UNITED STATES

TION ACT BENEFITS

FOR
MEMBERS
OF THE CIVIL AIR PATROL
HEARING
BaFORE
SUBCOMMITTEE
NO. 6 OF THE
COMMITTEE
ON EDUCATION
AND LABOR
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTIETH
CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON
H. R. 3673
A BILL TO EXTEND THE BENEFITS OF THE UNITED
STATES EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ACT OF
SEPTEMBER 7,1916, TO ACTIVE-DUTY MEM-
BERS OF THE CIVIL AIR PATROL,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
HEARING HELD AT WASHINGTON, D. C.
MAY 7, 1948
Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor
VzMTW SWAUS
GOVERNMENT PRINTIG OITIOD
7O6S
WASHINGTON : 1948
COMMITTEE~
ON EDiUCATION
AND
LABOR~
. RHV A! "ARTLY.
JR., NOW Jersey, 0alrmON1
OGRALD)
W. LANDIS,
Indiana
CLARE
&. HOFFMAN,
Michigan
EDWARD'O.
MCOWEN,
01hio
MAX SCHWAlSE
Mipouri
SAMUECL
K. MCCONNELL,
JR., Pennsjylvania
RALPH
W, GWINN.
New York
ELLSWORTH
S. BUCK,
NeW York
WALTER
E, BREHM,
Ohio
WINT SMITH, Kansas
CHARLES
3. XERS'iEN,
Wiseonaill
GEORGE
MACKINNON,
Minntsota
THOMAS
L, OWENO4,1
Ilos
CARROLL
D. KEARNS,
PenusYlvania,
RICHARD
M. NIXON,
California
W, MANLv
GRAH AM A. GARDEN,
Nortb Carolinat
AiUGUSTINE
a. KELLEY, PennsylAVAuis
o. C. FISHER, Texas
ADAM
C, POWELL,
3m., Now York
JOHN a. WOOD, Georgia
RAY 3. MADDEN,
Indians
ARTHUR
0, KLEIN,NoW
York
JOHN p, KEINNEDY,
MamuaaohuNett
WINGATS
It. LUCAS,
Texas
SugverAao, claA
SuRC)ommITTmm
No. 6,-UNTED
STATES
EMPLOYES'
COMPENSATION
COMMISSION
MAX
SCHWA910
Missouri,
c~helrvmaf
WINTSMITKa~aSAiUGUSTINE
a. KELLEY,
Pennsylvania
CHARLSIH
KaRsasWscni
0. C. FISHER, Texas
CARLLS I. KERTN, W1600y06a10
JOHN 5. WOOD, Georgia
RICHARD
M. IXON,
California
PsANK . MCA*SrapvoemI
8&
1'
1
CONTENTS
LIST OF WITNESSES
Pa'
Beau, Mal. Gen. Lucas V, national commander, Civil Air Patrol, Boiling
Field, Washinton, D. C ........ ......................... 9-11
Dawson Col. Robert E., Jr., national conmmander, Association of Civil Air
Patrol Veterans, Charlotte, N. C ------- _------- - ...... - --- 11-12
Mason, William D., member, Civil Air Patrol Board, Philadelphia Pa.... 18-19
Newcomb Col. Wallace D., Association of Civil Air Patrol Veterans,
Bryn Mawr, Pa ......................... .------- ........-.. 12-18
Ritchie, Capt, Dan F., Association of Civil Air Patrol Veterans, Charlotte,
N. C ............... ...............---- ------- ........ - 10 13-18
Short, Hon. Dewey, a Representative in Congress from the State oF
M issouri- . .. -.... ..... ................ ..................... 2-4
Witney, George W., judge advocate, Civil Air Patrol, Veterans' Adminis-
traton, Philadelphia, Pa. .............- 3-9, 10-11, 12, 13, 18, 19-20
INDEX
Beau, Maj. Gen. Lucas V. statement and testimony of ................ 9-11
Dawson, Col. Robert U., Jr., statement of .................... 11-12
Ewing Oscar R., Administrator, Federal Security Agency, letter to Hon.
Fred A. Hartley, Jr ..................-------------.............. 2-8
Excerpt from letter to Hon. Henry L, Stimson from Hon. Harold L. Ickes. 19
Hartley, Hon. Fred A., Jr., letter from Oscar R. Ewing, Administrator,
Federal Security Agency .......---------------- ------------ 2-3
H. R. 3678, by Hon. Dewey Short, of Missouri.------------------- I
Kersten, Hon. Charles J. acting chairman of the subcommittee, statement
relative to purpose of hearing .................................... I
Letter to-
Hartley, Hon. Fred A., Jr., from Oscar R. Ewing, Administrator,
Federal Security Agen-- ...................................... 2-3
Stimson Hon. Henry-L., from Hon. Harold L. Ickes, excerpt from .... 19
Mason, William D., statement of .................................... 18-19
Excerpt from letter to Hon. Henry L. StImson from Hon. Harold L.
Ickes .......------------------------------------------------ 19
Newcomb Col. Wallace D., statement of .......................... 12-13
Purpose of hearing, statement by Hon. Charles J. Kersten, acting chairman
of the subcommittee, relative to ...-............................... 1
Ritchle, Capt. Dan F., statement and testimony of ................. 10, 13-18
Short Hon. Dewey, statement of, relative to H. R. 3673 .......... . 2-4
it. R. 8678 ............................................... 1
Statement of Hon. Charles J. Kersten, acting chairman of the subcom-
mittee, relative to purpose of hearing .......------------------ I
Witney, George W., statement and testimony of... 8-9, 10-11, 12, 18, 18, 19-20
'Ix
.1
UNITED STATES COMPENSATION ACT BENEFITS FOR
MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL AIR PATROL
VRIDAT, MAY 7, 1948
Housic or REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR,
SUBCOMMITTEE No, 6-UNITED STATES
EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ACT
Wa/&Unton, b. 0.
The subcommittee met at 10 a. m, pursuant to call, in room 429,
Old House Office Building, Hon. ChaAes J. Kersten, acting chairman,
presiding
.
Mr. KERSTEN. The committee will come to order.
We have before us at this time H. R. 3673, a bill to extend the
benefits of the United States Employees' Compensation Act of Sep-
tember 7, 1916, to active-duty members of the Civil Air Patrol, and
for other purposes,
(The bill is as follows:)
IK . 8578, b0th Cong., 2d sem.]
A BILL ''o extend the benefits of the United Ste Employees' Compnnstion Act of September 7, 1916,
to sotiveduty membW of the Civil Air Patrol, and or other purpose
Hie it enaded by the Senate and Hfoue of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That (a) the Act entitled "An Act to provide com-
pensation for employees of the United States suffering Injuries while in the per-
formance of their duties, and for other Aurposes", approved September 7, 1916, as
amended (U. S. C., 1040 edition, title 5, sees. 71-791, 793), Is extended to persons
who shall have incurred injuries, including those resulting in death, after em
ber 7, 1941 while engaged as members of the Civil Air Patrol (an auxiliary of the
Army Air Forces) on active duty, or in authorized travel to or from such active
duty. Any compensation payable by reason of the enactment of this Act shall be
based on an assumed monthly pa of $150.
(b) When a claim is filed, the Bureau of Employees' Compensation shall notify
the commanding general of the Civil Air Patrol, who shall Investigate and certify
the facts with respect to (1) the injury, (2) the injured person's membership i.
the Civil Air Patrol at the time of injury, and (3) whether or not he wa engaged
on active duty as a member of the CivilAIr Patrol (an auxiliary of the Army Air
Forces) or in authorized travel to or from such active duty. For injuries incurred
before the date of enactment of this Act, the necessary notices and claims may be
given or filed within a year ol such date.
