World War II brought the threat of attacks from the skies. As such, the coasts began blackout practice, which entailed extinguishing or covering anything that could emit light. The idea was that enemy pilots would not know where to attack if there were no lights along the coast. By the end of 1942, the practice had moved inland to the center of the U.S. mainland, where most of our relatives lived.
The Rules
The rules of the blackout were simple, but disruptive to people’s lives. From the time the signal sounded until the all clear signal was given, everything was to go dark. All lights of any kind, electric, gas, candles, and even cigarettes were to be completely obscured from anyone looking from anywhere outside. Not the tiniest bit of light was to escape. Officials believed that the light from a single candle could be seen from twelve miles away if the pilots eyes were well adjusted to total darkness.
In The Buildings
If someone was home, they were to extinguish all lights of all types. If a light was absolutely required for some reason (birthing a baby was an acceptable reason), the occupants were required to use the most minimal light possible and to cover the windows so that no light – not even a small sliver shown. This same rule applied to businesses and any other buildings. The only exception was factories creating war goods, which had been running 24/7 since before the United Stated entered the war. The government did not demand that these businesses go dark for tests, but would be in a real emergency. Boeing, where dad’s sister O’Ella worked in Wichita, chose to have an abbreviated test lasting 5 minutes. This allowed them to show that they could go dark if necessary. Yet, it limited the down time to a minimum.
If individuals and business owners were going to be away from their home or business, they were to extinguish all lights prior to leaving. Once the signal was given, it was too late for the people to return and extinguish them.
On The Streets
Only air raid wardens or others assisting with the blackout enforcement were allowed on the streets during a blackout. If the signal was given while some was outside, the person was to take shelter in the nearest open building.
Automobiles and other vehicles were also required to go dark. If someone was driving down the street when the signal was given, they were required to pull to the curb and turn off all lights for the duration. They were also supposed to leave the key in the ignition (why I am not sure). People were strongly encouraged not to be on the highway for planned blackouts. However, if they were, they were to pull on the shoulder or a side road. People then were to extinguished all their lights just like if they were in town.
These rules applied to public transportation as well with the exception of trains. They were not required to participate in the blackout practice. However, most drew their curtains and dimmed their headlights to the minimum required for them to navigate.
The Telephone
Southwest Bell advertised to not use the telephone during or for 30 minutes after the blackout except in an emergency. Although restricted telephone usage wasn’t required for a test, they wanted people to become accustomed to the rule should a real blackout occur.
The Signal
Each city and town determined how to signal a blackout in their community. Each signal was unique to the particular community. The towns used fire signals, train whistles, church bells, school bells, or air raid sirens. Generally, the alert was given in some pattern, such as, two long whistles/sounds or a long followed by a short. From the time the signal sounded until the all clear signal was given, everything was to go dark – every house, car, store, restaurant, and more.
People in rural areas couldn’t hear these signals. So, in many cases, they used emergency rings of the telephone system to alert residents of the test.
The First Local Blackout Practice
The first blackout practice that impacted a majority of our family was the Army Seventh Service Command’s 9 state test covering over 700,000 square miles. It covered Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and a few counties in Illinois near St. Louis. People across the area were given advance notice through the newspaper and radio of the blackout practice at 10:00 p.m. on December 14, 1942 (Monday).
That night many people prepared by shutting off as many lights as possible ahead of the appointed time. Photographs from Wichita, Kansas showed a major street almost completely dark five minutes before the signal was to be given. However, most of our families were farmers and they were almost always in bed at this time of night. So, this first test had little impact on them.
Once the signal was given the air raid wardens and others who had been signed up to assist in blackouts, leapt into action looking for the glimmer of light anywhere. Additionally, officials flew overhead to see if light could be seen from the skies. As a result of enforcement and threats of penalties, almost every light went out. It was estimated that communities had 95-100% participation. Any lights that found on were, in most cases, quickly extinguished. Likewise, any cars found driving on the streets or highways were asked to immediately pull to the side of the road and extinguish their lights.
Consequences
Compliance was encouraged by the penalties assessed for lights that were shining. In Wichita, for example, leaving a light on could cost you up to $500 and time in jail. For the first test, they only gave warnings to people who had unintentionally violated the rules. However, they assured people that a second violation would cost them. Other places were not so lenient fining people small fines for even minor infractions.
Leaving a light on when you weren’t home, could be even more expensive. Besides the fine, “Block wardens” and others supporting enforcement had the authority to break a window to get in your house and turn off your lights. Thus, inadvertently leaving a light on could also cost the price of replacing a pane of glass.
Unintended Consequences
The men manning the streets watched to minimize any criminal behavior. However, no one could think of all the possible consequences of the blackout. At McPherson College, when the lights went out, the “boys” rushed from their dorm to the “girl’s” dorm. The matron couldn’t keep them out on her own and had to call for help. Just shows that people will make a good thing out of anything OR take advantage of any situation. It all depends on your perspective.
Another interesting unintended consequence was that when the signal was given, the people started talking in whispers. It was not required, but it was observed in many locations.
Ongoing Blackout Practice
Future blackout practices came with little or no warning. Thus, much of the preparation of the first test, could not be performed. Lights couldn’t be turned out in advance and people couldn’t plan not to be on the roads. Although tiresome, these subsequent tests were much more representative of a real surprise attack.
Targets
Our family regularly participated in these practices as required. Some family members were much closer to potential enemy targets than others. The McCracken and Pellett farms were over 40 nautical miles from an ammunition plant near Parsons. The plant was likely the closest potential target to them.
The Thomson and Helm families were about 10 nautical miles closer to a potential target, as a B-26 bomber factory had been built at Offutt Field outside Omaha. However, Dad’s sisters lived in Wichita were in a much more vulnerable area, not only because it was a city, but because it was the air capital of the world. What enemy wouldn’t want to take out a series of airplane manufacturing plants?
Rural Enforcement
Enforcement of blackouts in the rural areas where most of our families lived could not be done on foot. In those areas men would drive cars would drive down the country roads to ensure they saw no lights. Dad said that in their household they would extinguish the kerosene lamp in the kitchen and the gas lamp in the living room. He didn’t think either lamp gave off enough light to see with if you were next to them. Thus, he didn’t quite buy into the belief of the power of a single candle to be seen from far away. He thought that a bomber would have to be flying mighty low to see the faint glow coming from their house. And, that the same would be true if the family lit every lamp they owned.
Safer Than the Coast
Despite the repeated tests and strong enforcement, it was doubtful that anyone really thought the enemy could reach the interior of the country unscathed. The chance of an attack from the air in Kansas and Nebraska was really low. Therefore, collections of sculptures and paintings by famous artists, including Renoir, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt were moved from galleries and museums in more vulnerable areas of the country to the Nelson Art Gallery in Kansas City for safekeeping until the war was over.
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