with funds furnished by
the Federal or any State government of the United States, or any subdivision,
unit, department or agency thereof, by the American Red Cross, or by any war
industry. These schedules do not apply to operations involving Forest Patrol,
Pipe Line Patrol, Tow -Target and Tracking Service, or demonstration and/or
familiarization flights for Cadet Recruitment.
b. All requests for CAP Search, Courier, or Miscellaneous Services made by
agencies of the Federal Government, and all arrangements incident thereto, will
in each case be cleared with and approved by National Headquarters.
c. Except in cases of emergency, complete arrangements as to procedure to be
followed in making reimbursement for services performed under the schedules
!ncluded herein will be worked out with the requesting agency before said missions
are undertaken.
d. All missions will in each case be covered by official Operations Orders in
accordance with the provisions of Operations Directive No. 5, this Headquarters,
"Operations Orders for Flight Missions", 6 March 1942.
e. Operations reports, on forms which will be furnished by National Head-
quarters, will be submitted to National Headquarters in single copy each day,
in connection with all missions which are paid through National Headquarters.
f. Except as otherwise specifically indicated in Operations Directives, this
Headquarters, a summary report will be forwarded in single copy to National
Headquarters, on Form No. 646, the 1st and 15th of each month covering all
missions performed during the preceding half-month period.
2. Per Diem for Personnel
a. Until further notice, the following Per Diem Schedules will apply to such
personnel as may be authorized by National Headquarters for the particular
operation involved:
0
(1) Operations Officer---------------------------------------$8.00
(2) Assistant Operations Officer ------ --- ------ --- 8.00
(3) Pilots (including pilot-observers) ------------------------- 8. 00
(4) Observers (nonpilot) ------------------------------------
7. 00
(5) Mechanics --------------------------------------------
7 00
(6) Service Technicians ------------------------------------
5.00
(7) Clerk Technicians --------------------------------------
5. 00
b. In case personnel are on duty for less than a full day, specify the time in
quarterly fractions of a day and compute the amount due on per diem vouchers
accordingly. Example: Y day-Pilot-Amount due $6.00.
.. Hourly Rates for Aircraft
Until further notice, the Hourly Reimbursement Rates paid for the sue of
aircraft in the performance of authorized missions will be as shown in Column 2
of the following Schedule of Hourly R.ites.
4. Schedule of Hourly Rates
H. P.* Reimburse- Depreci- Liability H.P.* Reimburse- Depreci- Liability
meant ation Insurance meant ation Insurance
(1) (21 (3) (4) (1) (2) (3) (4)
50-60 --------- $5. 62 $2. 00 $0.13 225-245 ------- $18.77 $5. 00 $0. 13
f5-75 -------- 6.57 2.50 0.13 250-295 ------- 22.22 6.25 0.13
0-120 ...... . 10. 52 3. 50 0. 13 300-345 ------- 27.87 7. 50 0. 13
125-165 ------- 14. 52 5. 00 0.13 350-395 ------- 33. 42 8. 75 0., 13
175-220 ------- 16. 02 5. 00 0.13 400-445 ------- 40. 87 10. 00 0. 13
fThe proper Hourly Rate to be paid for the use of an airplane is determined by the horsepower rating
(maximum, except take-off) recorded by the Civil Aeronautics Administration for the particular airplane
in question. The manufacturer's horsepower rating of an engine is not necessarily the same as the "maxi-
mun, except take-off" rating recorded by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
.. Insurance
a. Complete information relative required CAP insurance coverage and pro-
cedure is presented in General Memorandum No. 61-B, this Headquarters,
"Insurance Information," July 1, 1944. The Hourly Rates for the required
liability insurance for aircraft engaged in the performance of authorized Search
and Courier Missions and Miscellaneous Services are set forth in Column 4 of
the foregoing Schedule of Hourly Rates.
b. No personal accident insurance is included under the Civil Air Patrol Special
Insurance Policy. However, protection is available under the War Civilian
Security Program (WCSP), which affords payments covering medical care and
also certain disability and death benefits. Such benefits are in the form of
monthly cash payments with a-maximum of $85.00 per month. In addition,
medical care and hospitalization are available at Army hospitals to CAP members
on official active duty assignment for the armed forces.
.6. Payment of Aircraft Expenses
All expenses, both tangible and intangible, incident to the operation, inspec-
tion, maintenance, overhaul, repair, depreciation, replacement, and insurance of
aircraft engaged in the operations covered by these schedules will be paid out of
the reimbursements received for the use of said aircraft, as set forth in Column 2
of the Schedule of Hourly Rates presented in paragraph 4 hereof, as no other
payments will be made for the use of said aircraft.
7. Submission of Vouchers
a. All Per Diem and Aircraft Vouchers paid through National Headquarters
will be submitted to this Headquarters as of the fifteenth and last day of each
month. No vouchers calling for payments in excess of the rates scheduled herein
will be approved, nor will payments be approved for personnel or airplanes
exceeding the number authorized.
b. In the preparation of vouchers, the only functional titles used in referring
to personnel will be the titles listed in paragraph 2 hereof.
c. All Per Diem and Aircraft Vouchers will, in each case, be verified and signed
by the payee prior to presentation for payment. Under no circumstances will
voucher forms be signed in blank before preparation of vouchers.
By direction of National Comnander JOHNSON:
HARRY H. BLEE,
Colonel, Air Corps,
Operations Officer.

CAP Veterans Association - 3 Oct 1945

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