Volunteers Serving America in Times of Need
Civil Air Patrol was conceived in the late 1930s by legendary New Jersey aviation advocate Gill Robb Wilson, who foresaw aviation's role in war and general aviation's potential to supplement America's military operations. With the help of New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, the new Civil Air Patrol was established on December 1, 1941, just days before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
The CAP insignia, a red three-bladed propeller in the Civil Defense white-triangle-in-blue-circle, began appearing on private aircraft everywhere. CAP initially planned only on liaison and reconnaissance flying, but the civilian group's mission expanded when German submarines began to prey on American ships off the coast of the United States and CAP planes began carrying bombs and depth charges."
A CAP crew first interrupted a sub attack on a flight out of Rehoboth Beach, saving a tanker off Cape May, N.J. Since radio calls for military bombers were often unproductive, unarmed CAP fliers dived in mock attacks to force subs to break and run.
The CAP coastal patrol flew 24 million miles, found 173 submarines, attacked 57, hit 10 and sank two. By Presidential Executive Order, CAP became an auxiliary of the Army Air Forces in 1943.
A German commander later confirmed that coastal U-boat operations were withdrawn from the United States "because of those damned little red and yellow airplanes."
In all, CAP flew a half-million hours during the war, and 64 CAP aviators lost their lives in the line of duty.
The U.S. Air Force was created as an independent armed service in 1947, and CAP was designated as its official civilian auxiliary the following year.
More information may be found here.
About Us The Rostraver Eagle Composite Squadron 605 received its Charter from the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, on June 9, 1996.
The unit began with several Korean War Veterans as a Senior Member Squadron.
The first Cadet was not eligible for membership due to his age, but attended meetings anyway. When he became of eligible age (12) he joined the unit.
In 1998 a change to the Charter through CAP National Headquarters was requested and we became a Composite Squadron.
(A Composite Squadron encompasses both Senior and Cadet programs)
Cadet membership grew over the years through word of mouth and various events 
such as Air Shows and Community events.
The most Cadets the squadon has had is 20 and the least was 10.
(There are currently 9 Senior Members and 8 Cadets assigned)
The squadron has been tasked with several real world missions such as search and rescue of missing / downed aircraft and searching for missing persons. This unit also participated in disaster relief assisting the victims of hurricane Katrina in Louisiana
The squadron had an aircraft assigned for about 6 months, but was transferred out due to CAP mission requirements.