S.c. 2. Any person who hall have contracted sickness or incurred injury after
December 7, 1941, while engaged on active duty as a member of the Civil Air
Patrol (ait auxiliary of the Army Air Forces) or In authorized travel to or from
such active duty shall be entitled to hospitalization and medical and surgical
treatment on the same basis and subject to the same rules as a person of corre-
sponding grade and length of service in the Army Air Forces of the Regular Army.
Szo. .-Nothing in s Act shall affect the military status of any person.
Mr. KERSTEN. Mr. Short, author of H. R. 3673, is present.
Mr. Short, it is a pleasure to have you here. You may proceed
with whatever statement you wish to make.
2 BERNrFITS FOR 11EWIE.,Is OF CIVIL AIR PATROL
STATEMENT OF HON. DZWRY SHORT, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGREO FROM THI SEVINTN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Of THE STATE OF MISSOURI
Mr. SHORT. Thank you. Mr. Chairman; I am sorry more members
of the committee are not present, There is not much that I can say
about this bill except to express my own personal individual apprecia-
tion for the mn4rvolous contribution which members of the Civil Air
Patrol rendered during the war. These men, out of unselfish patriot-
ism, gave of their time and money, flying their own planes, risking
their lives, runnin great hazards, to help at a most critical time par.
ticularly when the Uerman U-boats were at the height of their activity.
You will recall that 54 of the 59 tankers that carried oil-which is
the lifeblood of modern mechanized warfare-54 out of the 59 tankers
were sunk, They carried that oil from Venezuela, Aruba, and Cura.
cao. I visited those referies myself.
The Civil Air Patrol carried on reconnaissance work, and they even
engaged in combat, I think they sank at least two submarines.
Now, why in the name of common sense and just downright decency
should not these men, who received injuries in live of duty or during
their operational efforts-why should they not be compensated on
the ridiculously low base of $150 a month? There were about 5,000
of them who worked during the war. They are still doing a good job
and will continue to do it.
I was fortunate enough to be graciously invited by their organiza.
tion to attend their banquet last year, It really would be educational
and helpful, I think, if every Member of Congress attend their annual
meeting.
I have followed this program. This is a very modest bill. I don't
think it will cost the taxpayers too much money, and it seems to me
the least we could do is to give them respectable recognition for their
unselfish patriotic services.
I do not know as I need say anything further, I am for it on the
basis of sheer merit.' I think the bill can speak louder than any
individual. It speaks for itself.
Mr. McARTHWR.
Mr. Chairman,
I have here a letter from the
Federal Security Agency that I think Congressman Short should see.
Mr. KitsTeN. It will go in the record at this point.
(The letter is as follows:) F
Ron. Piao A. HARTLY,
Jr.,
Washington,
May 6, 1948,
Chairman, Commiane on Mducaion and Labor,
Iouse of Representatiee#, WasAington, ). 0.
DUAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This letter Is in respeos to an oral request of April 0,
1948, from Mr. Albert Reiman, assistant clerk of your committee, for a report on
H. R. 8673 a bill to extend the benefits of the United States EmployeW Com.
ation Act of September 7, 1916, to active-duty members of the Civil Air
Patrol, and for other purposes.
The bill would extend to members of the Civil Air Patrol the b6nefite of the
United States Employees' Compensation Act of September 7 1910, as amended,
in the event of injury or death while on active duty or In authio~rd travel to or
from such duty.
The bU is similar in purpose to other legislation enacted at various times
making applicable the act of September 7 1910 to certain groups who though
not civl! employees of the United Ett ardtherefore not eligible for bea undoa
said act, nevertheless perform services and functions for the benefit of the United
BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF CIVIL AIR PATROL 8
States. Of such character was the act of February 19, 1941, as amended Sep.
tember 30, 1944 exen ding the bmefits of the Compensation Act to temporary
members of the tost Guard Auxiliary.
The provision in the bill fixing the "monthly pay" of the injured member at
an arbitrary figure for compensation purposes (the bill provides for an assumed
monthly pay of $150) is appropriate. Since compensation is based upon monthly
pay, and in view of the fact that the members of the Civil Air Patrol receive no
Pay, there would otherwise be no basis upon which to compute the compensation
Benefits,
It is noted that the bill makes no provision for the date of accrual of benefits.
The addition of another section to the bill providing In substance as follows is
recommended for the consideration of the committee:
"No compensation for injury or death shall accrue In the case of any such
member for any period prior to the date of approval of this act, but this provision
shall not bar the payment or reimbursement of medical and other expenses as
authorized by sections 9 and 11 of said act of September 7, 1916, as amended, if
not otherwise paid or furnished by the United States."
Section 2 of the bill provides that any person incurring "sickness or Injury"
while engaged in active duty or travel to or from duty shall be entitled to hoa.
pitalizaton and medical and surgical treatment on the same basis as persons of
corresponding grade and length of service in the Army Air Forces of the Regular
Army. The necessity for the Inclusion of this section Is not clear to us since all
necessary hospitalization and medical and surgical treatment can be furnished
under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act through the use of United States
medical officers and hospitals.
We would infer that the terth "injuries" in line 8, page 1, of the bill Includes
disease proximately caused by the conditions of the service as well as so-called
personal injuries as does the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. The
phrase contractedd sickness or Incurred injury" In section 2 of the bill, however,
throws some doubt on this inference.
The members of the Civil Air Patrol and their dependents have been specifically
covered under the civilian war benefits program with respect to injury or death
occurring on or before April 20, 1945. On that date coverage with respect to
future injuries or deaths of civilian defense workers (including the Civil Air
Patrol) as a special class was terminated. Benefits are being paid at present
under that program to the dependents of 'approximately 33 members who lost
their lives and to 4 members who were injured. The continuation of these bene-
fits beyond June 30, 1948, would depend upon a renewal of the appropriation and
authorization for the next fiscal year. Should the bill be enacted, the civilian
war benefits payable under this program with respect to members of the Civil
Air Patrol who were Injured or died before April 21, 1945, would have to be ter-
minated in order to avoid duplication of benefits.
This report has not been submitted to the Bureau of the Budget In view of the
urgency of the request for the report, and hence I am unable to advise whether
Ii. I. 678 would be in accord with the program of the President.
Sincerely yours, 09AR. EwNo, Adminisl'eor.
Mr;."'Sou. The bill makes no provision for the date of accrual
benefits. That is true. Nor is there any termination date. It is to
help not merely during the war but anyone that will be injured hence.
forth, for all time.
Mr. WImvsY. On active duty.
Mr. SnoRT. This is permanent legislation.
Mr. WITNmY. The present registration of the Civil Air Patrol is
115,000. But only 5,000 served in active duty during the war, of whom
about 56 lost their lives, and less than 100 were injured.
But this has no termination date in the way it is written at the
present time.
Mr. KvnscTr. What do you think about that, Mr. Short? Do you
think it should have a termination date in it?
Mr. Seen'r. No. I think that this organization existed before the
war# during the war, and it still exists, and they are carrying on very
good work.
4 BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF CIVIL AIt PATROL
Mr. WTNny. IArgely educational at the present time, Mr. hair-
man, and that is why we want benefits only when they ate injured
while on active duty.
Mr. SHORT. It simply provides hospitalization, medical and
surgical treatment for only those who are injured in line of duty.
Mr. WITNzy. That is right.
