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C IV I L A I R P AA N N U A L

1955

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Design & Art prepared by:Audio Visual Aids DivisionOffice of Aviation Education

Printed by: National Headquarters,Civil Air Patrol

This report has been printed on paperdonated to Civil Air Patrol

by:CHAMPION- INT ERNATIONAL COMPANY

Lawrence, Massachussetts

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N ational Executive B oard ,,General Carl A. Spaat a, USAF (Retired). ChairmanColonel D. Harold Byrd, Vice ChairmanColonel Cord Meyer, Commander. Northeastern RegionColonel David S. Harter, Commander, Middle East RegionColonel William M. Joy, Commander. Great Lakes RegionColonel William C. Whelen. Commander. Southeastern RegionColonel Vee L. Phillips, Commander. North Central RegionColonel Emmett O. Rushing. Commander, Southwestern RegionColonel Charles Boettcher. II, Commander, Rocky Mountain RegionColonel Howard B. Freeman, Commander, Pacific RegionColonel James T. Gr-anber y, Chief Financial OfficerColonel Roy St. Lewis, Counselor

Major General Walter R. Agee, USAFNATIONAL COMMANDER, CIVIL AIR PATROL

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-

Colonel Ernest C. NallAlabama Wing, CAP

"

I

Colonel Charles W. LawrenceArizona Wing, CAPColonel Claud L. HolbertArkansas Wing, CAPColonel Wallace H. EasleyCalifornia Wing, CAPColonel Donald T. CarneyColorado Wing. CAPColonel Robert A. FrostConnecticut Wing, CAPColonel Louisa S. MorseDelaware Wing, CAPColonel Joseph F. MoodyFlorida Wing, CAPColonel Lex D. BentonGeorgia Wing. CAPColonel Wilson KelloggIdaho Wing. CAPColonel E. Mortimer GherrnanIllinois Wing, CAP

Lt Colonel Stanley H. ArnoltIndiana Wing, CAP

Lt Colonel Robert J. WadeIowa Wing, CAPColonel James J. OtConno rKansas Wing, CAPColonel Francis A. BlevinsKentucky Wing. CAPColonel William D. HaasLouisiana Wing, CAP

Lt Colonel Norton H. LambMaine Wing, CAP

Win g C omm an dersColonel A. Paul FondaMaryland Wing, CAPLt Colonel Robert C. Sprague, Jr.Massachusetts Wing, CAPColonel Walter C. GerntMichigan Wing, CAPColonel Malcolm McDermidMinnesota Wing, CAPColonel Clarence R. BirchettMississippi Wing, CAPLt Colonel J. Orville LaddMissouri Wing, CAPColonel William P. MufichMontana Wing, CAPLt Colonel F. Joseph DonohueNational Capital Wing. CAPLt Colonel H. James Grove, Jr.Nebraska Wing, CAPColonel Raymond A. SmithNevada Wing, CAPColonel Philip D. Labomba rdeNew Hampshire Wing. CAPColonel Irving J. FeistNew Jersey Wing, CAPColonel J. Gibbs SpringNew Mexico Wing. CAPColonel Joseph F. CrowleyNew York Wing. CAPColonel James L. HamiltonNorth Carolina Wing. CAPColonel John M. KurkeNorth Dakota Wing, CAPColonel John O. SwartsOhio Wing, CAPColonel William H. ShockeyOklahoma Wing, CAP

Colonel Kenneth S. JordanOregon Wing, CAPColonel Phillip F. NeuweilerPennsylvania Wing. CAP

Lt Colonel Robert W.Wyoming Wing. CAP

Colonel Edward A. MercierRhode Island Wing. CAP

IColonel Alfred PL PateSouth Carolina Wing, CAPLt Colonel Rupert P. BrzicaSouth Dakota Wing. CAPColonel Alfred M. WaddellTennessee Wing, CAPColonel George A. Brewer, Jr.Texas Wing, CAPColonel Ralph B. OttenheimerUtah Wing, CAPColonel Henry A. CollinVermont Wing, CAPColonel Allan C. PerkinsonVirginia Wing, CAPColonel Charles W. DrewWashington Wing, CAPLt Colonel Lewis W. TalbottWest Virginia Wing. CAPColonel Richard C. JayeWisconsin Wing. CAP

