Yesterday's Print

Showing 19 posts tagged air raid

A collection of old photographs, historic newspaper clippings and assorted excerpts highlighting the parallels of past and present. Featuring weird, funny and baffling headlines, articles and advertisements! Visit www.yesterdays-print.com 

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The Star-Democrat, Easton, Maryland, December 12, 1941 Those in their cars when the siren sounded were advised to drive to the side of the roar or street and turn out the lights. If a driver didn’t reach the side of the street they were to stop where...   High-res

The Star-Democrat, Easton, Maryland, December 12, 1941  

Those in their cars when the siren sounded were advised to drive to the side of the roar or street and turn out the lights. If a driver didn’t reach the side of the street they were to stop where they were and turn off the lights. This was to last for fifteen minutes, when the all-clear signal was sounded.

Street cars stop during the battle of Los Angeles, February 25, 1942 (From Wikipedia: The Battle of Los Angeles, also known as The Great Los Angeles Air Raid, is the name given by contemporary sources to the rumored enemy attack and subsequent...   High-res

Street cars stop during the battle of Los Angeles, February 25, 1942

(From Wikipedia: The Battle of Los Angeles, also known as The Great Los Angeles Air Raid, is the name given by contemporary sources to the rumored enemy attack and subsequent anti-aircraft artillery barrage which took place from late 24 February to early 25 February 1942 over Los Angeles, California.

Initially, the target of the aerial barrage was thought to be an attacking force from Japan, but speaking at a press conference shortly afterward, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox called the incident a “false alarm.”

Air raid sirens sounded throughout Los Angeles County on the night of 24–25 February 1942. A total blackout was ordered and thousands of air raid wardens were summoned to their positions. At 3:16 am the 37th Coast Artillery Brigade began firing .50 caliber machine guns and 12.8-pound anti-aircraft shells into the air at reported aircraft; over 1,400 shells would eventually be fired. Pilots of the 4th Interceptor Command were alerted but their aircraft remained grounded. The artillery fire continued sporadically until 4:14 am. The “all clear” was sounded and the blackout order lifted at 7:21 am.)

A photograph of a Morrison shelter in a room setting, showing how such a shelter could be used as a table during the day and as a bed at night. The table cloth is partly pulled back to reveal the sleeping area. London, 1940. The idea was that instead...   High-res

A photograph of a Morrison shelter in a room setting, showing how such a shelter could be used as a table during the day and as a bed at night. The table cloth is partly pulled back to reveal the sleeping area. London, 1940.

The idea was that instead of running to the backyard to hide inside a sunken shelter, or out into the streets to a tube station, you could stay inside your house and sleep inside your Morrison shelter, where falling debris would not hurt you. This idea was especially popular in the winter, when rousing yourself in the cold night and dragging yourself outside was particularly repugnant. 

By the end of 1941, half a million had been distributed, and by 1943 another 100,000 had been given out. If a family had a combined income of under £400 per year, the government provided them one for free. The Morrison shelter came in a kit similar to something from Ikea, made from 359 parts, including the mesh and the mattress, which was assembled by the purchaser in their home. 

Three gentlemen use the Morrison shelter as a table:

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A couple share the Morrison shelter at bedtime:

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A bomb ravaged home is bombed again to test the capability of the Morrison shelter:

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The test dummy is a little dusty, but it looks like he’s survived:

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