Coastal Patrol Base #8

Front: The Civil Air Patrol (C.A.P.) was formed in 1941, just prior to U.S. entrance into WWII. C.A.P. air bases were located from Maine to Mexico and the James Island base was the 8th constructed. Its 3 runways were carved from a 108-acre cotton field and operations began in May 1942. This base remained in service until C.A.P. operations were moved to Charleston AFB after the war. Reverse: From May 1942 to August 1943 almost 100 volunteers at Base 8 flew daily patrol missions. Aircrews primarily hunted enemy submarines, protected shipping lanes, and performed search and rescue. South Carolina natives Drew L. King and Clarence L. Rawls died at sea when their plane crashed off Myrtle Beach on Feb. 9, 1943.