L.D. Abernathy, left; Warner Kenyon, right. Photographs courtesy William E. Martin
A front-page article in the Russell Times, dated November 24, 1944, states the following:
"The local Civil Air Patrol unit was organized at two meetings held recently, with L. D. Abernathy, E.H. Carney and Herbert Greene aiding in its organization. Members are now being enrolled. Miss Ruth Anderson has been named adjutant, while Tewks Ridenour and George Savage will act as drill officers...L.D. Abernathy is commander of the new CAP in Greenup County."
With the help of Commonwealth of Kentucky aviation officials, my father, Warner Kenyon, helped organize the CAP squadron. He served as flight instructor and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the CAP. The Abken CAP squadron remained in existence from late 1944 into the mid-1950's, when it was disbanded. A new CAP squadron was organized at the airport in October 1982 but is no longer active.
CAP Squadron at Abken Airport in front of a U.S. Air Force twin-engine Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, circa 1954. Photo courtesy William E. Martin
The Civil Air Patrol: United States Air Force Auxiliary
In the late 1930s, more than 150,000 volunteers with a love for aviation argued for an organization to put their planes and flying skills to use in defense of their country. As a result, the Civil Air Patrol was born one week prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Thousands of volunteer members answered America's call to national service and sacrifice by accepting and performing critical wartime missions. Assigned to the War Department under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Corps, the contributions of Civil Air Patrol, including logging more than 500,000 flying hours, sinking two enemy submarines, and saving hundreds of crash victims during World War II, are well documented. With the help of Commonwealth of Kentucky aviation officials, my father, Warner Kenyon, helped organize the CAP squadron. He served as flight instructor and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the CAP. The Abken CAP squadron remained in existence from late 1944 into the mid-1950's, when it was disbanded. A new CAP squadron was organized at the airport in October 1982 but is no longer active.
The Civil Air Patrol: United States Air Force Auxiliary
After the war, a thankful nation understood that Civil Air Patrol could continue providing valuable services to both local and national agencies. On July 1, 1946, President Harry Truman signed Public Law 476 incorporating Civil Air Patrol as a benevolent, nonprofit organization. On May 26, 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557 permanently establishing Civil Air Patrol as the auxiliary of the new U.S. Air Force. Three primary mission areas were set forth at that time: aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services.
For more information, visit the official site of the Civil Air Patrol.
Revised September 27, 2011
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