Air Raid Practice in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1943

From the May 30, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Emphasizing that Illinois must prepare for around-the-clock bombing, DeKalb Civilian Defense Council members will be routed out of bed at 5:30 o'clock in the morning on May 25.

"This will be the fourth of a series of monthly mobilization exercises that will climax in July under air raid and surprise conditions."

Never Know When Illinois Will be Attacked.  --GreGen

Women in the War Factories and Boy Scouts

From the March 13, 2017, Roanoke (Va.) Times "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

**  "Roanoke women are coming into  themselves as industrial workers.  The first class to train them for making the guns, ships, and planes for victory began yesterday afternoon at the Jefferson vocational building as 15 women were introduced to the skills of air craft sheet metal work."

**  "A new phase of Boy Scout wartime service, the messenger service being set up to aid the Civilian Defense Volunteer Office, will be introduced to Roanoke scouts and scouters as a feature of the mammoth inspection at the Roanoke Auditorium this evening.

--GreGen

Lack of Bomb Volunteers and Girl Scout Cookie Sales

From the March 20, 2017, Roanoke (Va,) Times "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

**  "Completion of the civilian defense set up is being somewhat retarded here because of lack of volunteers for service in bomb squads, one of the most dangerous branches of the auxiliary police program."

**  "Roanoke Girl Scouts went over their goal in the annual cookie sale last night, the latest report showing a grand total of 14,410 pounds sold compared to the goal of 14,000 boxes."

I Wonder If Cookie Sales Continued During the Rest of the War.  --GreGen

Shorpy Home Front Photos: Washing Clothes and Waiting for the Parade

June 24, 2016,  DRIP-DRY: 1943.  June 1943.  "Arlington, Virginia.  Washing clothes in one of the laundry rooms at Idaho Hall, Arlington Farms, war duration residence hall for women government workers."  Esther Bubley, OWI.

July 10, 2016, WAIT WATCHERS: 1943.  July 1943.  Washington, D.C.  "Waiting for the parade ti recruit civilian defense volunteers."  Entertaining themselves with the hand-held device known as a "newspaper." Esther Bubley, OWI.

What is surprising about this photo, especially considering the segregation of the time is that blacks and whites are together by the statue of Union Civil War General Winfield Scott Hancock.

--GreGen