Colonel Jesse R. CarrAlaska Wing, CAPColonel Benjamin F.Hawaii Wing, CAPLt Colonel Roberto L. BoothbyPuerto Rico Wing, CAP

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AVIATION EDUCATIONThe activities inAviation Education accornp'lished during 1955 fall into

six (6) major categories: Materials of Instruction; Scholarships; Leader-ship Training; Aviation Education Workshops; Coordinated CAP-HighSchool Aviation Education Program; and the official Model Building Kit.Materials of InstructionThe aviation education projects during 1955clearly indicate substantia

progress. In the area of materials of instruction, 1955 saw unparalleledsupport from the Finance Committee, the National Executive Board, andthe National Boardin the form of an appropriation to establish a Revolv-ing Fund for the production of six (6) booklets and six (6) color, soundfilmstrips to replace the present manual, CAP Vol. I, Book II. By theclose of 1955, the first booklet and filmstrip, entitled Aviation and You,had been produced and was being distributed to regions, wings, groups,squadrons, and individual senior and cadet members who placed orderswith National Headquarters.ScholarshipsThis year saw the establishment, for the first time, of two (2) nationalscholarships for outstanding Civil Air Patrol cadets. The scholarshipswere established as follows:Mr. Bernard G. Davis, president of the Ziff-Davis Publishing Company

of New York, has provided a four-year complete tuition SCholarship i: i

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Aviation Education WorkshopsDuring the summer of 1955, Civil Air Patrol's encouragement of, and

participation in, aviation education workshop projects showed a continuedexpansion. Thirty-one (31) colleges and universities offered aviation edu-cation workshops in cooperation with Civil Air Patrol and other sponsoringagencies, with a total attendance of eight hundred and eighteen (818) teach-ers.

An interesting development in aviation education workshops startedduring 1955 in the Maryland Wing. In Baltimore, in cooperation with theBaltimore City Schools, the Maryland Wing ofCivil Air Patrol and the AirForce Reserve Center, several Maryland' teachers who had attended aprevious National Aviation Education Workshop spearheaded a year-longin-service workshop program that atttacted one hundred and eighty (180)teachers who spent one afternoon a week studying aviation education andvisiting various centers of aviation. Itis anticipated that this type projectwill be undertaken by other wings and will constitute an increase on thepart ofCivil Air Patrol in terms of aviation education for teachers. Theseteachers, in turn, can be relied upon to make a contribution to Civil AirPatrol either in a high school program or by helping in squadrons.Coordinated CAP=High School Aviation Education ProgramDuring 1955, Civil Air PatroI's cooperation with the high schools of

America showed a steady increase as compared to 1953 and 1954. During1955, there were one hundred and ninety-nine (199) high school programsreported by Civil Air Patrol units, with an enrollment of one thousand,seven hundred ninety-nine (1,799) Civil Air Patrol members and four thou-sand, forty-three (4,043) non-Civil Air. Patrol members.Model Building KitThis year saw the completion of a three-year project wherein Civil Air

Patrol officially adopted a rnode.lbuilding kit designed for use in conjunction3

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with either squadron cadet training activities or aviation education pro-grams in schools. The model building kit is being manufactured by Berke-ley Models, Inc., 25 Hempstead Gardens Drive, West Hempstead, LongIsland, N.Y.-, and is known as the official Civil Air Patrol Model BuildingKit.

PERSONNELThe increase in the number of aeronautical ratings granted during 1955

compared equally with the number rated in preceding years. During thecalendar year of 1955there were 3,467 new pilots and 792 new observersadded to the organization. During this same period there were 2, 964 CAPofficers appointed or promoted to a higher grade.The gain in senior membership over the past year has been a controlled

growth with each wing having a definite ceiling on the number of memberspermitted. The emphasis has been on quality of membership rather thanquantity. Ithas been planned for the senior membership to be limited to50, 000highly qualified and skilled members. Over 65%of the senior mem-bers renewed their membership during 1955 indicating an experiencedgroup of members. The senior statistics for 1954 and 1955are shown be-low:

195415,64l23, 11238, 753

195513,99725, 45539,452

NewSenior MembersRenewed Senior Members

TOTALThe cadet membership in the Civil Air Patrol has shown a normal andorderlyincrease in number over the past year. At the end of 1954 we had49,554 cadets and at the end of 1955 we had 50, 547 cadets enrolled in thecadet program. The ultimate membership goal is 100, 000 active cadets

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participating in our program. During the year just ended, a directive wasissued 'requiring cadets to renew their membership each year thereby in-suring that only active cadets are included in our statistics.The number of CAP units has also shown an increase over the past

years. In 1954 we had a total of 2, 472CAP units but at the end of 1955 ournurnber of units had increased to 2, 594. The units are broken down bytype below: Regions 8 WWings 52

Groups 184Senior Squadrons 1391(Separate) Cadet Squadrons 215(Attached) Cadet Squadrons 744---TOTAL 2594

SUPPLY & MAINTENANCEThe major item for the year of 1955 insofar as Supply and Maintenance

are concerned, was the publication of the revised AFR 65-46, dated 30December 1955. This revised regulation established procedures for (1)providing and maintaining supplies and equipment for the Civil Air Patrol;(2) the disposition of property received from agencies of the Departmentof Defensewhichbecomes excess toCAPrequirements;and (3)the supportof Air Force personnel assigned to National Headquarters, CAP (CAP-USAF) and for its liaison offices pursuant to authority contained in PL557, 80th Congress (62 Stat. 275; 5 U.S. C. 626m) as amended (JAAFBulletin 19, 1948) and as further amended by PO 368, 83rd Congress(68 Stat. 141; 5 U.S. C. 6261) (AF Bulletin 7, dated 1 July 1954).Resume of changes resulting from AFR 65-46 revision.

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New:(l)"Sale of excess property to CAP: The Commander, CAP-USAF can

make arrangements for CAP to purchase property that is considered ex-rcess and available for sale by the military services.

(2) Prohibits the loan of excess material to CAP.(3) Authorizes the Air Force to defray cost of transportation for prop-

,r--erty donated by the Department of Defense to initial point of receipt.Changes:(1) Air Force bas es and depots are authorized to provide manpower

and facilities for maintenance on all CAP property and equipment beyondthe capability of CAP. This will have to be accomplished without inter-fering with the primary mission of the installations.(2) Parts and supplies used that are not obtained from excess stocks

will require reimbursement by CAP units.Additional Aircraft - Sales of PA-18 aircraft to Civil Air Patrol were

resumed inOctober 1955. The conditions under which these aircraft maybe purchas edhave been changed so that the aircraft will remain in the CAPprogram instead of becoming the property of individuals. The purchaseprice has also been reduced so that the average now is approximately$600. 00. There are approximately 160 aircraft that are, or will be, avail-able for purchase by CAP units.Aircraft Utilization - The USAF on-loan aircraft utilization and in-

commission rates continued to improve during the year. The utilization/">ate increased to a national average of 16.5 hours per aircraft; last yearIt was 14.6. The average in-commission rate went from 70%during 1954to 75%for 1955. Both have been continually stressed throughout the yearby the commanders at all levels and aircraft have been reas signed to otherunits when rates fell below desired minimum, unless there were extenu-~ing circumstances. Itis essential that high in-commission and utiliza-

.m rates be maintained if the small number of aircraft available are to6

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partially satisfy the requirements of the large number of units and mem-bers that are always seeking more flying time.

