Lake Worth in Palm Beach County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Coastal Patrol Base No. 3

Civil Air Patrol (CAP)

— 1942 - 1943 —

Coastal Patrol Base No. 3 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Judith Barber, April 7, 2011

1. Coastal Patrol Base No. 3 Marker

Inscription. Coastal Patrol Base No. 3 at Lantana Airport was one of three 90-day experimental bases established on the east coast of the United States to assist with anti-submarine patrols. Civilian aviators flew missions up to 60 miles out to sea between Palm Beach and Cape Canaveral, to search for German U-boats. In May 1942 near Cape Canaveral, Lantana CAP members Marshall E. Rinker and Tom Manning found a U-boat stranded on a sand bar and called for a military bomber, the U-boat freed itself and escaped to deeper water before the plane arrived to destroy it. This incident led to the arming of the small civilian planes the CAP used. The experimental units were so successful that 18 more were established in the U.S., with four more bases in Florida. On August 31, 1943, the anti-submarine patrols were transferred to the military. During the unit’s 17 months of service it flew 18,712 hours, 1,546,500 miles, and made 14 attacks, dropping 20 bombs on suspected U-boats. They saved the lives of numerous mariners by attacking and driving off U-boats and directing rescue boats to burning and sinking ships. In 1948, 53 members of the unit

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received the U.S. Military’s Air Medal. The CAP continues to operate at Lantana Airport.

Erected 2006 by Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, Palm Beach County Department of Airports, The Historical Society of Palm Beach County, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-579.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1942.

Location. 26° 35.292′ N, 80° 5.105′ W. Marker is in Lake Worth, Florida, in Palm Beach County. It is on Lantana Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2613 Lantana Rd, Lake Worth FL 33462, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Florida,

on the Gold Coast,

on the Treasure Coast,

and in Greater Miami.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

Photographed by Jay Kravetz, May 17, 2016

2. Coastal Patrol Base No. 3 Marker

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pine Crest Municipal Cemetery (approx. 1.6 miles away); Evergreen Cemetery (approx. 1.6 miles away); Palm Beach Junior College (approx. 1.7 miles away); I. A. Banks Memorial Park (approx. 1.7 miles away); Chapel Of The Holy Spirit (approx. 1.9 miles away); 1885-1893 (approx. 2.2 miles away); James Homestead and First Jewell Post Office (approx. 2.7 miles away); First Schoolhouse (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Worth.

Another marker is no longer nearby. First Town Hall (was approx. 2.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Jay Kravetz, May 17, 2016

3. Coastal Patrol Base No. 3 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,405 times since then and 79 times this year. Last updated on February 9, 2013, by Kathleen Black of Woodbridge, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on April 22, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2016, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.