GROUND OBSERVER CORPS

GROUND OBSERVER CORPS. During the KOREAN CONFLICT and during the early years of the Cold War, the ground observer corps of Civil Defense, activated in November 1950, was meant to prevent a sneak air attack up the valley of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Unpaid volunteer ground observers were needed to fill the gap in the nation's radar defense network that was considered too small. (1)

In 1951 Civil Defense officials in Iowa announced that 220 ground observer stations had been established in Iowa to watch for enemy aircraft. Initiated in November, 1950 the program was being further developed. (2) On January 12, 1952 a mock air raid was staged. Dubuque, Clinton, Jackson, Clayton and Scott counties participated. Reports were called to a "filter center" in Chicago.(3)

E. A. Schneider and his group of twenty-six men and four officers were involved from their observation post on top of SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM. The only site in Dubuque was the fire station at Grandview and Bryant. (4) On this building an eight foot square "hut" enclosed in glass had been constructed. (5) Both stations had a phone line to the Air Observer Filter Center in Chicago. Every 'strange' plane other than small aircraft that flew over the city was to be reported to Chicago. (6)

In 1952 Schneider told the city council that his group might need some financial assistance. Members had been paying expenses of the group themselves and presently they were using an extension to two Sunnycrest phones to maintain their communication link. Expected twenty-four hour alerts would cause too many tie-ups to be practical. Telephone company officials reported that if the trouble could be corrected, they would install an extra line for free. If this did not solve the problem, a private line would cost eight hundred dollars. The council asked city manager Laverne Schiltz to check into the problem. (7)

Upon completion of six hours of observing, volunteers received a silver-wing pin and an official air force identification card identifying them as an airplane spotter. In August 1954 the observation shifts were reduced from three to two hours. Most observers worked one shift a week. It was estimated that 85% of the sky over the city was covered. Officials stated that only fifteen minutes of instruction were needed and that no knowledge of aircraft was required. (8)

Dubuque's sixty-five sky-watchers were placed on a 12-hour alert in March 1955 when planes of the Eastern Air Defense System (United States) were scheduled to "invade" much of the country for a civil defense practice. Dubuque observers were to report all jets, multi-motor craft, and any plane formations near the city. (9)

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Source:

1. "Civil Defense Lag Lamented," Telegraph Herald, March 6, 1952, p. 24. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NiFRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8dMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4206,1031923&dq=ground+observer+corps+dubuque&hl=en

2. "Dads, Moms, Kids Take Part in Skywatch," Telegraph Herald, August 31, 1934, p. 9. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rWpFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SrwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5403,3426217&dq=airplane+spotters+dubuque&hl=en

3. "Mock Raid Set to Test Plane Spotters," Telegraph Herald, December 27, 1951, p. 4. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-iBRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kdEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6042,5791220&dq=airplane+spotters+dubuque&hl=en

4. "Dads, Moms..."

5. "Civil Defense Plans Need 'Shot in the Arm,'" Telegraph Herald, August 30, 1953, p. 9. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bA9FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_boMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6722,3137870&dq=ground+observer+corps+dubuque&hl=en

6. Ibid.

7. "Plane Spotters May Need Aid," Telegraph Herald, May 15, 1952, p. 7. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uRhRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9tMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1747,2812075&dq=sunnycrest+sanitorium&hl=en

8. "Dads, Moms..."

9. "Dubuque Sky-watchers Alerted for Invasion," Telegraph Herald, March 8, 1955, p. 21