Mr. SHORT. I would not want this thing to blow up like a balloon,
Mr. WIryY. We have no thought of anything of that kind, We
are primarily Interested in those on active du1ty an(Id )artictillarly t hose,
who % ere o6 acti e duty during th.t war.
Mr. SHORT. Congress could, of course, changee that at any time.
Nir. WITNY. As to the Federal Security Agency set-tup, the widows
and orphans of the men who were killed and injured are not receiving
benefits under the Federal Security A 1ency but through an appropria-
tion which was made last year which, will expire on June 30 of this
year.
If nothing is dote by Congress and that Civilian Witt' Powers Act
is not continued, these people will be without assistance, We want,
if possible, to have this act put through so as to pick it, up) on June :30,
when these people will be out front under the control of the Federal
Security Agency.
Mr. kfUSsTtN. Are there any questions of Mr. Short?
Mr. FISHRn. No.
Mr. WITNHv. Conlgressmtan Short, we are Very grateful to you for
appearing for ts.
Mr. Snort,. It is a pleasure. The only trouble with these fellows
is that they kill you with kindness.
Mr. KIRSTEN. It has been a pleasure and honor to have had you
here; Mr. Short.
Mr. SHoUr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Fisher.
Let us pass this bill. It deserves it. You amy want to amend it
slightly. ,, e'u
Mr. KIiSTR.N. We will give it very serious consideration.
Mr. SHORT. I am sure you will do that.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE W. WITNEY, JUDGE ADVOCATE, OML
AIR PATROL, VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION, PHIMADELPHIA,
PA.
Mr. WITNEY. My name is George W. Witney. - I am Judge ad-
vocate
of the Civil
Air Patrol
and I reside
in Philadelphia,
'Pa.
We have no desire to prolong the hearing any longer than you
desire to secure information. But we have men here from out of
town who would like to say a word or two.
I might say that this billhas been patterned after a bill adopted by
Congress In 1934 for the aid of the people who worked in the Coast
Guard Auxiliary. The reason the Civil Air Patrol is being taken care
of at this late date is that it started so early that it really was in
existence before Pearl Harbor.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary started several months after that, and
they were able to get it started with the proper legislative enactments
so as to take care of the various d6tails of status and things of that
kind.
BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF CIVIL Alit PATROL 5
The Civil Air Patrol started right after the defense program wits
inaugurated
and became it part of the Office of Civil itn Defense
Activities before 1'earl Harbor. There were a great many men who
had planes.and who were civilian flyers Who felt that they might
render aid to the Government in the situation and they ban( ed
together in various local groups and finally became a unit of the Office
of Civilian Defense,
Before Pearl Harbor Major General Curry of the Air Force was
delegated to advise with these groups and he' did, very ably. Then
as of December 8 he was wade national commander of the Civil Air
Patrol as a unit of the Office of Civilian Defense.
Following that period the Civil Air Patrol went into a perifcl of
vel active organization work and training, and these groups in the
various States--practically
every State hafa unit.-.were ready for all
kinds of missions and services for any branch of the Government,
They did a great deal of courier work and guarding and tracking mis-
sions and things of that kind, and until the spring of 1942, when the
question of possibly operating patrols along the coast was first in-
augurated.
We have here today the man who really started that., lie represents
the oil industries who were losing so many boats along the coast.
He knew of these planes that were available.
Mr. KIJORSTION. Which coast?
Mr. WITNEY. The Atlantic seaboard.
Mr. Mason, who is here today, will speak to you briefly and tell you
about the situation which developed thle Civil Air Patrol as a coastal
patrol operation.
From that point on we then engaged as active military units and
we functioned under the Office of Civilian Defense, but we were sent
out on orders from the Army and Coast Guard and Navy units at
whatever locality we were in.
Some 20 bases were set up along the Atlantic seaboard and along
the border between Mexico and the United States, These were
fully equipped by the civilians who had these planes. They oper-
ated under military direction and a man from the Air Force was in
charge of these various operations as national commander.
That work really drove the submarines away from the coast. Now
these men went out on small planes, they were just single-engine
civilian planes, and they went out 25 to 50 miles from land and then
started their patrols up and down from the point from which they
came out from the shore.
They worked in pairs. They had radio-controlled communication
with the shore, and they acted as a ceiling over all of the work that
was done on the coast. These men went out several times a day
and they were equipped with bombs under the planes so that when they
spotted a submarine they might do whatever they could, in addition
to communicating to the Regular Army and Navy units that were
then operating in a rather brief manner. And they did succeed in
driving the submarines from the Atlantic seaboard.
Those men never got any money from the Government. They
got a subsistence allowance., They did get a $3,000 insurance policy
while they were working in that capacity. But their opportunities
of saving themselves in case of a failure of their engines was very
slight. We lost 56 men in those operations.
75880-48----2
BENEFITS FOR MEMBIRS5 OF CIVIL AIR PATROL
Mr. KEISTEN. Over how many years?
Mr. WITNICY. Over a period of about a year and a half of actual
coastal patrol duty, and some wore lost later when they were pitt on
towing missions and duties of that kind. But during tile period of
World War It some 5$6 men were lost, Several were injured. I
think the letter that you have from the Federal Security Agency will
tell you how many are now receiving benefits.
This is only. to take (-are of the men who were injured and the
widows and orphans of those who lost their lives. We have here two
of the flyers who were on those missions and can tell you in a brief
manner 4ll the details of the work they did.
Eventually We were assigned by Presidential order to the Army Air
Forces and we have since tlhat time been under the jurisdiction of the
Army Air Forces.
We function as a civilian group now, doing educational work.
Major General Beau, who is now the national commander, being a
major general in the Air Force, will tell you exactly what the units
are doing now and the attitude of the national office on that.
The thing that I am anxious to bring out to you is that we have
different types of service that we have been giving. Those whom we
are trying to protect in our particular action here today are the
widows and or-phans and injured men-men who were injured on
active duty-anl the widows and orphans of those who were killed
while on active duty.
The large bulk of the membership are civilians who help in any way
they can to promote civil aviation. There is no thought at al that
any men in that particular category-cadets and the broad group of
ciilians--would ever benefit under this, unless they arc assigned to
active duty by the Air Force and actively engage in it.
In this particular case these men were out on active, offensive
combat and those assignments in every case were made from the
Army or the military forces with which they were cooperating. So
here are people who were injured or lost their lives under military
orders as against the fact that we have several hundreds of thousands
of people who are not doing that kind of work.
All -we are asking is that we pattern our bill after the bill that was
adoptel tv help the temporary members of the Reserve force in the
Coast Guard. That bill was passed September 30, 1944.
Mr. KvHSTru. What is the number of that bill?
Mr. WI'TNEY. Public Law 448 of the Seventy-eighth CongressA,
chapter 449 of the second session: H. R. 3704 of that session. The
wording of our bill is substantially the same as thit.
We ar, not getting the benefits to the full extent that the members
of the Coast "Guard ,reC etting them, Those men on the Coast
Guard were doing wonderful duty but they weren't beginning to do
the kind of service that the men n the Civil Air Patrol did.
Our work was out over the water on a landplane at a time when the
Government had very few planes of any kind, and except for the
availability of these planes and the men who were willing to fly them,
mostly over the military age, the Gdvornment would have been
handicapped.
Mr. KERSTEN. How many planes were iii use during that period
of time?
BENEFITS FORt MEMBER$t OV CIVIL AliR PATRitOL 7
Mr, W iTNyv. At each base there were about 24 planes and there
were some 26 bases established, I would say between 500 and 600
planes.
