Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

[Ed O'Brien]

Tribe;
Look at your logs. See if you own a plane with a Civil Air Patrol History. If so, let me know on a private message. I'm trying to put together a contact list for CAP National/Regional Headquarters. These would likely be BCs but some L2s also. We'd like to know who owns them and get contacts.

Let me know serial and N-numbers. Some of these planes have done some wonderful things and so have been part of a wonderful history. For instance, a Colorado Taylorcraft BC
rescued a B-24 crew off of Mt. Baldy in New Mexico in the 40s. I'd love to know where this plane is now! Anybody?

I suppose that you'd like to know what these "planes of fame" have done. I'm attempting to put this information together over the next year. Let me know and I thank you. With regards;
ED OBRIEN

[1938BF50]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Ed,

My logs state nothing about CAP but have pages of entries from 1943 and 1944. Were civilians allowed to fly then?

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

some L-2's ?? The last batches of L-2M ALL went to the US Army and then ALL were transferred directly to the CAP units. The Army rational was that too many Army pilots were spinning in with the GAylorcraft tandem Model D ( L-2 seris) L2M in particular and they did not want them. I spent 20 years in CAP and my Dad was active during the 2nd World War as a flying Sgt.. Nice project there I will dig around. I hAve my Dad's CAP ID and an old FAI license too! must scan soon.

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Thanks Mike and Forrest;
I think this is a nice way to tie-in my Taylorcraft, history, and CAP interests. Most of the L2s were decomissioned in
43 and transfered to the CAP in April/May 44. The Army for the most part went to the L5s for more room and power. It's tough to believe that the L2/BCs were mountain flying, doing SAR and rescues... but they were... even in the Rockies.
Of course this was when the weight of the average pilot was less than 150lbs. I'm getting some records next week
from the Colorado CAP and should have specific serial numbers. It'll take me a while but I know Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and many others flew the BC versions of the L2s. I figure this should be a fact-filled
fun exhibitions of what our T-Crafts were doing during the war. More later. With regards; ED OBRIEN

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

From the official CAP rescue files. Some of the CAP and Taylorcrafts at War. With regards; ED OBRIEN

CAP searched for many military planes that had gone down on training or ferry missions around the United States. After a B-24 crash landed one winter atop Mount Baldy near Taos, New Mexico, a CAP Taylorcraft made six successful landings at 12,800 feet to deliver survival rations and recover crucial equipment.
Inland operations were typified by the flying of Liaison Pilot Bill "Pappy" Madsen, operations officer for the "Mountain Boys" flying from Peterson Field in Colorado Springs, Colorado. CAP’s operations in the Rockies actually pioneered many routes and mountain flying concepts still in use today. Colorado-based courier pilots operated 100 scheduled flights a day over 50 routes, carrying 3.5 million pounds of cargo to military bases in 17 states. Seven courier pilots died in the mountains of the West, with a like number perishing in the East on flights between war plants.

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Mike: My dad purchased a 1940, BC-65, in 1943. (And I still have.) It and a '41 model were for sale in Meriden, Cn. via an ad in Trade-A-Plane. They had been used in a CPT training program there until private flying was banned on the east coast due to the war with Germany. Dad and a friend took a train from Cedar Rapids, Iowa out to N.Y., then up to Meriden and they each bought one and flew them back to Iowa. They had to get a waiver to fly them out and they had to fly WEST. I have Dad's log books and it took them 6 days to get home with bad weather in Penn. grounding them a couple of days. Both pilots were CAP members, don't know if that made a difference or not and surprisingly they had no problem getting 80 octane wherever they landed.

Carl

P.S. my ph.# is 319-560-4944, if you want to talk about the reference I gave you for your BF wing rebuild.

