Civil Air Patrol Coastal Base Four

During World War II, the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian organization, 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. Commanded by Maj. Isaac W. Burnham II, the base 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.

Parksley, Virginia · United States