This is a re-posting of a Legeros Blog Archives posting from January 6, 2010, that’s no longer available on the old site, due to technical problems.

One of the interesting civil defense programs of the 1950s was the Ground Observer Corps. They had their roots in World War II, when 1.5 million civilians watched for enemy aircraft on the nation’s coasts. Enrolled by the Army Air Forces, they manned 14,000 observation posts. Our country had limited radar capabilities at the time, and these volunteers literally watched the skies. As the threat from German and Japanese air forces declined, the program was disestablished in 1944.

In February 1950, an Air Force Commander proposed formation of the Ground Observer Corps. These civilian volunteers would number 160,000 and staff 8,000 observation posts in the gaps between proposed radar network sites. Recruitment was easy, as the Korean War was perceived as a precursor to a possible Russian attack. In 1951, the first  national drill of the system was conducted. Some 210,000 volunteers at 8,000 observation posts and 26 filter centers. The latter were regional communication centers, that “filtered” the reports from the observation posts.
 

Continue reading ‘Cold War History – Ground Observer Corps’ »

This is a re-posting of a 2009 blog post, from our blogs archive site. It was originally posted http://legeros.com/ralwake/photos/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=2582 at on September 12, 2009. 

For your Saturday evening enjoyment, here’s a small booklet bought on eBay of Charlotte Fire Department rules and regulations from 1940.

The contents includes duties for all ranks and roles, directives on responding to fires, and general rules. Plus additional pages listing apartment houses, hotels, alarm boxes, and a street directory. It’s a great snapshot of the time. I’ve scanned the main pages, plus a sample of the additional sections.

Read the rules and regulations (PDF, 5.8M).

How big was the department in 1940?

Don’t know.

Sanborn Maps from 1929 list the chief, two assistant chiefs, 114 men, six stations, seven engines, one aerial ladder, three service ladders, one reserve engine, and 144 alarm boxes.

Sanborn Maps from 1951 list the chief, four assistant chiefs, 155 men, nine stations, 11 engines, one aerial ladder, four service trucks, one light/salvage truck, two reserve engines, one reserve aerial ladder, and 340 alarm boxes. So, somewhere between those numbers. 

Related – Raleigh Fire Department Rules & Regulations

See also this earlier posting about a similar booklet in Raleigh.

Comments

Legeros: There are quite a few gems in here, and which were probably present in most department’s rules and regs in that time. Once a week, company officers were required to visit personnel who were sick, and report on their condition. Off duty members wanting to leave the city were required to get permission. And keep in touch at all times by telephone. Since, in the event of second or general alarm fires, they were required to report for duty. And, my favorite, “proper decorum must be observed at all times, no altercations or ungentlemanly, profane, abusive or improper language or disorderly conduct will be permitted at any station upon the part of any officer or member of the department at any time.”