Donable Property - During 1955 a total of 272 projects for donable ma-terial were established by this headquarters which was an increase of 121over the year 1954. Original acquisition cost of this equipment amounted ~to $2, 542, 005. 24. During 1955 Public Law 61 was passed by the 84thCongress authorizing the Civil Air Patrol to acquire vehicles from theDepartments of the Army and Navy. This headquarters is awaiting a de-cision from USAF on donation of Air Force vehicles. The Middle Eastand Pacific Regions were the leaders in obtaining vehicles; the DelawareandMaryland Wings acquired theirs from the LetterkennyOrdinance Depotwhile the California Wing was active atNaval Installations throughout thestate. The Civil Air Patrol continued to receive OY-2 (liaison) type air-craft from the Navy along with a quantity of spare parts.Reportable excess listings screened bythis headquarters produced few-

er items than were obtained in 1954. This is due, primarily, to a largerpercentage of the equipment generated by the three services being absorbedwithin the Dept .of Defense. The Civil Air Patrol relationship with theMaterielRedistribution Division, Busanda, Dept. of the Navy, continues tobe excellent. Non-reportable equipment acquired by the liaison officersconsisted mainly of communications equipment, office furniture, vehiclesand miscellaneous equipment of indeterminate dollar value.LEGAL1. The Compensation Bill (S:1135-HR: 3936)The CAP Compensation Bill was introduced into the 84th Congress and

a hearing before the sub-committee of the Senate Armed Services Com-mittee was held on 18 July 1'955. However, before any action could be

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4, 073 HF-2945VHF-2238

4,687 HF-3507VHF-3180

428 HF-232

1955--5,219

CAPmembers who wish personal protection must carry their own per-sonnel insurance.

1. As in previous years, CAP communications were ready to cope withthe hurricanes and the floods both on the Atlantic Seaboard and F'a.cifirCoast. These disasters have had aby-product in that they have done muchto improve the over-all efficiency of CAP communications as well as caus-ing revisions to provide better mobility.2. In 1955, added emphasis was placed onmobility of communications.The facility count is as follows:

1954

6,687591VHF-359

COMMUNICATIONS

Fixed (HF & VHF

9, 1889,011 12,49710, 561

combined)Mobile (HF & VHF

combined)Aircraft (HF & VHF

combined)TOTAL LICENSES

The increase of facilities in 1955 over 1954 greatly improved our nation-wide coverage.3. Equipment acquired in 1955 was somewhat better than the previou

year -- we acquired 1000 power units which were distributed throughoutthe nation improving our emergency potential. Commercial equipment stillremains pretty much the same with quite a few Riesner sets being pur-chased for mobile and aircraft use. Gonsetequipment is still quite popu-lar with the CAP members. In a-Gdition to Reisner, Gonset, Circo an

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Lettene, the Aeronautical Electronic Inc. is manufacturing a single channel6, 12 & 110 volt VHF trans ceiver which is usable in our program.4. Ot-her factors which have helped in improving the effectiveness of

pthe pr-ograrn are:a. Interes t of the National Commander Is Communications Commit-

tee.. b. Increased interest on the part of the Regional Commanders in}tivil Air Patrol communications.

5. The same problems that faced the program at the outset of 1955were still existing to a greater or lesser degree at the end of 1955.

a. The voluntary nature of the organization with its high personnelturnover is reflected in the communications program by large numbers ofradio stations which are inactive although their licenses remain currentin the license file. The result of this condition can be a misleading totalin the number of radio stations and an unfair basis on which to make re-ports and future plans.b. Lack of equipment has been another serious deterrent to thegrowth of the program.6. Despite the problems facing the CAP communications program in

1955, it was a fruitful year in terms of progress made. Almost 4,000radio facilities were added to the total, of which 2, 000 were mobile fa-cilities. Considerable progress has been made in increasing the VHF/HFratio and the number of VHFaircraft stations. Net-type organization andopera.tion has largely replaced the loose operation generally prevalent ayear ago.