Mr. KlutsTriN. l)id thlat cover the Atlantic seaboard?
Mr. WITN;S. And the border.
Mr. KuisTrEN. And the Il'acifc?
Mr, WIrNv. ]it some cases. In tie Paeflc the situation wits
slightly different because of Pearl labor, burwe did have oUti units
oil thle Pacific coast,
Mr. KI0utsITi It wits mor or less o t intriated on tli eastern
coast?
Mr. WITNiY. That is right. Wo did not have a stibtiarite ninnc
there that we couhl cover, We did cover the Gulf coast, too.
We Were c'edited with spotting it great talty suintairines al1d put-
ting the limited number of uiiits (if tile Army and Coast OiGart on
notice that, they were there. We had a Very Intricate sys telli of teoe-
trpe conuilltiiatioii between the bases so that we cotihIget itiforini-
ton to the land proiitly froin these radio telephones that we h1d ill
tile planes.
I do not wait to go luty further unless you have sonit quie i!,OII.
I alti trying to give you just a bare outline. We have placed oil yourti
desk a book of the CiVil Air Patrol. It Wits prepared by the itreiau
of Public Information of the Air Forces, and tolls a story ill a typical
narrative forin of the formation and general operations of tile Civil
Air Patrol,
If you are interested in what is happening as to the Federal Sec1urity
Agency we can give you schedules of what these people are getting
now, if there is anything else you would like to have, we will be
glad to get it for you.
If you have no questions that you care to ask me, I would like to
introduce next Ma or General Beau, and then introduce to you the
national commander of the Veterans Association of tile Civil Air
Patrol, and two of tle fliers, and Mr. Mason, who represented, like
I do, members of the civilian body who helped these boys in their work.
I am here just as a representative of that group of civilians who backed
these men tip.
Mr. KmIsTmN. Would you like to ask any questions, Mr. Fisher?
Mr. Fisrml. Mr. Chairman, I would like to say that I represent a
district in Texas along the Mexican border and not so far from the
Gulf coast. I am generally familiar with the fine work that the Civil
Air Patrol did during the war, a very highly hazardous type of work,
and most necessary during an emergency when we had no other place
to turn for that sort of assistance.
Is the principal purpose of this legislation to take care of the situa-
tions that arose (luring tile war rat.ier than the future?
Mr. WITNEY. Yes, sir. If an amendment is necessary to limit it to
that, we are willing to accept that kind of an amendment. On the
other hand, we don't know when an emergency of the same type
may arise again, and if these people are protected you are going to get
much more prompt action from the members of tie Civil Air Patrol
to volunteer for active duty, knowing that their families will be
protected to this extent. Every man who went into the service went
in from just pure patriotism. lie got no money; he got a subsistence
8 BENWrITS FOR MEMBERS OF CIVIL AIR PATROL
allowance. He had no assurance outside of the $3,000 insurance that
his wife or family would ever be helped in any way. It has been taken
care of by Presdential appropriations and this civilian war benefits
pro cam which has been~renewed year by year.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary, which caine into existence long after
we did, and which rendered a service on the land, largely.--their
people are taken care of. Why should not our people be taken care
of when we rendered a great deal better service without any comnen-
sation, much more hazardous and long before they did? We don't
want our people to be put in a-a embarrassing positio-a. All we are
asking for is some recognition of that kind for these people.
I sm certainly glad that you are familiar with our service. I hope
yoj w1l tell the rest of the committee. We have to work rather rapidly
on this because this other appropriation expires on June 30, and unless
this gets through the House and the Senate, and is approved before
that time, it Is very apt to lapse.
Mr. Fisrnnt. After all, this represents a comparatively small ex-
penditure; does it not?
Mr. WITNEY. Yes, sir; indeed.
Mr. Fisnsn. Only a limited number of claimants are involved.
Mr. WITNY. Yes. And it is backed by so many civilians who have
no thought of getting anything for their time and service at all.
Mr. KsussTrI, I would like to ask a question somewhat along the
same line.
As I understand it now this bill provides for benefits to widows and
orphans and also to people who were injured-men who were Injured
during the period from what?
Mr. WITNEY. The bill itself starts in December 7 1941, including
those resulting in death after December 7, 1941. TLere is no termi-
nation date.
Mr. KoISTEN. No termination date?
Mr. WITNEY. No, sir.
Mr. KIRSTzN. And the limitation as to those who are included is
the limitation that they must have served under the direction of the
armed forces?
Mr. WITNEY, They must have been in active duty. There is a
wide distinction between that and active duty. I doubt if we have
any men on active duty right now in the large membership. The
active duty we are talking about is when the Government asks
periodically for men to volunter for tracking missions or rescue
operations of some type. That may be just for a day. That would
be the kind of active duty.
Mr. KERsTEs. Active duty under the direction of the armed forces?
Mr. WiTmNmy. Under the direction and at the request of the armed
forces.
Mr. KzRsTzN. And it is your idea that there should be no limita-
tion so far as time is concerned, but when there is any active duty
under the direction of the armed forces you should get these benefits.
Mr. WTNEy. Yes. I think you will get much more enthusiastic
response. Not that I do not get it now, but the men are taking risks
that they should not be asked to take when they are not fully pro,
tooted.
Mr. KiUwSN. How many members are there on the Civil Air
Patrol? v ,
BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF CIVIL AIR PATROL 9
Mr. WrrtNCY. Major General Beau could give you that information.
The active-duty men, of course, ar just the individual oases.
Mr. KEsflTN. Thank you very much, Mr. Witnoy.
Mr. WxTsv. I would like to introduce Major General Beau, the
national commander, and a member of the Army Air Forces.
STATIMENT OF MAI. GEN. LUCAS V. DEAU, NATIONAL COM-
MANDER, OML AIR PATROL, BOLLING $1LD, WASHINGTON,
D. 0
Mr. KNUSTEN. Please state your full name.
General BBAu. Gen. Lucas V. Beau, national commander of the
Civil Air Patrol.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to tell you that I have only boon with
thigh organization a little over 6 months, when I returned from Europe
after 3 years over there,
I reported in to the Air Forces and was told that I was to be the
national commander of the Civil Air Patrol, of which I knew nothing,
since I was not in this country.
I 'became enthusiastic about the organization that does a job for
nothing. They asked for nothing. They used their own planes,
They gave up their time and effort and they gave up their lives for
their country. They got nothing out of it. They lost about 100 of
their planes and, altogether, through the years that they worked
through the Air Force, they lost 50 lives.
Mr. FISHER. In cases where planes were lost did they get any
restoration or compensation for that as their own personal loss?
General BOAUY. Not from the Government.
Mr. Fisntn. None whatever?
General BEAU. They just lost them. They were out.
I personally feel I am not too familiar with this bill. I have known
about it for the past 2 or 3 months. I knew it was in Congress, but
that was all.
In my own opinion I feel that these people should get something,
their widows and those that were injured and are unable to carry on
to make a living.
I do not know the opinion of the Air Force as a whole, what they
thnk, but that is my option working with a fine bunch of people,
and they are wor king today. Even today we call them out for search
and rescue missions where an airplane is lost; not only an Army plane,
but civilian planes, transports, air liners.
Mr. FIsmiR. Is that about the extent of the present active service
they are in-looking for lost planes?
General BEAu. That is right. They have other activities. Of
course, they have this trmendotis program for the cadets which I
think is one of the finest things in this country because we are bringing
up a busch of young people; we are keeping them off the street, we
are keeping their minds active, and we are certainly cutting down on
juvenile delinquency, and I think this country needs a lot of good
Americans.
