CIVIL AIR PATROL FLYING HIGH AFTER 50 YEARS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Fifty years ago today, Dec. 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol was created by the Office of Civilian Defense to meet a growing war-time threat to the United States.

This year, CAP celebrates and recalls its 50 years of service to the nation, state, and community.

CAP's primary war-time mission was to provide private pilots and aviation enthusiasts a means of using their light airplanes and skills in civil defense efforts.

Among them were the anti-submarine patrol missions along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. CAP pilots are credited with at least two confirmed sinkings of German submarines, but 26 CAP members lost their lives while on patrol.

The CAP cadet program introduced American teenagers and potential aviation cadets to aircraft and flying. Many went on to become Army Air Force or Naval aviators during World War II.

In 1943, CAP came under the control and direction of the Army Air Forces. It became a permanent peacetime institution July 1, 1946, when President Harry S Truman signed Public Law 476, which incorporated Civil Air Patrol as a non-profit organization.

In May 1948, through Public Law 557, Civil Air Patrol became the official auxiliary of the Air Force.

Since its founding five decades ago, the world has changed. But CAP's mission remains the same: emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet training.

Civil Air Patrol units are called out several thousand times each year on search-and-rescue missions by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. CAP also has working agreements with most state civil defense agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Salvation Army and Red Cross to participate in emergency services activities when requested.

The CAP cadet program trains the country's youth to become leaders and good citizens, while the aerospace program informs CAP members and the public about aviation and space activities.

The missions of CAP are carried out by local CAP senior, cadet or composite cadet-senior member squadrons. All squadrons and Civil Air Patrol are structured much like their parent organization.

The Cape Girardeau Composite Squadron, made up of senior members over 18 and cadets 13 to 18, was reactivated a number of years ago after having been inactive for many years. The squadron had been very active in the community in the 1950s, '60s, and early '70s.

Squadron commander, 1st Lt. Fred Brown, said the cadet requirements to join CAP are few: you must be at least 13 years old and have an interest in aerospace education and aviation-related activities.

After that, says Brown, the rest is up to the member. A part of Civil Air Patrol training is development of self-discipline and leadership abilities that enable cadets to become leaders and good citizens through their interest in aerospace.

Cadet Master Sgt. Jason Ledure, 17, of Cape Girardeau joined CAP because of his interest in flying and the military. His father was an Army medic. He has a cousin who is a Marine Corps officer and another who is a Navy ensign.

Ledure was one of the first cadets to join the squadron after it was reactivated in 1989. Today, he is the highest ranking cadet NCO. He soon will earn his flight officer's grade, making him the first officer in the squadron's cadet corps.

Ledure enjoys the challenge CAP training curriculum and discipline offers. He says it will stay with him the rest of his life. "It's also a good experience for me because I plan to enlist in the Air Force next year after I graduate from Central High School next year," he said.

Ledure said a cadet officer who has earned the CAP's Gen. Billy Mitchell Award can enlist in the Air Force at a higher rank and pay grade when reporting for basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas.

"My CAP training has given me a pretty good idea of what to expect," he said. "The aerospace training I have received has also been a big help to me in high school. I did three or four reports right out of my aerospace book and got Bs and As on them."

Ledure worked his way up through the ranks from cadet airman to the senior cadet NCO in the squadron. "It's not too hard until you reach the rank of staff sergeant," he said. "But after that, it's not so much book learning as it is moral, ethical and leadership training in how to deal with cadets and other people," he said.

Ledure has attended several CAP activities, including summer encampments at Whiteman AFB, Mo., and the Pathfinder School at Fort Leonard Wood. Next year, he hopes to attend Ranger School in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

Cadet Airman Rex Adams, 13, of Cape Girardeau, found out about Civil Air Patrol from a friend while riding the school bus to Central Junior High School. "I like airplanes and flying so I decided to join. The best thing I like about CAP is the search-and-rescue missions. I was on a practice mission this year at Pomme de Terre, looking for a missing aircraft."

Adams, whose father is a National Guard military police officer, said his plans are to attend college and enroll in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and become an Air Force officer. Right now, he hasn't decided exactly what kind of Air Force career he would like, but he's got another four years to think about it.

Adams likes CAP so much he invited a school friend to attend a recent meeting, hoping he would join.

Cadet Airman Joe Plante, 15, of Oak Ridge, found out about the CAP squadron when he attended this year's air show at the airport. Plante said he wants to go on to the Air Academy and fly the F-16 "if they still have them around by that time."

The three cadets say that even if a cadet is not planning a military or aviation-related career, the knowledge and experiences gained in Civil Air Patrol will help them in their adult life.

Brown said adults and teenagers who might be interested in becoming a member of Civil Air Patrol should attend one of their weekly meetings. The squadron meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Cape Girardeau Pilots Club Building at the airport.