E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the Columbia Basin Herald on July 31, 1952:

Today we continue the account of Columbia Basin Herald Editor Ned Thomas as he volunteered to stand watch at the beginning of Operation Skywatch, which was a part of the Ground Observer Corps.

Dennis note: Remember, the motivation for the expansion of the original Ground Observer Corps into Operation Skywatch was the Cold War and Russia having the atomic bomb and long-range bombers.

This program involved over 750,000 volunteers in observation posts across the United States reporting approaching aircraft to authorities.

My mother, Enid Clay, did not serve in the military. She didn't serve on a military base or take up arms to stop an enemy, but she was important to the security of the United States.

At a time when the Cold War raged between the Soviet Union and the United States, a certain level or fear was constant. School children were taught to duck and cover in the case of a nuclear explosion, fallout shelters were built, yes right here in Moses Lake and Titan Missiles were placed in the greater Columbia Basin area.

My mom was a part of this Cold War effort: Keeping enemy aircraft from sneaking in to cause harm to our homeland. Proud? You bet. Enid Clay and other volunteers who were a part of Operation Skywatch should be recognized as equal to the military personnel who served in similar capacities.

Next time you see Mom, Enid Clay, tell her, "Thanks for your service."

She will be a bit embarrassed, because she thinks her service wasn't much, but it was an important element, an important brick, in the foundation of our security. She was one of the Skywatch volunteers. Read on.

Continued: Trucks sound like airplanes to spotter in lonely vigil for Operation Skywatch

By Ned Thomas

The observer isn't supposed to report obvious traffic at Larson Air Force Base or the Moses Lake Municipal Airport. But any other aircraft he reports. When he reports, he gives nine pieces of information: Number of aircraft; one, few (1 to 10), many (11 or more) or unknown.

Type of aircraft; single motor, bi-motor, multi-motor, single jet, multi-jet or unknown. Altitude of aircraft; very low, low, high, very high or unknown.

Time delay in reporting; anything under 30 seconds is classed as "no delay," over that, you report delay to the nearest minute. Code name of observation post, such as Alfa Coca 40 Block or AC40B for short.

Directions of aircraft from OP. You're supposed to place your call so the plane is right opposite you when you report it. Distance of aircraft from OP; you estimate this to the nearest mile.

Direction aircraft is flying. Lastly: Special remarks, such as hostile aircraft (how're you supposed to know at night?), blimp, helicopter, or "aircraft in combat or distress."

The manual also gives the qualifications for observers.You must have normal hearing (hearing aids permissible), normal eyesight (or normal eyesight when corrected with glasses), ability to speak clearly and distinctly to the filter center, ability to exercise good judgment and make proper decisions and definite loyalty to the United States "which can be checked by a personal clearance."

Operation Skywatch continued next week ...