During the Cold War in the 1950s, the lifeguard station on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach was used as a Ground Observer Corps station. There was a sound detection device mounted on a pole in back of the building. It was used to detect the sound of aircraft flying in from the ocean.
There were pictures of different kinds of airplanes posted on the wall inside so you could identify the planes. My brother Ray and I were volunteers at the station.
The Ground Observer Corps was a defense system to identify possible enemy aircraft. When an airplane was detected flying in over the ocean, we would spot it with binoculars, call in its direction, altitude, how many engines and the type of plane, if possible. There was a call center in New Jersey.
That is the way the lifeguard station was being used before the summer season began.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
