The Coast Guard in World War II

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Crew of a Coast Guard Boat around the time of World War II.

Photo Credit: Florida State Archives

Beach patrols were among the duties of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla No. 2.

In 1942, the Navy Department authorized the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla No. 2 to establish a Coastal Picket Patrol manned by individuals who would serve short periods on ships capable of spending at least 48 hours at sea. The ships were private vessels loaned, purchased or requisitioned by the government. This flotilla was popularly called the Corsair Navy, Mosquito Fleet or the Hooligan Navy. They carried machine guns, radios and occasionally depth charges, and patrolled the coast, rescuing survivors and reporting U-boat sightings. As the war progressed, the regular Coast Guard took control of the patrols.

This flotilla was popularly called the Corsair Navy, Mosquito Fleet or the Hooligan Navy.

The Seventh Naval District beach patrol also patrolled the coastline and was charged with detecting enemy vessels, preventing attempted ship-to-shore contact, reporting enemy landing attempts and providing assistance to survivors of torpedoed ships.

The Coast Guard curtailed beach patrols in fall 1943 and discontinued their use in February 1944. For a time, personnel continued to man watchtowers along the coast, but by September 1944, these, too, were discontinued.