Civil Air Patrol’s Wright Museum of World War II Exhibit
Wright Museum of World War II Presents: Always Vigilant: Civil Air Patrol from WWII through Today
Always Vigilant: Civil Air Patrol from WWII through Today - Wright Museum of World War II
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) celebrates its anniversary on December 1, marking its founding on December 1, 1941, just days before the U.S. entered World War II. As the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP marked this day (84th anniversary in 2025) by honoring its mission of aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services.
As we also commemorate America’s 250th birthday, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the history of the Civil Air Patrol as a premier volunteer organization in the United States – and characterized by profound patriotism and remarkable achievements in service to the U.S. and famously earning the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 for WWII coastal defenses.
As a result of both events, a special 7-month exhibit highlighting the role of CAP in civil defense, emergency response, and other missions throughout its history will take place featuring historic objects, videos and interactives. To kick-off this event, a special ceremony to dedicate the exhibit will take place at the Wright Museum of World War II and NHWG Historian 1st Lt Lonnie Schorer and NHWG Cadet Historian C/SMSgt Bradley Stephen, in partnership with the Northeast Region History Department, would like to invite you to the opening ceremonies of this historic event for CAP and the community.
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Date: Saturday May 16, 2026
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Starting Time: 10:00am
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Location: Wright Museum of World War II, Address: 77 Center Street, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire 03894
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Cadets Uniform: Class A or Class B, or professional attire. (NO OCP or ABU).
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Senior Members: Class A or Class B, Corporate Service Uniform, or Corporate Aviator Uniform. (NO Corporate Working Uniform -Polo).
This exhibit provides an opportunity to understand Civil Air Patrol’s role in World War II and to share our amazing history with our members, families, museum guests, local leaders, and the public.
We hope you can attend this event but if not, please add this museum to your travel plans. The Wright Museum is well known for its exceptional collection of authentic objects originating from the WWII era (1939-45). The Museum houses a wide variety of artifacts, including photographs, films, audio recordings, insignia, uniforms, documents, books, military equipment, vehicles, and other objects.
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