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SENIOR OPERATIONSL SEARCH ANDRESCUECivil Air Patrol enters into the Air Force's search and rescue program J

by furnishing an established wide-spread search and rescue organizationthroughout the United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico which func-tions on request from USAF. The CAP units are under the operationacontrol of Air Rescue Service while on such missions. Air Rescue Ser..Jvice uses CAP to augment its search and rescue forces to the extent thatan entire search may be conducted entirely by Civil Air Patrol personneland equipment, with ARS personnel monitoring and supervising the opera-tion. As a comparison, during 1955 Air Rescue Service requested CAPassistance on a total of 168 search and rescue missions. CAP conducted49 of these missions with its own resources and participated in the re-maining missions in conjunction with the USAF, U.S. Navy, U. S. CoastGuard, ARS, etc. CAP provided over 9,000 personnel for search andrescue missions, and flew a total of 14,983 hours. The total flying hourslogged by Air. Res cue Service and all the other agencies participating insearch and rescue was 29,393.IIo CAP - CIVIL DEFENSE OPERATIONSCivil Air Patrol assists Civil Defense agencies in accomplishing the

mission of passive defense in case of enemy attack. The FCDA and CAPare in the process of drawing up a policy agreement whereby the CiviJDefense and CAP will cooperate and work together at state and locallevel&.____..;The CAPfurnishes a self-supporting air arm to Civil Defense at the requestof the Governor or the State Director of Civil Defense. This force is usedto assist in evacuation, re-supply, reconnais.sance, and mutual support,as required. During 1955 CAP flew approximately 600 hours, utilizing2507 personnel, to train for their support of Civil Defense.

..J

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Inaddition to the above, 77 missions were completed to fly aircraftover Ground Observer posts to provide training for these personnel in re-porting such aircraft. These missions to support Air Defense Commandrequired approximately 3, 000 flying hours and 3,491 personnel partici-pated.IlL. DISASTER MISSIONSOther missions performed by Civil Air Patrol are in cooperation with

. e Red Cross on a national basis and with the local authorities duringfloods or other major disasters. Many CAP personnel and units distin-guished themselves during the recentfloodsin thenortheastern andwesternareas of the United States.IVQ INTERNATIONAL CADET.EXCHANGE------The 1955International Cadet Exchange of the Civil Air Patrol was suc-cessfully completed during July and August. Israel participated for thefirst time making a total of2l foreign countries. A total of145 CAP cadetsand 42 adult escorts participated in the program. A like number visitedthe United States from the various foreign countries. Even though the costof the Exchange program increas es each year, as new countries are added,the value of this program cannot bemeasured in dollars and cents but ratherin world-wide goodwill and understanding.Always a popular phas e of the annual Exchange, the Intranational Cadet

Exchange was conducted between the continental wings and the territorialwings of Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. A total of 24 girls in groups ofight visited the three territorial wings and an equal number from the terri-torial wings visited South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Maine.v, DRILL COMPETITIONThe International Drill Cornpeti tion between the Civil Air Patrol and the

Canadian team was held at Downsview Airport in Toronto, Canada, on 27

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August. Although the Civil Air Patrol tea:mwas defeated, both tea:ms puton a drill exhibition before 35, 000 people at the Canadian InternationalExposition. Ed Sullivan, Master of Cere:monies at the exposition, was soi:mpressed by the CAP tea:m that he invited the:m to appear on his nation-wide TVprogra:m, "The Ed Sullivan Show", fro:m NewYork the following ~evening. The cadet tea:m was the first act on the show and was a creditto the entire organization.VI., TRAlNINGMuch ti:me is spent in training to increase the proficiency of the Civil

