Civil Air Transport Pilot Hat Badge

Taipei, Taiwan and Washington, DC 1946 - 1968

CAT was created by Claire Chennault and Whiting Willauer in 1946 as Chinese National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. Using surplus World War II aircraft such as the C-47 Dakota and the C-46 Commando, CAT airlifted supplies and food into war-ravaged China. In 1950 the CIA formed a private firm and purchased CAT using it for movement of war material. In 1959 Air America was formed taking over the operataions for Southeast Asia and by 1968 CAT ceased operations after a crash of a Boeing 727.