I really believe that this Civil Air' Patrol is one of the finest
organizations that we have, It can certainly indoctrinate the people
of this country, and be one of the greatest assets to us for peace.
Mr. KxnsTEx. How many members does the Civil Air Patrol have?
t0 UlN'Ei'l'I' FORl MI-NOISi OF CIVIL, Alit l'AT1101i
00110-41 lI.~Au. WO1V0e haeOi reordI a4Ilut 12'2P00.
Mr. IREI~'lN, flow 11ilally iplalles ha1vo beent u1volveol?
Oeneral ihtAll. 'We 4i(0 try ig to get that" right tiow, Nil-, Chair.
mani. We don't, know exat ly how many phowes we do halve,
Mr'. KHASTriXs itoughlv, (1,61ld YOU give US HoIon' ideat?
011neral1 IhIY, 1. (10co1l1 not sily roughly becallso a lot, of thf'mn are
Ilot flying 10w, but th('y Ill-% used I1.1 round officers. We; are trying
to et, that in. I jiresumne We have about 4,000) planes.
NI r.% IHROTsN . Wilit Woild Id hiLlIt fiv( 11olley of netivti du1ty Ilmider
the direction of the Arm~y Air l"or(4'? Would you, for ('Xtlilple, be
likely to have, almost, any 11o01h, SeveraIl Such~l 0ptIMI~Oi?
Genei'arl h:& Well, df ('olml'ii, ii Ii iLe oliroli and( rescue, NMr. Chair-
lili, Your winter monthsi ar~e thle nioii1thli that they are genlerlly out.
.hle waty It, is Hilt, ill) t0W thei nearetCuit(wl I) allby the
Air Tiinsport Conumai ( wh uchi are charged over all Un i t~od 14tates,
territory with seatrch itid l't'iellc. Tlhal, iS their job.,
They have nine dii'isions. whlich, atre separatted and Hot out OvoI'
mtrategie, points in the cougiti'v, ATC will call on CAlP, the nearestOl
unlit. Wher a0- It S oSt9, Or where it. wats latst heard of, 101(1 they will
tell theml hiow many phtumes to send out anid Where to go. Anit that
will be when1 they atre lled Out onl native dutty.
Nilr. K asiinw, Anything further?
Mr. IiSnsR, There. were A601 10elo4 inli 110Of du1ty ill the1 Civil
Air Patrol tlur'iig tlie waxl?
General BNAU. Y'eS, Sir.
Mr. lamjm, i. Inaitiolm there Were at ntinile Injuredl, I believe
General BNAIT, Yes.
Mr. Fisimm. t)o you have thle figure?
General BNAV. 1 (10 not have thei figure onl the injured.
Mr. KERS'rxmN. DO Anly Of Toil have tile figure?
Mr. WITNEY. 1L0ss than A likin)11eI.
Mr. Fisnuum. Then clis would, under thle ternis of this bill, be
pretty well limited to those imijured and these that weore lost.
General BEAv. That is right. During that period.
Mr. Fistmit, Comprising -less tia 200 altogether, in claims.
Mr. WITNECY, Thle Federal Security Agency can tell you tile exact
number of dependents of men who lost their lives who tire receiving
benefits now. I don't think there atre very many. I think there are
less than So receiving benefits, including wives and chilren.
Mr. KERSTEiq. Another question I would like to ask! General.
Do you or any of you other gentlemlen know how many
1
injuries or
deaths, if .inyr, there have been since the termination of tie war?
General BEAU. 1, do not know, sir.
Mr. KERETEN. Do any of you gtintlemietf know the answer to that
question?
Mr. WITNEY. None that I know of.
Mr. KEmtsTiN. Were all of these 5o (deaths andl these injuries (lur-
ing tile war period?
M.1r. WITNEY. Yes, Sir'.
Captaini RJTCHJE. That was not Just due to (lying of sickness.
That was due to injuries.
Mr. MAsoN. Twenty-six were lost at seat.
Mr. WITNEY. There have been no injuries or- deathss since
BNEFITS FOR WINMBRIIS O1 CIVIL AIR PATROL ]]
(leel i BEAtU, Twenty-six have ieen lost over the water, ''ho.
diflereltee 1tetweeit 261 and 5r, 01 R0, were lost oil coul-ler service, tow
target, towing, re0scI(e miiots1, alli oil thi bor(de'r patrol,
Mr. KIlOtl'ri'N, 'rilt wIold stee( to itditiate that tle otily real
hazard here woul(l be drinIrig wartime.
(l-1ral IIAII, That iN right,,
Mr. K1it0l0,N, Aid thit active (Iduty, ill peae Iiti, s101 its You
have had oil a s ial til(1t1'e sine tll' war, would t'oiiti It a negligi-
ble 1isk ar1d tOer wold rot, be aty ral teagolt why the ),otction
should rIot eaarry through th piotel,,tile likewise,
M 1r, WI'TINmY That is righi,
M r. K Nlts'lN. Anything furtlr ?
M r, Fl4islmnt. That is all,
M I' KItIWsrNN. Tha1( yoU, geritlerirr
NI r. WI'TNN, I WoIIId 11(-Xil 111W to itod(Il(e (o010hi4- 1 )Iwsoi,
STATEMENT OF COL. ROBERT E. DAWSON, JR., NATIONAL
COMMANDER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL AIR PATROL
VETERANS
Colonel I)AWSON. My nahme is Col, Itobert Edward J)awson, -Jr. I
am the national commander of the Association of Civil Air Putrol
Veterans. My address is box 343, Charlotte, N, C.
Active duty assignments were given to CAP flyers and airplane
personnel in TFebruaty 1042 to patrol coastal sea hae. '1 hse melt,
uniformed as Army personnel, flying civil ian-owne(,d land plans,
equipped in most cases with boml;s, maintained activey patrols over
these Jultos in combat (dity from 25 to 100 miles beyond the Territorial
waters of the United States, scouting for enemy stbmarines, survivors
of torpedoes ships and convoying Abmp groups.
They acted under orders from the Utitted States Army Air Force
Antisubmarine Command in cooperation with the Navy anti Coast
Guard until the submarine menace was removed.
In addition, similar CAP inits were organized to patrol the Mexican
)order, to conduct special courier service for the Government offices,
tow targets for training antiaircraft units, and operate special express
service for the Government over the mountainous regions of the far
West.
Thirty-seven men lost their lives in the coastal patrol work, approx-
imately 15 on the Army air express service and approximately 14 in
the tow target antiaircraft work.
The oath' and orders under which these men worked, the routine
by which they were exposed, were identical in every respect with the
oath, or(lers, routine, and dangers of regular active seirvicemen. These
units were ordered:
To patrol coastal shipptig lanes am directed during daylight hours for the
purpose of protecting friendly shipping and of locating and- reporting enemy
submarines, enemy warships, or suspicious craft, and to take action as equipment
permits in destruction of enetay submarines; to conduct such special antisub-
marine missions as are director, by Headcquarters Army Air Force Antisubmarine
Command.
Pursuant to like direction of the Army Air Force Antisubmarine
Command, the aircraft of the Civil Air Patrol were equipped with
100-pound fragmentation bombs and/or 250-pound or 325-pound depth
12 BENEFITS FOR MUSUERS OF CXVIL AIR PATROL
charges. The patrols flew some 24,000,000 miles over the ocean and
are credited with spotting 173 enemy submarines and attacking 57
submarines. Civil Air Patrol is offieially credited with sinking or
damaging two enemy submarines in addition to those sunk by the
Army or Navy called to the scene by the Civil Air Patrol aircraft.
