Civil Air PatrolManual, 1949

Note the short OD “Ike”jacket for males.

Most likely shade 1khaki (“tropicalworsted”)

Girl’s Summer Uniform

Image from CAP’s Volunteer magazine

Image from Smithsonian Institute website

Insignia Placement

Civil Air Patrol Manual

New cadet chevrons

and Senior Member

specialty badges

Civil Air Patrol Manual

Note newly authorized “merit ribbons” for cadets.

The presence of C/Maj to C/Col insignia is interesting.Most research sourcesindicate those grades were notauthorized until late 1956. However,Lt Col Ostling has uncovered documentation of cadets promotedto C/Maj and C/Lt Col in New YorkWing in 1953. Even the Civil AirPatrol Manual states “a squadron [iscommanded] by a captain or major,depending on its size.”Was C/Maj – C/Col restricted large population areas, andnot authorized on a national scale?

The C/Maj to C/Col insignia was the same used by Army ROTC.

History’s

Mysteries

Merit RibbonsAccording to the CAP News, February 1949, merit ribbons were

awarded for:• Blue – awarded to cadets who distinguish themselves by exceptionally

meritorious service to the Cadet program, or by extraordinary acts of heroism under unusually hazardous conditions.

• White – awarded to cadets who attain a final grade of 90% or higher on the prescribed instruction comprising the Secondary Training of CAPC Training Program.

• Red – awarded to cadets who attain a final grade of 90% or higher on the prescribed instruction comprising the Basic Training of the CAPC Training Program.

In the 1954 Cadet Handbook, merit ribbons were longevity awards:• Red – one year• White – two year• Blue – three years

Encampment Patches

• Worn on the lower half of the sleeve.

• The red prop version was a manufacturer’s error. It was used by some units to indicate a second award.

• Introduced in 1949 and phased out in 1954 with the introduction of the encampment ribbon.

Personal collection

Photo from the 1949 Civil Air Patrol Manual. Note the encampment patch on the sleeve of the cadet on the right.

1951 IACE

1951