This is a remarkable piece of Civil Air Patrol history from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, civilian aviation across the United States was largely grounded. Yet on September 12, a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 172 Skyhawk, tail number N9344L, was authorized to fly over New York City.
The mission was extraordinary. New York officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency needed aerial photographs to assess the devastation at the World Trade Center. With authorization from the National Command Authority, three Civil Air Patrol officers took N9344L into the air. They made four orbits over New York City and photographed the destruction below. Those photographs were then provided to government agencies for analysis.
That aircraft is now part of the collection of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, preserving an important example of Civil Air Patrol answering the call when the nation needed it.
Stories such as this help explain why supporting Civil Air Patrol is part of the mission of AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.
CAP serves as the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force, but its importance extends well beyond that relationship. Its members provide emergency services, support communities and disasters, promote aerospace education and give young people opportunities to develop leadership skills while discovering aviation, aerospace and service.
Here in the Coachella Valley, we want AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 to be an active supporter of Civil Air Patrol and its local members. That means looking for opportunities to work together, supporting their programs, helping make connections within the community and making sure more people understand what CAP does and why it matters.
Our Chapter is placing an increasing emphasis on programs that introduce young people to aviation, aerospace, STEM and Cyber Education. Civil Air Patrol is an important part of that larger effort.
The aircraft in this video flew an extraordinary mission more than 25 years ago. The larger mission of Civil Air Patrol continues today.