M'r. KERST10N. Thank you, Colonel Dawson.
Mr. WITNY. I would like next to introduce Colonel Wallace D.
Newcomb, whois one of the fliers. He might be able to answer any
of the questions you have about the fliers, He is also one of the
officers of the Veterans Association. He is from Philadelphia. I
forgot to tell you that Colonel Dawson is from North Carolina.
Mr. KEHSTN. Will you state your full name?
STATEMENT OF COL. WALLACE D. NEWCOMB, ASSOCIATION
OF CIVIL AM PATROL VETERANS
Colonel NEwcoMp, My name is Wallace D. Newcomb and my
address is Box 529, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Mr. Chairman, the only reason for my appearing at all before this
committee is that I was one of the pilots on this operation. It takes
my mind back to when we started out over the ocean.
I recall being surprised at the time at how little there was. There
was nothing out over our coastal waters in the way of Air Force pro-
tection. We were amazed to find at the initiation of operations that
the German submarines were out there. They were out there in
large numbers. But what was more surprising was that the day after
we started operating the German submarines started to disappear.
Initially they went elsewhere. We started a base at Atlantic City,
another one at Rehoboth, and the submarines that liaq been operating
in sight of the boardwalk disappeared and went farther south.
Later they went north. And by the time we got through chasing
them all up and down the eastern seaboard and around the Gulf and
down to Texas and the border of Mexico we had these 26 bases that
Mr. Witney has told you about.
I cannot convey to you the feeling of flying over that ocean. Most
people that have done it cannot. But I can tell you about what
happens.
You are flying single-engine land aircraft, out of sight of land, over
water. An aircraft engine, no matter how you maintain it, ulti-
mately fails. Most of us that have flown enough have had one or
more 'forced landings. On land you pick your spot and you land
there. Over the ocean you pick your wind and all you have a choice
of is the direction in which to land. We found that the airplanes that
we lost sank in less than 5 minutes; some in 2 minutes.
Most of us have had the experience of seeing the other fellow in the
ocean. We have had the experience of having to try to rescue him.
In the wintertime you could hardly do it. So we lost a few. Not
many, when you stop and think of it. For 24,000,000 miles of flying
we lost about 1 per million miles But that hazard was there.
I remember seeing our own boys in the ocean., I remember also
some that carried other personnel. And here is something'that you
might consider. We carried Army personnel, we carried Government
employees. We lost some of those as well.
BENEFITS VOR MEMBERS OF CIVIL AIR PATROL 13
The Army personnel were taken care of, and in case of loss, their
widows and orphans, by the usual procedure that you have for taking
care of lost military personnel on active duty. The civilian personnel
that we carried were likewise taken care of under the Employees'
Compensation Act. We have cases-Gordon Pyle was one-where
the airplane went down, both pilot and, in that case, the Army officer
accompanying him were lost, and the ones who were never taken care
of were the widow and orphan of Gordon Pyle.
Mr. FISHER. Of course, the Army officer was taken care of under
other laws.
Colonel NnwcoMH, Yes. Of courfie, the Army officer would be
taken care of.
Mr. FisHEi. But the man piloting the plane-
Colonel NEwcoME. The man piloting the plane, for some reason or
other, because he is doing it as a patriotic thing, even though he is
doing it on the same orders that took the Army man there, was never
taken care of. That is the thing that we see here. We have no way
of taking care of it and yet we feel responsible.
As we operated this thing these people operated, true, on orders
from the Army. Those orders came down through us. We per-
sonally, the operators of .these bases, were transferring those orders,
the order to Gordon Pvle, the order to the boys that went into the
ocean, they came directly from us operating the base. When we our-
selves went out over the ocean it was the same way, the order came
down directly from our Government.
Now what we see here is that if the Government is going to use
its civilian-trained men in different categories, a category of armed
forces, a category of employees, and a category of people who for some
reason or other cannot be compensated, you should not distinguish
to the detriment of those who are operating without compensation.
That point has been seen, I think, at the Presidential level inasmuch
as the President somehow has taken care of it on a purely temporary
basis. It has been seen in the case of the Coast Guard Reserve and
has been taken care of by permanent legislation.
Having stated it that way I for the life of me cannot see why there
should be any problem at all here. But I have been up against this
enough now t realize that you run into people that simply cannot
comprehend the thing. I apologize for taking so long. And I say
again, the only excuse for it is that I was there and I saw it happen.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. KERSTrx. Thank you, Colonel Newcomb. That was a very fine
statement.
Mr. WITNEY. I would next like to introduce Capt. Dan Ritchie,
also a pilot. He flew on the North Carolina coast, and had the same
sort of experiences as Mr. Newcomb.,
STATEMENT OF CAPT, DAN F. RITCHIE, ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL
AIR PATROL VETERANS
Captain RITCHIE. My name is Dan F. Ritchie. My address is Box
343, Charlotte, N. C.
I would like to speak for those of us that did as I did, the pilots
and those who accepted, those hazards out over the ocean. If during
14 BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF CIVIL AIR PATROL
the course of my remarks I may seem a little immodest at times it is
done to more clearly bring out what happened on the duties of the
coastal patrol bases.
The first thing I would like to make perfectly clear and frequently
it has been misunderstood: It has been stated that the boys own their
own planes. Many of them did. But many of them could not
afford such ownership and flew other planes that belonged to other
people. They were garage mechanics common laborers, policemen,
and practically from every walk in lie that reported for duty, and
those men consisted of such men as had, you might say, been bitten
by the flying bug and were able, through their own efforts-or had
been able through their own efforts to learn to fly an airplanti.
Consequently they were not and still are not financially able to take
care of themselves should their injuries become worse and should they
need hospitalization, they frankly are unable to care for themselves.
It is my opinion that half of the men that were lost, their families
were likewise unable, and are still unable, to take care of themselves.
When we first reported to duty we were under the Office of Civilian
Defense. It was represented to us at the time that we were to partici-
pate in patrol activity and with two-way radio and traveling in
pairs, we were to report hack by two-way radio, what we saw and what
we found.
The destruction of such, or the taking care of whatever might be out
there, would then be a part of the armed services. Upon reporting to
the base we were required to take a very comprehensive oath, a little
more comprehensive, I believe, than that assumed by the members of
the armed services. We were told in no uncertain terms that we
were amenable to the Articles of War. the rules and regulations of war,
and to court martial. We were required to be in uniform 24 hours a
day, and on call that way.
In the beginning we were permitted a shorter term of service, that
is, signed up for a shorter term. That was finally gotten to the point
where we signed up for the duration and 6 months thereafter.
The point I want to make is that t-he boys, when they went out in
the beginning under the Office of Civilian Defense, were not even
warned that they would eventually be soldiers in the true sense of the
word. Later it was found, by circumstances that it, would take too
long to relate, that it would -be necessary to arm those men. We
were not asked if we chose to serve as a combatant or belligerent.
We were ordered to carry arms, and as was read here just recently,
just a while ago, we were ordered to seek out and engage in combat
an armed enemy, even beyond the territorial waters of the United
States.
So for as I know there was not a man that rebelled, that is, rebelled
to having to perform those duties. We had developed a peculiar
state of mind which is understandable only to those who hadpassed
through such things. We had seen the wanton destruction of sur-
vivors that could not protect themselves being run down, by enemy
submarines, machine-gunned by the same. In other words, it was
an unmerciful warfare.
Having seen that we developed a peculiar psychology that to the
person in peaceful life seems to the person in peace ful life insane.