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

TOO cool Carl, yes I'll call. Any more? Let me know. Thanks; ED OBRIEN

[Larry Wielgosz]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

I have an project L-2M s/n L-5779 tail # 43-26467. I wrote to the Air Force and the Smithsonian and the results were the same. The L-2 went from the factory and delivered to the Maryland CAP at the Congressional Airport near Washington DC (Rockville, MD). The L-2 was assigned to the CAP in Dec.22, 1943 until July 1945. She flew 135 hours during that time frame. She was bought surplus by the Hagerstown Maryland CAP flying club. Ironic but just a couple of days ago I contacted the Maryland CAP for info on the L-2 plus the specific unit just for historical info. They responded real quick stating they are working the issue. I might have to sell the project to assist my two sons attend college. This could be a tough decision.

Larry Wielgosz

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Larry;
I don't know about the guys back East. BUT, there's a bunch of guys out west working this History Project. It's called the National CAP Heritage Project. I'm fronting it for my squadron. We've apready found a couple of old trucks, some uniforms, radios, and now we're working on planes. I'd appreciate knowing your N-Number and Serial Number when you can. Send me a private message if you like.
Your L2 and my L2A had roughly the same career... out of the Army by '43 and into CAP Service.
Thanks much; ED OBRIEN

[Larry Wielgosz]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Ed

My L-2M is N58362, Manufacturer s/n L-5779, tail # 43-26467. While reviewing the records for this bird I came across a Wayne Crider. He was a major in the CAP. He signed for the aircraft at surplus time. The bird then went to the Hagerstown Maryland CAP flying club. I searched this mans' name "Wayne Crider" on the internet. An article called "Flying Chiros" mentioned him and another article had his photo while he was in military uniform. He was a early day chiropractor in the military. Apparently he was important chiropractor in his day. He more than likely flew my bird. I found the human interest story quite unique. Please let me know if you need any further assistance. How do I get you private e-mail? I looked but could not find it on this site. I must be doing something wrong. Thanks

Larry Wielgosz

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Larry;
Private messages are available by:
1. Make sure you're registered in... when you
2. Go to the top of this page and look at the
upper- right hand corner of the page.
3. You'll find a click through "Private Messages"
4. Once you get into that private section... play around. There's another whole world to this website. Names, Email Addresses, Dancing girls, free beer, and juggling bears... AND I never lie about stuff like that.
With regards;
ED OBRIEN

[M Towsley]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Hi Ed,

Hope your having fun with the L-2. I still have my dad's CAP cap, overseas style I think they call it, ID and pins. I know he flew BL65's, I think, and maybe an L-2 as I have posted photos in the photo section. One of the BL's he and my mom flew was restored by Tom Baker, it went to a Texas owner. It was the yellow and blue plane that was used on the starting page here on Taylorcraft.org for awhile. I cannot confirm if it flew for CAP but the chances are good. Maybe Tom would know.

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Marty;
Can you send me a picture of your Dad's Cap? I'm dividing the histories into Khaki (40s-50s) Greens (60s-70s) and Blues (80s-Present.) In a few months I'll have a list of planes (serial numbers) I'll try and track those planes down to their current owners. I think it'll be fun for owners to find out that their plane was involved in a rescue, SAR, bombing raid over Berlin (slight exageration on my part)
Anyway, more soon.

I'm mounting the med-kit you sold me in my L2 this weekend. It'll be too windy to fly... so this will keep me from going stir-crazy. Have a fine day, good weekend, and happy life... your friend; ED OBrien

[M Towsley]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Ed,

Not a problem. I will get around to it this weekend, I'm sure.

Best regards,

Marty

[Chet Peek]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

ED, my DC-65 was a CAP plane, I think. NC32623, S/N 4035. it is restored in the CPT color, blue and yellow.

I have a factory photo of 20 or so silver L-2's stacked on their nose in a Ft Sill hangar, supposedly destined for the CAP

I am really puzzled as to the spin stories about the DC-65 and L-2. Even in a nose-high turn with full power it gives you about a half hour warning before it very reluctantly lets go. And with that big tail, you can stop a spin immediatly.

'Chet.