by Ken Marotte
Citrus County Historical Society
Long before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, ordinary Americans (including citizens in Citrus
County) were preparing to defend our country.
THE GATHERING STORM
Almost a year before Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, the US Army recognized that existing coastal
defenses could not protect against attack by potential enemies. Radar was in its infancy and there were
not enough units available to protect the entire coastline. The Generals decided that they would
assemble civilian volunteers into a formal Army Auxiliary unit. That group of patriotic citizens would
serve as the eyes and ears of the military to identify and report any aircraft spotted in the local area
until other measures could blunt the risk of enemy attacks.
THE AIRCRAFT WARNING SERVICE IS ESTABLISHED
The first test of the new civilian observation group was conducted in Northeastern cities during January,
1941. Over 10,000 observers used posts set on city buildings, schools, residential housetops, barns, firetowers, and chicken coops to detect a fleet of “enemy” bombers approaching from the sea.
The results of the initial test were so positive that plans were made to expand the new group – dubbed
the “Aircraft Warning Service” (AWS) – across the country. Florida joined the program in June, 1941.
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