Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Chet;
First of all I need a book. Let me know how I might make a purchase... and you're welcome for the commercial. I'm assuming the picture that you're speaking of is at Ft. Sill... Okla and circa WW2... if so, I have those pix... if different, please post! If you do post I'll gladly give to my first born... he's 37 now and sweetly troubled with 4 kids of his own but a he has a great sense of humor and his mother's tall slow-eyed-good-looks... you're quite welcome to him also.

Regarding spin accidents. I have 20-30 pictures of crashed
L2s-3s&4s. The Civilian Pilot Training Program and CAP went through them like Brown Bears on Pink Salmon. It seems they took more pictures of the accidents than anything else. One appears to be stall spin... looking at the background it appears the pilot got slow on climb out... raised the nose over some 50 foot Georgia Pines then plunked-in at the tell-tale 90 degree angle. The rest of the accident pics look more like bad landings... planes upright
with torn legs, nosed over props, bent outer wings... those kind of moments with a shaken, or chagrined, or guilty looking pilot standing next to the broken bird.

Anything you got I'D LOVE TO SEE. CPT/CAP either one. CPT is gone and CAP hasn't kept good track of their stuff. I've got stories of daring-do, and legendary heroes saving the day. I'd love to find the pictures that go with the stories and the modern owners of the plane that made the history. I think this might be a fun project. SO PLEASE... keep me up to date. Email: [email protected] 303-871-9005. FOor your information I own and love DCO-65/L2A N57504 serial#0-4466

With regards and best wishes;
ED OBRIEN

[LostnSpace]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Looking at 43-26668, it shows as an L-2M, left the factory 3-2-44, got to Sheppard Field, Tex. 3-17-44, then sold by the Reconstruction Finance Corp. on 11-6-44 to three individuals in Seattle, Wash. Paul J.. Toien, Kathern M. Toien, Duane J. Gerry. Proff of citizenship for Paul: U.S Navy ID, Kathern: Airmens's ID, Duane: U.S.Navt ID.
Nothing shows of CAP in the paperwork, Wish you the best, this sounds real interesting. LNS.

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Ed and others interested in CAP planes. I'm wintering in Az. but home in Iowa (brrrr cold) I have old photos of Taylorcrafts with the CAP insignia on the fuselage. The was from a unit based at Saxon Field, Marion, Ia. I also have my dad's wings, officer's bars, etc. I will check further when the weather up north is warmer, after April 1.

That's is worthwhile project, glad someone is doing it.

Carl

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

All the logs I have for my 41 BL-65 (NC-36296) start after the war with its' surplus sale. The story from a past owner was it was used on the mid-Atlantic coast as one of those "Dammed Cubs" that watched for U-boats. Along the way the Lyc was pulled and a Continental was put in (before it was sold back to the civilian market). I don't know if any of it is true, but I would love to get any history anyone has on my bird. She is back in original colors (Taylorcraft Ivory over Maroon) and the CAP three blade prop logo would look really pretty on the fuselage (and we could park with the P-51s at Oshkosh!).
Hank

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Hank;
If your plane was a sub-chaser (maybe an unarmed spotter version as most of the armed versions were Fairchilds&Howards) anyway send me your serial number.
This will take about a year to put together in all forms but we'd really like to find some old sub chasers. Interesting that the CAP were the only Civilians allowed in combat by the War Dept. (Merchant Marines actually weren't civilians
they had quasi-status so they could be repatriotated if they landed ashore in a neutral country like Spain or Mexico.) CAP was/were CIVILIANS -- We could have become illegal combatants. But we didn't serve overseas so our status would never be questioned. (hopefully those sub-chasers from Virginia wouldn't have been shot by New Jersey CAP -- being that the Civil Was was long over --lol)
I'm collecting this information for a big series of reunions...
perhaps... each state will make it's own decision. SO let me know. Send me a picture too. Thanks Hank!
With regards;
ED OBRIEN

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Story was the heaviest weapon carried was a side arm (.38s were lighter than the .45s)
The value of the T-craft sub chasers was they had a small radio to call in the DEs or Coast Guard Cutters, and they could keep the sub in sight (even when shallow submerged in clear water). A book I read said the U-Boat commanders feared the "Dammed Piper Cubs" more than the destroyers. They called any light plane "Piper Cubs" in the book. Light planes came up so fast and quiet that the subs couldn't dive fast enough, and the "Cubs" directed the destroyers in for the kill. Sonar wasn't as effective as a plane in shallow coastal waters. An old timer Master Chief when I first went in the Navy was a "Rubber Rocket" pilot (Navy Blimp) and he said if a light plane saw a sub he would be called in to stay over the sub and hold them down for the heavy killers. Even he didn't carry enough depth charges to be very effective.
I hope my plane has some history, but all I really have is all the logs are gone for the war years and hearsay stories from early owners.
Hank
1941 BL(C)-12-65 (built "L", converted to "C" in WW-II)
NC-36296
SN 3214

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

Hank;
According to my sources you got it right. Most WW2 sub attacks on the coast were made on the surface and at night -- standing out at sea the sub would wait for coastal merchant traffic to come between itself and the city lights of Boston, Savannah, or Miami. So... much of the fight was a mile or two seaward and very close to big cities with bright lights. Meaning, if the CAP subchasers could keep the Nazi's submerged all day -- there was a better chance they'd become quite predictable at night... on the surface -- 2 miles out -- pointing toward land -- following coastal sea traffic-- close to a city. That meant Destroyers had a better shot at sinking the Bosch and turning the tide. CAP actually sunk one of the Subs with a bomb. Many other sinkings were due to CAP daytime tracking, keeping the sub underwater and slow, interrupting sub attack sequences, and generally messing with anything the Sub Captain had in mind. If you'd like to see some pictures of subchasers go here:

http://www.caphistory.org/galleries/CAP%20categories/World%20War%20II/WWII%20Subchasers/index.html

With regards;
ED OBRIEN

[mikeg]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

I was contacted by the CAP out of Montgomery, Alabama about 10 years ago. They wanted to recognize me for restoration of one of their WWII CAP aircraft. They had no details of the aircraft's service durning the war, however. They gave me a nice plaque for mounting in the airplane.
DETAILS:
1941 BC12-65 DeLux
serial number: 2652
registration:NC 29804

[mikeg]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

I was contacted by the CAP out of Montgomery, Alabama about 10 years ago. They wanted to recognize me for restoration of one of their WWII CAP aircraft. They had no details of the aircraft's service durning the war, however. They gave me a nice plaque for mounting in the airplane and a letter of recognition.
DETAILS:
1941 BC12-65 DeLuxe
serial number: 2652
registration: NC 29804
current TTAF: 3986 hours
power: Continental A-65-8F

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Anyone own a former CAP Plane?

In 1941-43 or early 44 you couldn't get gas for an airplane and almost all the planes built went to Government service. I think 94% of all Luscombes, Tcrafts, Cubs, Aeroncas, etc. went to The Army, CAP, Civilian Pilot Training Program, National Defense Boards, etc. So if you got a prewar bird... likely it's a warbird too. Bs, Bls, Ls included. Check out yours and let me know. Sending my regards from the War Front... ED OBRIEN