Beaumont’s Civil Air Patrol in World War II (Images of Aviation)

Product Description

During World War II, Beaumont and Port Arthur were leaders in oil refining, which literally kept the Allied wheels moving toward victory. The Germans recognized the importance of Texas oil and sent submarines to sink American ships carrying the valuable cargo. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Coastal Base No. 10, located at the Municipal Airport in Beaumont, Texas, in 1942-1943, helped alleviate the submarine menace by logging over 14,000 hours in the air over the Gulf. CAP was unconventional. As a part of the Office of Civilian Defense, CAP’s members were civilians, many of whom were too old for the military. Other members owned airplanes or had experience flying to help go on missions patrolling the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico searching for enemy submarines or survivors of sub attacks. Although the men had training in military protocol, they remained civilians and often returned to their homes after completing their missions.

About the Author

Penny L. Clark, Special Collections librarian at Lamar University, is a native of Kansas. Her master’s thesis was titled Farm Work and Friendship: The German Prisoner of War Camp at Lake Wabaunsee. She has displayed her interest in the home front during World War II while working in three historical libraries in southeast Texas by creating exhibits and writing newspaper and journal articles.