We were willing to"trade out" with them when they knew that there
BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF CIVII, AIR PATROL 16
were possibly 70 personnel aboard thl1 enemy submarine, aii two
aboard our plane.
We begged our bombardiers, the armament boys-maybe I am
wrong in the terminology-the Army had their own personnel to arm
our planes with bombs, and to set the bomb fuzes, and so forth. They
were set at 700 feet, That is, to go off on contact after having fallen
700 feet. We tried to prevail upon those boys to set those bombs at
200 feet, because if we dropped them at 260 feet and they hit the
water there was some time elapsed before ihey would go off. I
believe it was 30 seconds, or maybe 10 seconds.' I don't recall the
time interval.
But we wanted those bombs armed so that even though dropped at
200 feet they would go off at contact, which would enalb us to trade
2 men for 70. That is the way we figured it.
1 may say that there have been various rernarks made as to how far
the boys patrolled the sea. Originally it was 30 miles. That was
increased then to 50 miles, then it was increased to 60 mileg, and then
it was increased as circumstances and equipment permitted. Frankly,
I have been, myself, out better than 10 miles, in a 90 horsepower
Stinson Voyager, a four-cylinder job, overloaded. If I lost one
cylinder I knew full well there was no chance of returning.
You saf, why (lid you accept those hazards under present condi-
tions? Frankly, we did not know but whit, our families would be
taken care of, as, the Nation had taken care of the survivor's families
in previous times.
. e were told, frankly, by our base co)iilktiahrs- -at least on Base
21--that our widows and orphans would be taken care of.
We were not so much concerned for ourpoves as we. were for our
families. I might say in this eonwction, in discussing the matter of a
termination date in this bill, that i think it is grossly unfair to ask a
man to forget his family responsibilities and assume an active duty
job whereby, if he does not return from that, his family is the loser,
if you know what I mean. I do not believe Ihe is morally permitted
to work that harship on his family, unless, of course, he is financially
able to take care of it otherwise.
But very often our men, as I say, come from the lower walks of life.
In fact, from all walks of life. Parenthetically, I may say that when
my discussion here ceases to become informative I wish you would
stop me.
Another thing I might say I was in the sister ship. I was the
pilot of one sister ship when the other sister ship went down. I wit-
nessed there one of those things that have happened probably millions
of times during the war, a degree of heroism displayed that, is un-
heralded and unsung. The observer of this sister ship, having
learned that his pilot was dead, instead of abandoning it, put him in
his own sea bag and held on to it as best he may for a period of 8
hours before help could get to him. The boy was killed upon going
in, with a head injury, as you might well expect, an airplane with
landing gear digs into the water and there is an art of putting one
into the water.
This youngster at that time did not do it, in other words. Why,
we do not know. But he struck the water with such impact that it
injured his head so that he did hot survive.
18 BENEFIT8 FOR MEMBER OF CIVIL AIR PATROL
The parents of that boyto this day have nothing whatever to show
that their boy existed. They have not even a letter from the War
Department, or to the best of my knowledge, anyone else, except our
own base commander that their boy gave his life as much so as he might
have on Saipan or in Europe or eiewihere. He is just as dead.
There is no provision for an citation, not even the Purple Heart,
to the best of my knowledge. The boy is just gone, just the same as
if he had died in an automobile accident.
That poses a question of what are we going to do in the future when
called upon to probably perform those same duties. My colleagues
before you have told you what those duties were and what we tried to
do. We have been credited with being reasonably successful.
Again should men be asked to go out and perform those same
duties, any sane person, knowing what has transpired previously,
would, I believe, hesitate to jeopardize the future of his family, to
perform a duty even though he knew it to be his duty he would likely
feel that he could not assume the responsibility of jeopardizing his
family, although he might be able to assume the responsibility of
jeopardizing his life and probably would be glad to do so.
I believe in the future conduct of such activities, should they
arise, that the provision having been made to take care of the indigent
that results from such loss, would be a great factor in perfecting and
having available such an organization which, if our records are true,
performed no little service to the war effort, as Mr. Mason will prob-
ably tell you later regarding the delivery of oil. There was one time
when our oil tankers were smply tied up.
Gentlemen, that constitutes about what I have to say. If there
are any questions I would like to answer them as one who has been
there, spent something over 300 hours out there. I would be happy
to answer them in behalf of those fellows who cannot answer for
themselves.
Mr. KERSTEN. Any questions, Mr. Fisher?
Mr. Fiaimit. No, I have no questions.
I am quite impressed with the picture you have made for us, Cap-
tain. I think it is certainlv an unanswerable one from the standpoint
of the need for this legislation.
Mr. KimsTEz. Do you recall the name of this lad who went down
and who injured himself?
Captain RITcHIE. Yes, sir. Guy Cherry, Jr., of Kinston, N. C.
And the boy who put him in his own sea bag at the jeopardy of his
own life was George Groves, of Hickory, N. C.
And I might say, incidentally, that that ordeal, due to the sun and
reflection of the water, injured his eyes severely, and he now has to
wear corrective glasses. In other words, the doctor said the retinas
of his eyes were scorched beyond repair. And of course, he has no
compensation for himself, as it stands now. He must attend to his
own injuries.
Mr. K'RSTmN. And the parents of this boy who lost )iis life, he
left surviving relatives; did he?
Captain RITcHin. I did not understand, sir.
Mr. KtssTR5EN The boy who lost his life left surviving relatives;
did he?
. I
Captain RITCHIM. ,Ye, sir- his father and mother. But it so hap-
pens in this particular case the father and mother are amply able to
BENEFITS FOR MEMBER R OF CIVIL AIR PATROL 17
take care of themselves. They would not ask for any compensation.
The would not ask for it.
Mr. KnwnrN. Inasmuch as you mentioned him I was anxious for
his name to be on the record.
Captain RITCMHI. If you will permit me there is another I would
like to mention.
Mr. KuTxsN. I would like to have you do that.
Captain RITCHIE. There is a widpw of Fran Cook, of Route 2
I believe at least it is RFD, Concord, N. C. He lost his life on, Y
believe, tle 23d of December 1942, in very severe weather, both severe
from the standpoint of temperature as well as adverse flying conditions.
That lady, of course, received the insurance that we were required
to car, of approximately $3,000, in fact it was $3,000. That lacked
a smaU amount of paying off the mortgage of their modest home.
She has been receiving, since, apjroximately $40 a month. Having
four children, two of which are self-supporting, two of which are not
self-supporting, she is indigent. In other words, in bad condition
and has been, since, having much difficulty in making ends meet.
She lives in a rural community, as her address indicates. She had a
water system installed prior to the war, and water systems were not
available during the war. 'After the husband passed away, in order
to get a couple of dollars a month, she allowed her neighbors to tie
on to her water system and they paid her the sum of $1 a month, and
she was afraid all the time that the water system would fail and could
not be replaced, but she needed the dollar.
I was very close to that. I was in the air only 15 miles from where
that boy went down. Two of them went down incidentally. One of
the two, fortunately, happened to find the body some 3 months later,
floating near a mine which we were investigating, locating that par-
ticular mine floating in the water. This object, this same oy, Frank
Cook, his body was floating within a few yards of that mine, nothing
left of the body but the torio. The head, arms and legs were gone.
But due to the heavy clothing and a peculiar leather jacket that he
had on, preserved or held together his putrifled body and we were
able to identify itby the jacket by the number of his Mae West and
by a book he bad Ins sh t pocket that was so tightly closed with the
rubber band that the water did not get into it.
