Civil Air Patrol provides multiple services to the public Published Sept. 20, 2016 By W. Eugene Barnett, Jr. 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The Civil Air Patrol was founded Dec. 1, 1941 as the Coastal Patrol and was tasked with looking for German U-Boats along the U.S. coast. Civilian pilots volunteered and patrolled the coastlines along with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). From Dec. 1, 1941 through the end of the war -- 68 Coastal Patrol members lost their lives protecting the coast. Chris Buck, Wright-Patterson Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol commander said in the last 75 years Congress chartered three missions for the organization; Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education and Emergency Services. The Cadet Programs works with volunteer’s ages 12 thru 20 across the nation. They join a squadron and learn about leadership, aerospace education, character development and physical fitness. One of the best results, Buck said, of the program are when an educated cadet graduates and in turn gets to teach the younger cadets. There are 23,580 cadets in the United States. Senior members are 21 and older, and there are 32,641 in the Civil Air Patrol within the United States. The Aerospace Education component teaches cadets about mechanics of flight and how weather systems build and dissipate. Buck said they also teach about the principals of flight and physics as well as rockets, satellites, airframes and how they work. During the summer the National Cadets Specials Activities for ages 12 to 20 go on flight encampments, ground school and start flying solo when they are ready. Emergency Services consists of search and rescue and disaster relief. They work with the U.S. Air Force and support the local Red Cross with manpower and airborne photography during national disasters. For more information contact Buck at 937-656-3988.