Civil Air Patrol Coastal Base Four

The Civil Air Patrol, a civilian organization established during World War II, operated Coastal Patrol Base Four about one mile west of here at the Parksley airport. Volunteers constructed runways and hangars, converted a farmhouse and chicken coop into headquarters and barracks, and donated private aircraft for patrol duty. The base, commanded by Maj. Isaac W. Burnham II, was active from May 1942 to Aug. 1943. Pairs of pilots and observers flew dawn-to-dusk patrols up to 60 nautical miles from shore along the entire Virginia coastline looking for German submarines and escorting merchantmen.