Air Patrol personnel for search and rescue :missions. Each year everyCAP wing conducts a "Wing Effectiveness Evaluation Check" known as a"SARCAP" (Search and rescue Civil Air Patrol) under the supervision ofAir Res cue Service personnel. This is a practice :mission with all phas esof an actual search si:mulated. The purpose of this :mission is to evaluatethe capability of Civil Air Patrol to support the Air Rescue Service insearch and rescue.Other activities of the Civil Air Patrol senior :me:mbers are the orien-

tation flights of the CAP cadets. The purpose of the flights is to sti:mulatethe interest of the cadets in aviation. Fuel and lubricants used on theseflights are paid for by CAP.Proficiency flights and ground training are given regularly to increase

the proficiency of the CAP pilots. A great deal of ti:meis spentby the CAPpilots in the study of terrain, :meteorology, and navigation to better qualifythe:mfor their mission of search and rescue.

JET ORIENTATION COURSEThe first Civil Air Patrol Jet Orientation Course was held ~t Tyndall

AFB, Florida, 24 July through 3August 1955.

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THE CAP CADET /IDIPLOMA"The goal of the cadet is the Certificate of Proficiency- - the "diploma".

To obta.int t t, the cadet must complete 18 months of training in aviationsubjects, attend a nine-day encampment at an Air Force base, and pass afour-hour written national examination.The goal of CAP commanders is to qualify a maximum number of cadetsor the certificate. We consider this to be proof of the progress of the

cadet program. For 1955, a goal of 30 certificates per wing was set.With the 'use of study guides that have been developed to help cadets

prepare for the national examination, and with increased cadet attendanceat summer encampments - where the exam is generally given - this goalwas met.The Air Force will award the grade ofAirman Third Class to a boy en-

listing if he possesses a CAP "diploma".The number of certificates issued in the last few years has been steadilyincreasing.

Year195519541953

No. of Certificates2094296296

LIVING AT

1952 111951 31950

THEENCAMPM EN TA highpoint in the cadet program is summer encampments at Air Force

bases. A cadet stays nine days at the encampment where he eats, sleeps,lays, drills, and studies in a military atmosphere. He usually gets a

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ride in an Air Force plane and if he is lucky, in a jet. He visits class-rooms, the control tower, the firefighters, the maintenance shops; heswims, and attends the base movies.The breakdown of the 1955 encampments over 1954 encampments i

as follows:1955~ 338, 963213

19544135

7,422222

Number of encampmentsNumber of AF bases participatingNumber of cadets participatingNumber of AF Reservists par tici.pati-rg

,I

SENIOR TRAININGUSAF EXTENSION COURSE INSTITUTE

In the past, the Extension Course Institute extended to CAP seniormembers the privilege of enrolling and participating in their correspon-dence courses. Now, not only may senior members improve their admin-istrative and technical knowledge through ECI, but Headquarters, UnitedStates Air Force and Air University have approved the participation ofoutstanding CAP cadets in the correspondence courses.These courses, similar to the resident technical courses offered by

the Air Force to its members, are especially valuable to C.!\.Pmemberswithout military experience.

In fact, enrollment in, or successful completion of the Officer Carid'date Correspondence Course is necessary for senior members to qualil..,..,for appointment or promotion as a CAP officer. Moreover, each seniormember must enroll in and cornplete a prescribed number of volumes ofthis same course, within 12 months of attaining permanent membershipin CAP. The value of this course lies in the fact that CAP staff assign-ments are analogous to those of the Air Force. -15

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Participation by senior rnernbe r s in ECI during 1955 exceeded that ofprevious years cornbirred, F'rorn March 1951, when CAP rriembers wereauthorized toparticipate, to 31December 1954, 3690 senior rnernber-s en-olled, However, in 1955, 4204 new senior rnernber enrollznents wereprocessed by ECI, znaking a grand total of 7894 enrollees.TRAININGMATERIAlSCAP Manual 50-1, Senior Training Prograzn, which consists of 18_sson plans for instructors was reproduced (5000 copies) to satisfy the

