John F. Curry

Major General John Francis Curry was the first national commander of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. He was also a Major General in the United States Army Air Corps.

Biography

Curry had learned to fly in time to accompany General John J. Pershing's expedition to Mexico. Later, during World War I, he served as Chief of Staff of the Air Service of the Second Army in France, under Col. Frank P. Lahm. He destroyed a German observation balloon, but was shot down himself by anti-aircraft fire. He escaped capture.

In late 1941, with the air attack on Pearl Harbor, there was significant interest by civilian pilots to assist the U.S. military. However, in Washington, D.C., those in authority scoffed at the idea that a group of non-military aviators could provide any such assistance. Despite these misgivings, Civil Air Patrol was formed as a part of the United States' home defense needs. Curry, an Army Air Corps officer, was selected as the first national commander. When selected to head Civil Air Patrol, he was the nation's only acting general in command of a civilian army. He served in this capacity from December 1941 to March 1942.

Founded as a volunteer organization, Civil Air Patrol conducted patrols over coastal waters in search of enemy submarines and naval activity. As Civil Air Patrol was not a government-sponsored plan to provide free flight training, each individual had to pay for their own flying time.

Part of the reason for the founding of Civil Air Patrol was to keep aviation from being put aside entirely during the war. As Gen. Curry stated, "Without such a plan [as Civil Air Patrol], there might be no private aviation for the duration of the war; with such a plan, there is a chance that private flying may continue and develop." Under Curry's guidance, wings were formed in every state. He helped mobilize 100,000 private pilots for non-combatant service; thus freeing military pilots for wartime duty.

There was no discrimination because of one's gender. Individual ability, experience and past records were the main criteria for selection. In Curry's words, "There must be no doubt in the minds of out gallant women fliers that they are needed and, in my opinion, indispensable to the full success of the Civil Air Patrol organization. A great part of the progress made in organizing civilian aviation under Civil Air Patrol has been due to the volunteer help given by women flyers." Although he only served a few months as National Commander, Gen. Curry's organizational skills were influential in determining the future growth of Civil Air Patrol.

Originally, Civil Air Patrol was given the opportunity to prove itself for a 90-day test period. However, due to many successes, such as sinking a German U-boat, Civil Air Patrol remained throughout the war. After the end of World War II, Civil Air Patrol continued to serve the nation in performance of dangerous missions. The Colorado Wing, Civil Air Patrol, and Colorado State Director of Aeronautics, headed now by retired Maj. Gen. John F. Curry, conducted light plane surveys through the rugged Colorado Rocky Mountains. Where more than 50 peaks have an elevation of greater than 14,000 feet, scores of flying individuals lost their lives due to unpredictable winds. As a result of Curry's direction, maps of safe-flying routes were developed by Colorado Civil Air Patrol personnel.

Selected to represent the first Civil Air Patrol cadet achievement, Curry's name represents the conviction of a National Commander whose vision and direction embodies the spirit of flying volunteers. The next CAP National Commander was General Carl A. Spaatz, whose name graces the capstone award of the CAP cadet program and whose recipients—less than half of one percent of the cadet corps—are promoted to cadet colonel.

See also

General J. F. Curry Achievement

Sources

• Leadership: 2000 and Beyond. I (Second ed.). Civil Air Patrol. June 2004. 
• John F. Curry at Generals.dk
• USAF Biographies