GenMassachusetts-L Archives

Archiver > GenMassachusetts > 2000-02 > 0951171424


From: "Evelyn Beran" <>
Subject: Re: [GM-L] Air Raid Wardens
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 16:17:04 -0600


Working with the Air Raid Wardens as part of Civil Defense during
WWII were Airplane Spotters, trained to recognize all US aircraft,
who took turns scanning the skies from rooftop perches to report any
suspicious aircraft activity. My Dad was one of those. Where I
grew up near the Chesapeake Bay, blackouts were required only when
the air raid siren sounded; then all lights were to be extinguished,
or blackout curtains were drawn to prevent the light from reaching
the outside.

Serious as the duties were, they were not without levity. An Air
Raid Warden from our town was dispatched to deal with some one
outside of town shameless violating the blackout. The lights could
be seen all over the area. When he arrived at the scene, he found
an entire field of fireflies.

Evelyn Sanford Beran

This thread: