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CIVIL AIR PATROL
OFFICE OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE
No. 10
BULLETIN
Washington, D.C.
April 3, 1942
Wing and Group Commanders:
FOREST PATROL-- Conferences were held this week between CAP headquarters staff and
representatives of Federal agencies interested in the protection of forest areas.
Considerable interest was expressed in the potential service of the Patrol. Already some of the units
have made plans for cooperation with State forestry departments and some have undertaken special
training and assembly of equipment.
In any missions which may be taken along these lines, it is planned that the Patrol will work closely
with State authorities as well as with Federal agencies such as the Forest Service and the National
Park Service. During the war, it is feared that sabotage efforts in the timber areas may become a
problem in the dry seasons. Major fires, if not at once checked, call for the temporary mobilization of
large numbers of men whose work on other wartime duties would be interrupted.
Within the forest areas are power plants, pipe lines, and other strategic facilities which must be
protected against fire. By constant vigilance from the air in the danger areas, fires may be detected at
once. Ground forces can be summoned or men and supplies can be dropped by parachute for prompt
action before the fires have a chance to take hold.
UNIFORMS--It is realized that CAP units are anxious to get a clear-cut answer as to uniforms so they can turn out in
smart military array for drills and exercises.
The major problem has been the blouses which are the most expensive item. Now that warm weather is coming on,
blouses will not be important since the units will line up in shirts and can wear leather Jackets when they go aloft. The
items authorized in GM-9, Feb.13, and GM-18, April 3, call for khaki shirts with shoulder straps and khaki trousers. The
members can wear regulation Army garments listed in these directives, with CAP rather than Army insignia, buttons, and
braid so that CAP members cannot be mistaken for Army officers.
DISASTER RELIEF--When the recent cyclone struck Lacon, Ill. the Civil Air Patrol immediately
volunteered its services. The Illinois Wing called the American Legion, Red Cross, and Physicians
Exchange offering to fly medical personnel and supplies to the scene of the disaster. Entrances to
the city were blocked by debris so that quick aid was a job for airmen. Fortunately the main street
was not damaged so that sources of first aid, such as drug stores and doctors' offices were
functioning. Put a supply of sulfanilamide and sutures was needed and the Patrol rushed it
through.
According to a report from Harold S. Landis Executive Officer of the Wing,
plans are being made to keep Red Cross supplies on hand to drop by parachute in event of
another disaster in Central Illinois.
The Georgia Wing also has set up a disaster relief squad according to Commander Winship
Nunnally. It will be composed of two general surgeons, one orthopedic surgeon, and one
physician together with a number of trained nurses. The nurses are being given special training
and are selected for their fitness to treat burns, shock, and the kind of wounds result from
bombing. They are being trained to give blood transfusions.
CAP MESSAGES FLOWN BY PIGEONS--The Alabama Wing of the Civil Air Patrol has conducted
a highly successful test of the use of carrier pigeons to bring back messages from CAP planes on
scouting missions. Here is the story as told by Miles Denham in the Birmingham AGE-HERALD:
"'Report immediately for undisclosed mission.’
"That terse order telephoned at 3 a.m. Sunday routed 35 members of Squadron 461-2, Civil Air
Patrol, out of bed and sent them on their first flight training mission as an air patrol unit.
"Members called from their homes in various parts of the city assembled at operations
headquarters at Central Park Airport and received instructions to locate an unidentified plane
reported to be based and operating in a stated area.
Three flights were dispatched on the mission.
"Less than two hours later, Cathryn Stamp, observer for Flight Two and the only girl in the
squadron, spotted the craft concealed in a small field and partly concealed by a tarpaulin.
"And 35 minutes after the discovery, 'Big Shot', a large blue male carrier pigeon, fluttered into
communications headquarters atop the Birmingham Age-Herald News Building with news of the
finding. 'Big Shot', who is one of the Age-Herald News prize pigeons trained by Ray Norman, had a
new experience. He was released from an airplane more than 1000 feet in the air with news of the
discovery. He performed like a veteran, flying an unerring course to his home loft and covering 30
miles in approximately 35 minutes ....
"From communications headquarters, word of the discovery was telephoned to the operations base
and three more planes were dispatched to investigate and hold the suspicious plane for proper
authorities."
It turned out that the plane belonged to Squadron Commander G. I. Alley, Jr., who had concealed it
for purposes of the mission. But when the members turned out, they didn’t know whether it was a
real or practice assignment.
Several other birds were used in the exercise. For years the newspaper has used them to fly news
and pictures. By the slowing down of a plane to a stall, they can be released in the air, with due
caution to prevent their being struck by struts or tall assembly. RAF bombers take pigeons along as
a matter of regular routine. There may be many circumstances in future CAP missions where
radios must be silent and carrier pigeons can be of crucial importance.
On the same day, the Birmingham Squadron located a theoretical company of soldiers. Messages
from the ground, held aloft on two poles, were picked up by aircraft by use of a training hook.
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER-- Lieut. Kendall K. Hoyt is now on duty at Cap Headquarters as Intelligence Officer. On
reinstatement to his Army reserve status, he has been ordered to active duty as an officer of the Army Air Forces assigned
here.
For the past several weeks he has been serving with CAP on a volunteer basis. In civilian life, Lieut. Hoyt was Manager of the
National Aeronautic Association.
When the original OCD committee was set us last summer to draft plans for the organization of the Civil Air Patrol, he served
as secretary of the first meeting of the committee and campaigned for months through the NAA Newsletter for the formation of
state Civil Air Defense units which gave many areas a head start in mobilizing units later merged with the CAP. Lieut. Hoyt has
recently prepared a directive for the guidance of CAP unit Intelligence Officers.
