Civilian-liveried types, including the Stinson 10, Grumman Widgeon, Stinson Reliant, Sikorsky S-39, and Fairchild 24 had CAP markings applied, were armed and went to war for 18 months until August 1943, patrolling Atlantic and Gulf Coast waters at 21 coastal patrol bases extending from Maine to the Mexican border. They effectively drove U-boats from American waters and led President Franklin Roosevelt to transfer CAP from the Office of Civilian Defense to the Department of War.
Built in 1940, Neal’s Fairchild 24 pays tribute to the brave CAP pilots who volunteered to go aloft in the type in all kinds of weather to search for submarines, a dangerous mission that cost many their lives.
That history is near and dear to Neal, who joined the CAP at the age of 15 and now commands CAP’s Mid-Eastern Group from its New York Wing as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Seated in a CAP tent during the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s popular World War II Weekend airshow in June, Neal wearing a WW II vintage CAP uniform, related how he and his wife Susan formed the idea to buy a Fairchild 24.
Honoring CAP Veterans
Sean and Susan Neal have enjoyed being a part of the World War II weekend at Reading Regional Airport just over the hill from Reading, Pennsylvania for many years. In the mid-2000s they met Mike Strieter there.
Neal says his wife loved Strieter’s Stinson SR5A, and the two were interested in the airplane. But they learned that the well-known Maryland-based antique aircraft fly-in organizer sold his Reliant to Harry Ballance Jr.—an aircraft featured in the July/ August issue of Flight Journal—the week before the 2006 airshow at Reading.
Bu hikaye Flight Journal dergisinin January - February 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Flight Journal dergisinin January - February 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Scourge of the Allied Fighters
IT HAD TO BE THE MOST HELPLESS FEELING in the world: you're at 25,000 feet over Europe knowing that your primary function is to drop bombs-or flying escort for the bombers while being a slow-moving target for some of the world's finest shooters. However, you have John Browning's marvelous .50 caliber invention to give some degree of protection. Unfortunately, you're absolutely helpless against flak. Piloting and gunnery skills play no role in a game where sheer chance makes life and death decisions. For that reason, the Krupp 88 mm Flak 18/36/37 AA cannon could be considered WW II's ultimate stealth fighter. You never saw it coming.
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