evergrowing needs of new and old units, for iznpleznentation of the seniortraining prograzn.Suppleznent #2 of CAP Paznphlet 8, F'i.lm and Filznstrips, was printed

and distributed to all CAP units. Each CAP region was provided with suf-ficient copies of a list of all Arrrry, Navy, and Air Force ROTC units andReserve Training Centers within its geographic proxiznity in order thatthey rnay rnake distribution to all their wings, groups, and squadrons.These lists provide the location of znilitaryunits frorn which the CAP unitcornrnand ers znay request qualified instr.uctors and training rnater ials toaznplify and irriprove their cadet and senior training prograzns.RESERVISTSThe Arrny, Navy, and Air Force have authorized their reservists to

participate on a non-pay status in the CAP prograzn, and thereby earnpoints toward retention and retireznent.Air Force reservists znay earn credit by perforrrririg duty in the areasinstruction, aircraft znaintenance, adzninistration and liaison.Arrny reservists rnay participate by conducting rnilitar y instruction,or by perforzning other znilitary duties as approved by their respective

Military District Chiefs. Naval reservists are required to be utilizedas instructors in the CAP prograzn.

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CAP CHAPLAIN.SChaplains throughout the 52 wings of the Civil Air Patrol continued to

serve faithfully and well the personnel of their respective units during theyear 1955. The conducting of religious services, the deIiveryofcharacterguidance lectures, the supervision of the showing of religious and moralfilms, the holding of consultation and personal conference periods, visita-tions to the homes of cadets and the performance of other professionaduties fully occupied the attention and time set apart by the already busyclergymen serving as CAP chaplains.The year 1955 witnessed an increasing number of chaplains serving

voluntarily at summer- encarnpments. Three (3) CAP chaplains were se-lected to accompany cadets as senior escorts in the 1955 InternationalCadet Exchange Program. Approximately 350 chaplains were in attendanceat the eight regional chaplain conferences held during the year 1955. Many.of the 800 CAP chaplains reported on the wing semi-annual rosters as of.31 December 1955, who were unable to attend their respective regionalchaplain conferences, were in attendance at their annual wing chaplaintraining conferences.Two prominent and enthusiastic Civil Air Patrol chaplains were elected

by their respective communities as "Man of the Year". The service ren-dered to their local communities as CAP chaplains was a real factor con-sidered in their election. The CAP organization and especially the CAPChaplaincy was justifiably proud of the honor bestowed upon these twchaplains.Due toa recent policy established byNational Hqin 1955, more chaplainstraveled more miles in the i.n ter est of the CAP chaplaincy. .T'he policyreferred to authorizes one (l) chaplain of anyone denomination to travelto the annual conference of his church by military aircraft, space avail-able basis, for the purpose of presenting the CAPChaplain Program toth_

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general conference in session. As a result of this policy, the churches ofAmerica became and are becoming more acutely aware both of the exist -ence of the program and of the need of more qualified clergymen to serveas CAPchaplains. Amost heartening increase in number ofinquiries con-cerning the Chaplain Program is being received byNational Headquartersfrom clergymen throughout the United States whohadfirs t heard of the CAPChaplain Program from the chaplains at these conferences.Theyear 1956for the Chaplain Program of the Civil Air Patrol is bright

indeed. With all required training manuals published anddistributed; withthe churches of America lending an ever-increasing degree of supportand cooperation; with training conferences scheduled at both regional andwing levels; and finally, with more chaplains more dedicated to the basicprinciples of the mission of the national Chaplain Program, the future ismost promising for continued growth, progress and accomplishment.

INFORMATION SERVICESThe past year saw a gratifying upsurge in public recognition obtainedfor Civil Air Patrol at bothnational and local levels. All news and enter-tainment media were utilized as never before.Televiewers saw CAP "plugged" by Dave Garroway, Arthur Godfrey,

Steve Allen and other top personalities. CAP's drill team starred on EdSullivan's CBS-TV show; TV station break slides and spot announcementsappeared on practically all TV stations throughout the country. And onradio, CAPenjoyed liberal coverageonNBC's "Monitor" as well as on allother networks. Special radio transcriptions, one with a message fromGen. Jimmy Doolittle, were sent out and broadcast over radio stationsduring the December observance of CAP's 14th anniversary.

