The 41st Composite Squadron (Davenport Composite Squadron) is mentioned before the official start date by around a few months. On 26 OCT 1941 in the Quad City Times, there was mention of pilots signing up for the Civil Air Patrol. The quotation states, “fifty-four Davenport men will be asked shortlyContinue Reading
As of May 1942, the wing had approximately 1,200 personnel. At that time there were over 200 officers, and 1,000 enlisted, with women composing 25 percent of this force. 80 percent of this force were classified as aviators, and the wing claimed to have as many as 600 aircraft availableContinue Reading
Following years of preparation and planning, the Allies took to the beaches of Northern France on the morning of 6 JUN 1944. The mission objective was straightforward but difficult: establish a foothold on the European mainland, opening a third front against the Axis Powers. Little did the Allies who tookContinue Reading
Prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 DEC 1941, the War Department was already undergoing a major transformation. Rapid training of personnel with little in the way of materiel resulted in stumbles and falls on the home front. In the weeks that led up to the attack,Continue Reading
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) provides opportunities for both men and women to serve their country on the home front. Many of accomplishments were done by women. Many of these women were a part of CAP and did many other leaps and bounds for the greater good. One of theContinue Reading
World War II was a war unlike any other before or after it. Slowly warfare began to shift itself away from the trenches and into mobile combat operations on air, land, and sea. The technological advancement was stark. However, there was far more to it than simple mechanics of warContinue Reading
The Cold War was full of turbulent times. A new atomic age and the fear of Communist incursions across the world was enough to send the West into paranoid fits. Across the globe, however, the fear of nuclear war was almost certainly somewhere in the mind of every individual. However,Continue Reading
As World War II raged in Europe and East Asia, Americans had growing concerns and sense of duty towards the war effort. By the time the war touched the American home front on 7 DEC 1941, industry had already been partially mobilized and a handful of men were serving inContinue Reading
It took almost 40 years for members of the U.S. Army to define the requirements for a dedicated air force. The first time such a requirement was needed happened just months before a centralized force could be established. In 1941, the United States was pushed into World War II afterContinue Reading
Modern design in many things often finds itself borrowing on old, tried, and true concepts. It’s no surprise either. After all, throughout history we find many instances where modern technology, strategy, design, and concepts can be traced and originated on something that already exists. Imagine, if you will, not reinventingContinue Reading
