Civil Air Patrol

The Civil Air Patrol started in 1941 a week before Pearl Harbor. Our early pilots used their own planes and fuel to keep an eye out for German submarines along the East coast. They are credited with sinking two!

The Civil Air Patrol is now the auxiliary of the United States Air Force. The planes we fly and the uniforms we wear are property of the United States Air Force. We are all volunteers.

Every State is considered a Wing. Every Wing is made up of Groups and under the Groups are Squadrons. The Squadrons consist of Cadets (ages 12 – 21), Seniors (21 and over) and Composite Squadrons (a mix of seniors and cadets). 

Some squadrons have one or two Cessna aircraft assigned to them. The aircraft are flown by CAP members who have been trained to fly those planes. Although the Civil Air Patrol is a Federal agency, it may be called upon to help in any emergency. We flew hundreds of hours during the Deep Water Horizon catastrophe, and many more during Hurricane Michael.

We sent aircraft and people to Puerto Rico when It was struck by a hurricane. We can do airborne photography before and after a storm. We can speak to groups. Many of the squadrons have trained ground search teams and Color and Honor Guard Teams. Cadets receive a specialized training course that includes learning how a plane flies along with frequent flights in our aircraft so they are familiarized will all aspects of aviation.  

We participate in Sun n Fun and the MacDill Air Force Base yearly fly-in.

Many Civil Air Patrol cadets receive financial assistance for college. Approximately 10% of the cadets at the United States Air Force Academy are former CAP cadets.

Captain Parris M. Sepe

Public Affairs Officer and Flight Officer

Hillsborough One Senior Squadron 

Tampa, FL.

Check the CAP calendar on the Events page.

Pat doesn't like to brag - but you won't believe some of them.

Such as delivering Covid 19 supplies.  

New planes, crew, equipment that we want to tell you about is coming.

Answers are coming.