Major D. Bratton (left) and Maj R.G. Willis (right)

 
Three Majors, Major Eldredge (center) Current Commander

 Old Photo of Super Cub

 
July 2009 Former Commander for Coastal Patrol Base 21 Makes Surprise Visit

Mr. R.G. Willis, Coastal Patrol Base 21’s number 2 commander from 1965-1970, recently paid a surprise visit to the squadron’s meeting, and filled everyone in on the re-activation of the squadron in the mid 60’s.

He brought with him a Navy sectional map from the early days of flight between Cherry Point and Norfolk, Va., which everyone examined closely, and filled us in on some important gaps in the squadron’s long history.

Former CAP Major Willis, now retired and living in Morehead City with his wife Lina, recounted how his son, Rich Willis lll, became a CAP Cadet when they were living in Roanoke, Va. They moved to Durham, NC, next, then down to Morehead City in 1964, where Mrs. Willis was from.

Upon arrival here, he discovered there was no CAP program for his son to continue in and began pursuit of re-chartering the old Coastal Base 21.
There were plenty of young people in his son’s high school class who were also interested in becoming cadets. The charter was granted, and now Major Willis, along with several Senior members and about 30 cadets, formed the Carteret Composite Squadron, and met in the old USO building in downtown Morehead City.

One of these early cadets was David Bratton, now a Major, and Safety Officer for CPB21. Major Bratton later moved to the Kinston Squadron where he flew in the CAP Super Cub.

In 1967, AF Col. Fredericks began the AFROTC at the Morehead City High School, and many of the CAP Cadets enrolled in that program.

In 1970, Carteret Composite Squadron was de-activated once again until the late 1970’s when Col. Woody Sulloway began holding meetings and building up the member base.

In the mid 1990’s, Major Richard Willis lll, USA, returned to the area and, following in his father’s footsteps, became Carteret Composite Squadron Commander for two years. During his tenure, the squadron returned to its original name of Coastal Patrol Base 21.

The original charter is now in The History Place, Morehead City, under the care of Mr. Rodney Kemp, historian.