A Brief History of the Early Years of CRUSADER COMPOSITE SQUADRON
"Does Anyone Know Where the CAP Is?"
The year was 1969. Richard Nixon was in his first term as President. The war in Viet Nam was raging. "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies, "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zepplin, and "My Way" by Frank Sinatra were some of the songs kids heard on the radio. FM Stereo was new and very cool. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Thousands walked on Yasgur's farm at Woodstock. The Boeing 747 and Concorde took first flights. And four young boys in Grand Prairie, TX had just finished sixth grade.
Louie lived around the corner and was always talking about airplanes and how he was going to be a pilot. He had an electric guitar and his family had a boat, so hanging out at his house was fun. He also had a subscription to a general aviation magazine, "Plane & Pilot," I think -- and he had fascinating stories about an organization that would teach you to fly for free called Civil Air Patrol! We conspired along with buddies Jack and Craig to find this organization and check it out during summer break. Junior High was coming up and we were ready to tear it up.
We all relied on Louie for information. He had word that CAP met at the Army Guard Base near Jefferson and Carrier. But the much anticipated visit ended with four disappointed boys when the trip found no trace of CAP. Later in the summer Louie announced that the CAP had moved from the Army Guard Base to Naval Air Station Dallas. All the better, since all four of us lived in the same neighborhood which was only a mile west of "Navy Dallas'" north-south traffic pattern. The next time we tried to visit, we were successful.
