The Coastal Picket Force

To meet the on-going crisis in June of 1942, transfers to and enrollment in the Coast Guard Reserve on a part-time or intermittent basis were authorized under an Amendment to the 1941 Auxiliary and Reserve Act.  By 30 June 1942, the Auxiliary had 11,500 members with 9,500 boats from 400 flotillas; 1,000 boats and most of their crews already had been taken into the Reserves. Both motor and sailboats were used for the Coastal Picket Force. 

Boston Auxiliarists enrolled 60 sailboats and 40 motorboats in the CPF.  In New York, a 7-member committee consisting of Coast Guard and Auxiliary officers and some of  the premier names in American yachting, such as Charles F. Chapman, author of the classic, Chapman Piloting, worked at the New York Yacht Club for two months enrolling boats and crews. 

To meet the on-going crisis in June of 1942, transfers to and enrollment in the Coast Guard Reserve on a part-time or intermittent basis were authorized under an Amendment to the 1941 Auxiliary and Reserve Act. By 30 June 1942, the Auxiliary had 11,500 members with 9,500 boats from 400 flotillas; 1,000 boats and most of their crews already had been taken into the Reserves. Both motor and sailboats were used for the Coastal Picket Force. 

Boston based USCG Auxiliarist enrolled 60 sailboats and 40 motorboats in the CPF. In New York, a 7-member committee consisting of Coast Guard and Auxiliary officers and some of the premier names in American yachting, such as Charles F. Chapman, author of the classic, Chapman Piloting, worked at the New York Yacht Club for two months enrolling boats and crews. 

Coastal Picket Force vessels en route to grid patrol areas, CA. 1942. History program, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.