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Archiver > GenMassachusetts > 2000-02 > 0951146590


From: "erion" <>
Subject: [GM-L] Air Raid Wardens
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 10:23:10 -0500


Air Raid Wardens were part of the Civil Defense during World War 11. After the surprise raid on Pearl Harbor and the nightly bombings of England, it was recognized that the mainland of the United States was vulnerable to attack from planes on air craft carriers off either the east or west coast. The United States did not yet have control of the seas and was not yet mobilized.

Although war had been raging in Europe for years, most Americans thought we were safe from attack . The shock of Pearl Harbor mobilized the whole population. All of the east and west coast were blacked out. No outdoor lights and no street lights were allowed to be on after dark. All buildings were required to have black out curtains and have no lights showing from the outside. This was to prevent enemy planes from identifying targets. A Civil Defense Corps was formed to control all areas to be sure that all buildings were blacked out. They also had the responsibly to control the population in the event of an air raid, to fight any fires that might be caused by incendiary bombs and also to control travel during air raid warnings or actual raids. These air raid wardens had the power to stop people from moving from one area to another. They were trained in first aid and in firefighting. In the event of an air raid they would have had absolute control of their part of !
the city. Most of them had full time jobs and gave up many extra hours serving their country. You can be proud of your father for his service to the country.

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