Most People Have Never Seen These 16 Photos Taken During WWII in Delaware
By Katy|Published May 17, 2016
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Katy
Author
Katy is a life-long Delaware resident who grew up on a small grain farm and spent her summers enjoying time at the beach. A full time public relations professional by day and a content specialist with OIYS at night, Katy loves sharing her love of her home state with fellow Delawareans and others. Loves: local food, dachshunds, horseshoe crabs, hiking, farmers markets, bourbon.
For the most part, Delawareans know about the state’s connection to World War II through the fire control towers (fire as in artillery fire) that dot the shoreline. These tall concrete sentinels stood watch for enemy ships and submarines along the East Coast, and still remain as reminders of the state’s service to WWII.
But Delaware’s service to the war effort extended way beyond those 11 100-foot tall structures. Here are images from Delaware Pubic Archives, showing scenes from around the state from 1939 to 1945.
WWII saw an influx of women joining the workforce, both in civilian and military capacities. Shown here is a group of women on their way to join the Army Nurse Corp.
Dating back to the Civil War, Fort DuPont on the shores of the Delaware Bay near Delaware City, had a military presence. It served as both a mobilization readiness station and a prisoner of war camp during WWII.
Everyone was expected to help in some way, shape or form. HEre, members of Wilmington's Drama League help sell bonds and stamps. Note the dachshund on the truck; this German dog breed was used in war time advertising.
Days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Fort Miles (at the site of present day Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes) was completed. During WWII it functioned as a defense post for the Delaware Bay and the state's Atlantic coast. It housed over 2000 U.S. troops during its peak. Even though the fort did not see any combat action, nor did it ever fire its guns in defense, it did receive the crew of a German U-boat which surrendered in May 1945.
Weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dover's municipal airport was renamed Dover Army Air Field, even before it was officially opened. These humble beginnings set the stage for present day Dover Air Force Base.
7. Window display in Wilmington
Delaware Public Archives
Wilmington Trust--dating to its establishment in 1903 in Wilmington, Delaware--erected this window display to encourage financial support for the war.
At a time when technology was devoted to assisting the war, many women employed in military service served in offices. Shown here is a WAC (member of the Women's Army Corp) painting WWII insignia.
In 1939, a German merchant ship hit the original span over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The replacement bridge was opened in 1942, and is shown here with the first vehicles crossing the newly opened span.
Scrap drives collected paper, metal, and clothing all to aid in military efforts. Old clothing was used to make rags to clean military weapons, and to ship overseas to Allied forces and areas that were occupied by Axis powers.
Parades were a common way to spread support for war loans. Shown here is a parade in Dover, featuring service members from Dover's Army Air Base, drumming up business for the third war loan drive.