In the field of magazines and books, CAP's story was told in over 30aati.orial publications and hous.e organs. Planning and research, and in

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-some cases the actual story itself, were completed for feature articlesappearing in 1956 issues of nationally known prestige magazines.Local newspaper ooverage was abundant with CAP PIO's making out-

standing use of press releases sent to them from National Headquartersas well as through alert and efficient coverage of their own local "newsbreaks ", Press relations at the national level with wire services weremaintained both inWashington andNewYork through personal liaison wor~by the Office of Information Services.One of the big features of 1955was the multi-purpose anniversary kit

prepared and distributed to CAP units and news media. Contained in thekit were such items as sample proclamations for mayors and governors;newspaper mats illustrated by Milton Caniff and the OIS staff artist; pre-pared speeches suitable for delivery to adult and youth groups, as well asnews stories and features about CAP which could be bylined by the localPIO and fed to his news contacts. The results from this kit were over-whelming. Hundreds of clippings comprising many thousands of columninches of copy and photos were received in the Office of Information Ser-vices testifying to the nationwide success of the undertaking.Another important project handled by theOffice ofInformation Services

during the year was the "Freedom Skydrop"in cooperation with theAmeri-canHeritage Foundation. This was an undertaking which had great publicrelations impact at the local level and, collectively, on the national scene.CAP planes worked with the American Heritage Foundation by droppingmessages and silver foil medallions on George Washington's birthday aspartof a nationwide drive in support of its "Crusade For Freedom". Hereagain PIO's were very active, working with civic andgovernment leadersand at the same time educating the public to the CAPand its program. Asa result CAP received an award which was accepted by the National Com-mader on behalf of the entire organization.

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Long range plans were also co:mpleted by the end of 1955 to even :moreclosely associate CAP's public relations progra:m with public relationsprogra:ms of related A:merican youth organizations.During_1955 the :more than 1500CAP Public Infor:mation Officers on the

direct rna.Hirig list of the National Headquarters Office of Infor:mation Ser-- vices clearly e:merged as a nationwide network of spokes:men for airpower.Utilization :made of the special publicitykits prepared and :mailed directly'.0 CAPPIO's nationwide byNational Headquarters de:monstratedthe capa-oility of CAP's Public Infor:mation Officers to literally blanket the nationwith news rnedia coverage on a specific :message.Concurrently with its handling of the national public relations progra:m

of CAP, the National Headquarters Office of Infor:mation Services carriedout a progra:m to assist the units of CAP in taking the :message of airpowerto the A:merican public. By the end of 1955, 24 pa:mphlets, brochures andother pieces of literature on the United States Air Force had been distri-buted directly to units of the CAP. Included in this distribution were :ma-terials for speeches, newfeatures, spot announce:ments and general back-ground data on USAF :missions and doctrine. CAP Public Infor:mation Of-ficers incorporated this :material into unit publications, press releases,speeches and other publicity outlets.In direct support of the USAFpublic relations and recruiting progra:ms

the CAP carried out an extensive progra:m of recruit:ment of top calibreyoung :men for candidacy for the Air Force Acade:my. (Ten per cent ofthe first class at the Air Force Acade:my were for:mer CAP cadets.) It;o:mpleted plans and preparation of :materials for a :major ca:mpaign ofassistance to the USAFRecruiting Service. This ca:mpaign to be known as"Project AF-CAP" was scheduled to be launched early in 1956. CAP unitsnationwide provided direct assistance and support to Air Force basescarrying out Ar:med Forces Day progra:ms during 1955. Aid was given in

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publicizing Armed Forces Day, in providing display material and in pro-viding personnel for escort, honor guard and other duties.

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