World War II Heritage Guide Map Rented Rooms to Soldiers and War Workers, and Blackouts
outs and dim-outs. German U-boats marauding and a crime wave, and apply equal justice. W IlMINgtoN at War offshore spilled debris from sunken Allied ships Citizens became volunteer airplane spotters, Southeastern North Carolina was a mighty on favorite bathing beaches. Until 1944, the Inland Waterway boat patrollers, air raid war- contributor to the U.S. war effort in World War orld ar threat remained of German attack by sea and air. dens and auxiliary police and firemen. Women W W II II. Wilmington was called “The Defense Capital The community coped with a dire housing short- excelled in the Aircraft Warning Service, war of the State” and became the country’s unique age, and strains on schools, transportation, med- wartime boomtown. The once-quiet city, geo- bond and scrap drives, and as Red Cross nurse's ical and social services, law enforcement, food aides. All of this was undertaken into 1944 graphically isolated for decades, suddenly found supply, security and entertainment. Families erItage through continuing low-light dim-outs and beach H itself an exploding center of military life and World War II Heritage Guide Map rented rooms to soldiers and war workers, and blackouts. defense production. historic houses were cut up into apartments. Each branch of the armed forces stationed Racially segregated entertainment and social of and The population more than doubled with the life proceeded, despite rationing of gasoline, Wilmington thousands in the area ---- the Army Air Forces at influx of military personnel, war workers and uIde ap tires, sugar, coffee, and whiskey. Front Street, Southeastern North Carolina g M the airport, the Army at Camp Davis and Fort their families.
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