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The US Civil Air Patrol Trivia Quiz

Surprisingly, there is currently no quiz on this organization, so, I thought it might be time to highlight it!

A multiple-choice quiz by babsr. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
babsr

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
377,501

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
217

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary of which branch of the US Armed Forces? Hint

Coast Guard

Marines

Army

Air Force

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Question 2 of 10

2. Under which New York mayor was the Civil Air Patrol formed? Hint

Edward I. Koch

Fiorello H. LaGuardia

Rudolph W. Giuliani

Cadwallader D. Colden

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Question 3 of 10

3. Members of the CAP are considered a reserve unit, and are paid as standard US Air Force reservists.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. What significance does the date 29 April 1943 have for the Civil Air Patrol? Hint

On that date, the CAP became the Auxiliary of the Army Air Force.

On that date, a CAP pilot on coastal patrol issued the famous message "Sighted sub, sank same".

On that date, the CAP became the Auxiliary of the Air Force.

On that date, the CAP was given several fighter planes to use in their missions.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Under which Secretary of the Air Force was the CAP made a permanent auxiliary of the United States Air Force? Hint

Carl A. Spaatz

Robert McNamara

Donald Rumsfeld

W. Stuart Symington

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Question 6 of 10

6. Primary functions of the CAP are search and rescue missions, humanitarian services, disaster relief, and volunteer support to the Air Force as might be required.

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. During World War II, CAP pilots were actually directly involved in combat activities. Following its incorporation, its charter declared which of the following? Hint

The CAP would continue to be directly involved as requested by the Air Force.

The CAP would act autonomously as to whether members would be directly involved.

Only senior members would be directly involved as requested by the Air Force.

The CAP would no longer be involved directly in combat activities.

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Question 8 of 10

8. Civil Air Patrol pilots flew anti-submarine missions during World War II. What were the results? Hint

Pilots spotted 73 German U-boats, and alerted the Navy, but did not engage in combat.

Pilots spotted 173 German U-boats, attacked 57, hit 10, sank 2, dropping a total of 83 bombs. A total of 64 CAP members lost their lives.

Pilots spotted 173 German U-boats, attacked 100, hit 25, sank 10, dropping a total of 120 bombs. No members lost their lives.

Pilots spotted only 20 German U-boats, attacked 2, missed both targets. The CAP pilots were then grounded from further activities.

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Question 9 of 10

9. In support of the US Air Force, the CAP performs several missions that are not combat-related. They include which of the following? Hint

All of these

Low-altitude route surveys

Transportation of officials

Damage assessment

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Question 10 of 10

10. Following the attacks on the World Trade Center, when all general aviation flights were grounded, one of the first planes flying over was a CAP aircraft taking photographs.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary of which branch of the US Armed Forces?

Answer: Air Force

Bet you didn't know the Coast Guard is an Armed Force. The other one of the Armed Forces is the Navy, and although not their auxiliary, the CAP dovetailed some of their activities with the Navy. Other questions within this quiz cover these activities.

2. Under which New York mayor was the Civil Air Patrol formed?

Answer: Fiorello H. LaGuardia

Fiorella LaGuardia, the national Director of Civilian Defense, signed a formal order and then had President Franklin D. Roosevelt sign it in 1941.

The other three were also actual mayors of New York.

3. Members of the CAP are considered a reserve unit, and are paid as standard US Air Force reservists.

Answer: False

The Civil Air Patrol is an all-volunteer non-profit organization under Public Law 479, passed by the 79th Congress in 1946.

4. What significance does the date 29 April 1943 have for the Civil Air Patrol?

Answer: On that date, the CAP became the Auxiliary of the Army Air Force.

There was no Air Force in 1943, as it was an integral part of the Army.

Although rumor has it that the message "Sighted sub, sank same" was attributable to a CAP pilot, it was in fact a Navy aviator on coastal patrol off Newfoundland.

And no, the CAP doesn't fly fighter planes...

The Civil Air Patrol refers to this date as "The Red Letter Day".

5. Under which Secretary of the Air Force was the CAP made a permanent auxiliary of the United States Air Force?

Answer: W. Stuart Symington

Stuart Symington was sworn in as the first Secretary of the now independent Air Force.

Rumsfeld and McNamara were Secretaries of Defense under both Presidents Bush, and John F. Kennedy/Lyndon Johnson, respectively.

General Spaatz was the Air Force's first Chief of Staff.

6. Primary functions of the CAP are search and rescue missions, humanitarian services, disaster relief, and volunteer support to the Air Force as might be required.

Answer: True

Many senior members have their own aircraft, and may be called in for flyovers of areas where a plane may be missing, or a hiker is missing, for instance. They are usually joined in the cockpit by a spotter, who may be a CAP cadet.

7. During World War II, CAP pilots were actually directly involved in combat activities. Following its incorporation, its charter declared which of the following?

Answer: The CAP would no longer be involved directly in combat activities.

The charter was created in 1946, under US Code 40301.

8. Civil Air Patrol pilots flew anti-submarine missions during World War II. What were the results?

Answer: Pilots spotted 173 German U-boats, attacked 57, hit 10, sank 2, dropping a total of 83 bombs. A total of 64 CAP members lost their lives.

The Navy was spread thin in being able to patrol the entire eastern seaboard, so CAP pilots stepped in to fill the gaps. Ultimately, the Navy was able to again cover the wider area, but until then the CAP pilots made a good showing. Sadly, 64 members did lose their lives.

Recently, the 113th United States Congress (January 2013 to January 2015) authorized the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to World War II members of the CAP.

9. In support of the US Air Force, the CAP performs several missions that are not combat-related. They include which of the following?

Answer: All of these

The CAP also provides communications support, and is used in training exercises where pilots fly into restricted airspace and USAF pilots practice high-speed intercepts.

10. Following the attacks on the World Trade Center, when all general aviation flights were grounded, one of the first planes flying over was a CAP aircraft taking photographs.

Answer: True

A Cessna 172 carrying three CAP senior officers was able to fly over and take numerous photos, which were critical to being able to develop plans for the emergency workers on the ground. By overlaying street grids over the high quality photos, workers could understand where they actually were and proceed more safely.

Source: Author babsr

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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