But he was easily identified. That is all we had to identify this
same widow's husband that I was telling you about.
I might say incidentally, that an individual in providing the casket
sealer in which his body was put, to the best of my knowledge there
was no aid even in his funeral expenses, except from individuals, not
governmental aid.
If I may be permitted to say one more thing, which probably will
be of interest to you, sir; I do not believe the passage of this bill
will mean very much, if any, more expenditure than has-been, because
it is merely a matter of extending what the President saw fit to put in
an emezecy bill, or whatever the case may be. I do not know the'
technicalities of it.
But I doubt very seriously whether it will increase, or certainly
not very materially any expenditures that are not now already being
expended, but which will expire on the 30th of June.
I .there anything else, sir?
Mr. KIsrN. Any further questions?
18 1IUNFITIT FOR MEMBERS OF CIVIL AI t PATROL
Mr. Fisuaa. No further questions.
Mr. KERSTUN. Thank you very much, for a very fine statement,
Captain Ritchie.
Captain tRITCHIE. Thank you.
Mr. WITNEY. Mr. Chairman, there are several other fliers but we
thought we would limit our presentation to two, today.
The next gentleman, who will conclude our presentation today, is
Mr. William Mason, a director of the Sun Oil Co., of Philadelphia.
Mr. Mason was very active before the war and during the war, not
only in the Sun Oil Co., but in the entire petroleum industry. He was
constantly in Washington trying to coordinate the work of the oil
industries for the Government. lie was one of the first men to know
about the Civil Air Patrol and to recognize the possible use for it in
the war effort.
He had been with the Civil Air Patrol before it started on the coastal
patrol, ie was a private flier himself, had his own plane and was a
member of our organization, so he is very well qualified to tel you of
the start the Government made in getting the coastal patrol set up,
and also in answering any questions that have to do with the work
that they accomplished from an industrial standpoint.
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM D. MASON, MEMBER, CIVIL AIR
PATkOL BOARD
Mr. MASON. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Fisher, my name is William D.
Mason. I am a director of the Sun Oil Co. and my address is Phila-
delphia, Pa.
After the very impressive testimony that has been given by Capt.
Dan Ritchie and the other gentlemen here today, it hardly seems
necessary that I dwell at length upon this particular subject. How-
ever, I would like to say that I, for one, feel a very deep responsibility
in connection with this entire program, in connection with this bill
and its passage.
During the war I happened to be in Washington during the fall of
1941, in connection with obtaining priorities for my company, in order
to build 100-octane gasoline plants.
We realized and appreciated that the war was coming, and prior to
Pearl Harbor we started our program. So I was here then, and of
course after Pearl Harbor, especially after January, from January to
February 4 or 5, we had 13 tankers sunk on the east coast. They
started, I think, in January 1941.
We were conscious of the fact that the tankers were sunk, and if
they continued being sunk at that rate, that we wouldn't have petro-
leum enough to carry on the war effort. In fact a shortage did exist.
I discussed the matter with my people, Mr. J. toward Pew, particu-
larly the president of my company then, and inasmuch as I was a
member of the Civil Air Patrol, beinf a private flier, I went to see
General Curry, who was then the national commander, on February
4, 1942.
General Curry said that the private planes could be used but that
lie needed two things: He needed money and he needed, a directive.
I said, "I will do what I can."
I went to work and I guaranteed him the money from the petroleum
industry to finance the guinea-pig bases that he wanted to install on
the coast.
BENEFITS FOR MEMBIIRW OF CIVIL AIR PATROL 19
The job was to obtain a directive, which we did, and by March 6
the first flight went out of Atlantic City and Rehoboth. We put in
the two guinea-pig bases.
For the first 2 months of the existence of the Civil Air Patrol tho
whole activity was financed by the petroleum industry.
During that time the airplanes or nothing was insured. After the
Government took over the operation---this is something which General
Beau is not in a position to know-the airplanes were insured. I
know I lost my own ship and I was paid for it. It was lost in Texas,
by the way.
So that is the story, gentlemen. We, of the petroleum industry,
are deeply conscious of the great work and the great job that was done.
If it had not been for these boys and the contribution that they made,
the outcome, the results of the war would have been a lot different.
None of us know what would have happened.
During the time that I was Director of the Facilities Security Divi-
r
sion of YAW I had to work through Mr. Ickes to Mr. Stimson, in order
to expand these bases on down the coast.
I would like to read here from a letter, signed by Mr. Ickes to Hen.
Henry L. Stimson, the last two paragraphs, written on June 25, 1942:
Many persons have expressed a conviction that the Civil Air Patrol has not
been used to the best advantage and that the delay in adopting this form of pro-
tection has contributed to the loss of many tankers, and lives, and to the shortage
of petroleum on the east coast.
From time to time tanker owners, prompted by the losses that have occurred,
and by the fact that Army and Navy equipment was not available to give adequate
protection, have requested that further use be made of the Civil Air Patrol If
added protection to our tankers, and other vessels as well, might be had by extend-
ing the use of the Civil Air Patrol planes, I would urge that this be done with an
absolute minimum of delay.
These bases extended on down the coast. Finally, we had complete
coverage from Maine to Mexico, and then at the request of the Mexi-
can Government, we patrolled the Mexican coast.
The work that they did was outstanding, as well as the contribution
that they have made. You gentlemen have heard the story. There
is nothing further that I can tell you, except that I do know that the
whole petroleum industry is very deeply grateful for the contribution
that these gentlemen have made.
In the interests of equity and justice I do not think that there is
anything that our Government could do, and there is nothing that
should be done any more than the passage of this bill.
I thank you very much.
Mr. WITNEY. I hope you gentlemen will find an opportunity to
read the book. In the book you will find a list of the men who lost
their lives, and a list of the bases and the base commanders.
The second thing I would like to do is to urge speed if you possibly
can, in the consideration of the bill. We are pressed for time. We
must work against June 30 as a deadline. This must nt only be
passed by the House if it is going to be successful, but by the Senate
before that date, or whenever Congress adjourns.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your most careful
consideration of our presentation today, and we want to offer our
services in any way we can.
If you want more copies of the book for other members of the com-
mittee we would be glad to leave them with you, or do anything we
can to help the cause along.
20 SaFZ4EFITS FOR MEMBDES OF CIVIL AIR PATROL
Mr, KmESTaN. I want to say that this story told by you men this
morning was a very impressive one. It demonstrated that in a branch
of civilian life, in fact, any branch of civilian dfe, there is that deep
feeling of patriotism among the American people, members of which
will go out and, risk their Jives regardless of such things as compensa-
tion. It is the type of thing that occurred there that occurred, for
example in England when England was faced with invasion, and
Churchill made this famous speech that he would fight them in the
streets and in the fields.
While we were not subjected to the same threat of invasion to the
same degree, perhaps, yet it might have been that, and every one of
these men that went out was operating onthe same basis. It might
have been that the entire group of Civil Air Patrol men might have
been wiped out in such a situation,
They %ent into the job with that ppsaibility and they have dem-
ostrated greatpatriotism,
and everyJAst one of them is to be greatly
complimented,
They have earned the gratitude of the people of the
country as a whole, I know.
We will give this bill very serious consideration,
and personally,
I do not see any valid answer to the bill.
Mr. FIssoU, Mr. Chairman, if it is in order, unless therm is some-
thing to be done first, I move that we report the bill favorably to the
full committee.
Mr. KERSrsN. If I can second it, I will second it.
Mr. WRIry. Thank you gentlemen, very much.
(Whereupon,
at 11:25 a. m. the committee adjourned without date.)
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