CIVIL AIR PATROL
OFFICE OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE
No. 10
BULLETIN
Washington, D.C.
April 3, 1942
Wing and Group Commanders:
FOREST PATROL-- Conferences were held this week between CAP headquarters staff and
representatives of Federal agencies interested in the protection of forest areas.
Considerable interest was expressed in the potential service of the Patrol. Already some of the units
have made plans for cooperation with State forestry departments and some have undertaken special
training and assembly of equipment.
In any missions which may be taken along these lines, it is planned that the Patrol will work closely
with State authorities as well as with Federal agencies such as the Forest Service and the National
Park Service. During the war, it is feared that sabotage efforts in the timber areas may become a
problem in the dry seasons. Major fires, if not at once checked, call for the temporary mobilization of
large numbers of men whose work on other wartime duties would be interrupted.
Within the forest areas are power plants, pipe lines, and other strategic facilities which must be
protected against fire. By constant vigilance from the air in the danger areas, fires may be detected at
once. Ground forces can be summoned or men and supplies can be dropped by parachute for prompt
action before the fires have a chance to take hold.
UNIFORMS--It is realized that CAP units are anxious to get a clear-cut answer as to uniforms so they can turn out in
smart military array for drills and exercises.
The major problem has been the blouses which are the most expensive item. Now that warm weather is coming on,
blouses will not be important since the units will line up in shirts and can wear leather Jackets when they go aloft. The
items authorized in GM-9, Feb.13, and GM-18, April 3, call for khaki shirts with shoulder straps and khaki trousers. The
members can wear regulation Army garments listed in these directives, with CAP rather than Army insignia, buttons, and
braid so that CAP members cannot be mistaken for Army officers.
DISASTER RELIEF--When the recent cyclone struck Lacon, Ill. the Civil Air Patrol immediately
volunteered its services. The Illinois Wing called the American Legion, Red Cross, and Physicians
Exchange offering to fly medical personnel and supplies to the scene of the disaster. Entrances to
the city were blocked by debris so that quick aid was a job for airmen. Fortunately the main street
was not damaged so that sources of first aid, such as drug stores and doctors' offices were
functioning. Put a supply of sulfanilamide and sutures was needed and the Patrol rushed it
through.
According to a report from Harold S. Landis Executive Officer of the Wing,
plans are being made to keep Red Cross supplies on hand to drop by parachute in event of
another disaster in Central Illinois.
The Georgia Wing also has set up a disaster relief squad according to Commander Winship
Nunnally. It will be composed of two general surgeons, one orthopedic surgeon, and one
physician together with a number of trained nurses. The nurses are being given special training
and are selected for their fitness to treat burns, shock, and the kind of wounds result from
bombing. They are being trained to give blood transfusions.
CAP MESSAGES FLOWN BY PIGEONS--The Alabama Wing of the Civil Air Patrol has conducted
a highly successful test of the use of carrier pigeons to bring back messages from CAP planes on
scouting missions. Here is the story as told by Miles Denham in the Birmingham AGE-HERALD:
"'Report immediately for undisclosed mission.’
"That terse order telephoned at 3 a.m. Sunday routed 35 members of Squadron 461-2, Civil Air
Patrol, out of bed and sent them on their first flight training mission as an air patrol unit.
"Members called from their homes in various parts of the city assembled at operations
headquarters at Central Park Airport and received instructions to locate an unidentified plane
reported to be based and operating in a stated area.
Three flights were dispatched on the mission.
"Less than two hours later, Cathryn Stamp, observer for Flight Two and the only girl in the
squadron, spotted the craft concealed in a small field and partly concealed by a tarpaulin.
"And 35 minutes after the discovery, 'Big Shot', a large blue male carrier pigeon, fluttered into
communications headquarters atop the Birmingham Age-Herald News Building with news of the
finding. 'Big Shot', who is one of the Age-Herald News prize pigeons trained by Ray Norman, had a
new experience. He was released from an airplane more than 1000 feet in the air with news of the
discovery. He performed like a veteran, flying an unerring course to his home loft and covering 30
miles in approximately 35 minutes ....
"From communications headquarters, word of the discovery was telephoned to the operations base
and three more planes were dispatched to investigate and hold the suspicious plane for proper
authorities."
It turned out that the plane belonged to Squadron Commander G. I. Alley, Jr., who had concealed it
for purposes of the mission. But when the members turned out, they didn’t know whether it was a
real or practice assignment.
Several other birds were used in the exercise. For years the newspaper has used them to fly news
and pictures. By the slowing down of a plane to a stall, they can be released in the air, with due
caution to prevent their being struck by struts or tall assembly. RAF bombers take pigeons along as
a matter of regular routine. There may be many circumstances in future CAP missions where
radios must be silent and carrier pigeons can be of crucial importance.
On the same day, the Birmingham Squadron located a theoretical company of soldiers. Messages
from the ground, held aloft on two poles, were picked up by aircraft by use of a training hook.
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER-- Lieut. Kendall K. Hoyt is now on duty at Cap Headquarters as Intelligence Officer. On
reinstatement to his Army reserve status, he has been ordered to active duty as an officer of the Army Air Forces assigned
here.
For the past several weeks he has been serving with CAP on a volunteer basis. In civilian life, Lieut. Hoyt was Manager of the
National Aeronautic Association.
When the original OCD committee was set us last summer to draft plans for the organization of the Civil Air Patrol, he served
as secretary of the first meeting of the committee and campaigned for months through the NAA Newsletter for the formation of
state Civil Air Defense units which gave many areas a head start in mobilizing units later merged with the CAP. Lieut. Hoyt has
recently prepared a directive for the guidance of CAP unit Intelligence Officers.