The Air Raid Warden Was a Spy: And Other Tales from Home-Front America in World War II

Critical acclaim for William B. Breuer"A first-class historian."-The Wall Street JournalTop Secret Tales of World War II"A book for rainy days and long solitary nights by the fire. If there were a genre for cozy nonfiction, this would be the template."-Publishers Weekly"Perfect for the curious and adventure readers and those who love exotic tales and especially history buffs who will be surprised at what they didn't know. Recommended for nearly everyone."-Kirkus ReviewsDaring Missions of World War II"The author brings to light many previously unknown stories of behind-the-scenes bravery and covert activities that helped the Allies win critical victories."-Albuquerque JournalSecret Weapons of World War II"Rip-roaring tales . . . a delightful addition to the niche that Breuer has so successfully carved out."-Publishers WeeklyFrom the Inside FlapIn his latest collection of fresh and surprising stories from World War II, popular author and distinguished historian William Breuer recounts over fifty little-known tales of military actions, espionage, and skullduggery on the home front. Based on personal interviews, official archives, and declassified documents, The Air-Raid Warden Was a Spy features intriguing accounts of covert raids and combat experiments, spies and saboteurs, draft dodgers and do-gooders, and various escapes and secret operations.Fascinating and fast-paced, The Air-Raid Warden Was a Spy returns the reader to American shores and, in Breuer’s inimitable style, reveals dramatic and pivotal moments during the war, such as:The rounding up of 3,846 subversive suspects in the United States within the first seventy-two hours after Pearl HarborThe plane that bombed the Pacific NorthwestThe sinking of a Japanese submarine off the California coastThe near destruction of Coney Island, thanks to eager-beaver air-raid wardens who searched the friendly skies for hostile aircraftThe secret plan to draft femalesA barrage of explosive balloonsThe Nazi U-boat in New York HarborThe army bomber that crashed into the Empire State BuildingThe dismantling of a Nazi spy network based in New York City–which included U.S. citizensBreuer deftly captures the state of the nation when the first shock waves hit and war became an all-too-close-to-home reality, as women flocked to war plants and Hollywood celebrities gave up their hefty paychecks to enlist. As the stories unfold and the home front itself appears to be under siege, The Air-Raid Warden Was a Spy underscores the devotion and sacrifices of the members of the armed forces and their families–and the country’s determination to bring the global conflict to an end. From the Back CoverCritical acclaim for William B. Breuer"A first-class historian."–The Wall Street JournalTop Secret Tales of World War II"A book for rainy days and long solitary nights by the fire. If there were a genre for cozy nonfiction, this would be the template."–Publishers Weekly"Perfect for the curious and adventure readers and those who love exotic tales and especially history buffs who will be surprised at what they didn’t know. Recommended for nearly everyone."–Kirkus ReviewsDaring Missions of World War II"The author brings to light many previously unknown stories of behind-the-scenes bravery and covert activities that helped the Allies win critical victories."–Albuquerque JournalSecret Weapons of World War II"Rip-roaring tales . . . a delightful addition to the niche that Breuer has so successfully carved out."–Publishers Weekly The Air-Raid Warden Was a Spy......Page 3 Contents......Page 9 Introduction......Page 15 Part One—Shock Waves Hit America......Page 17 “On the Ground, by God!”......Page 19 Dispute in the President’s Office......Page 21 Submarines Off West Coast......Page 22 Roosevelt Rallies the Nation......Page 23 Eavesdropper in the German Embassy......Page 25 A Television Pioneer......Page 26 Instant Psychologists......Page 27 Strange Doings across the Land......Page 28 “San Francisco Is Being Bombed!”......Page 29 Watching for Enemy Paratroopers......Page 30 A Covert Raid into Mexico......Page 31 Fear for Roosevelt’s Life......Page 33 FBI Joins in Sinking Submarine......Page 34 Rounding Up Subversive Suspects......Page 35 A Feud over Wiretapping......Page 36 Mission: Halt Ambassador’s Hara-Kiri......Page 37 A Field Marshal Is Shocked......Page 39 Nazi U-Boat in New York Harbor......Page 40 The Salesman’s Luck Runs Out......Page 41 Part Two—America under Siege......Page 43 A Grieving Father Joins Navy......Page 45 Self-Appointed Do-Gooders......Page 46 A Hollywood Victory Committee......Page 47 Actress Dies for Her Country......Page 48 Dismantling a Nazi Spy Network......Page 50 A Debacle in Manhattan......Page 54 “We Poison Rats and Japs”......Page 56 Mysterious Malady on Ships......Page 61 The FBI and the OSS Feud......Page 62 Hijinks on a Hospital Roof......Page 63 “German Officers” Stalk Harbor......Page 66 Commercial Radio’s First War......Page 67 U-Boats “Ruining” Tourist Season......Page 68 Helping a German POW Escape......Page 69 Strange Scenario in San Francisco......Page 70 Nazi Agents in Key Industry Posts......Page 71 Blasts Rock Defense Facilities......Page 72 Eastern America Set Ablaze......Page 73 The Mysterious Shangri-la......Page 74 Disaster Impacts Two U.S. Towns......Page 75 A Tumultuous Homecoming......Page 76 Lord Haw-Haw and His Spies......Page 79 Part Three—A Sleeping Giant Awakens......Page 81 Washington: Chaotic Capital......Page 83 A Young Reporter Is Awed......Page 85 “Doll Woman” an Enemy Agent......Page 86 Standard Oil Aids the Nazis......Page 88 They Came to Blow Up America......Page 89 German-American Bund Demolished......Page 94 First Lady Rattles Some Cages......Page 96 Horse Racing Flourishes......Page 97 Psychological Saboteurs at Work......Page 98 Hollywood Superstars Sign Up to Fight......Page 103 War Hero Meets Joe Kennedy......Page 104 Government Censors Movies......Page 106 Navajo Code-Talkers......Page 108 Popular Orchestra Disbanded......Page 109 Gone with the Wind in Chicago......Page 110 Nasty Bartenders and Redneck Cops......Page 111 Plane Bombs Pacific Northwest......Page 114 Part Four—A Nation in Total War......Page 115 Covert Project on Constitution Avenue......Page 117 Patton Calls on the President......Page 118 Weapons Mysteriously Vanish......Page 119 Press Conference for “Women Only”......Page 120 Women in Combat Experiment......Page 121 “Mom, Keep Your Chin Up!”......Page 122 A Glamorous Nazi Agent......Page 127 A Patriotic Heroine’s Long Ordeal......Page 129 A Platinum Smuggler’s Demise......Page 133 “Get Going! Time Is Short!”......Page 135 Women Flock to War Plants......Page 138 Recruiting the Blind and the Deaf......Page 139 Offer to a Striptease Artist......Page 140 The FBI Arrests “Good Old Ernie”......Page 141 America’s Least-Known Boomtown......Page 142 “Hello, America! Berlin Calling!”......Page 144 A Picture Stuns the Nation......Page 149 A Tragedy in St. Louis......Page 150 “Legal Kidnapping” by Soviet Thugs......Page 152 Spy Nabbed a Second Time......Page 153 Scoundrels in the War Effort......Page 155 “Bomb Japan Out of Existence”......Page 157 An Overseer of GI Morals......Page 158 Top-Secret Projects Opened to Women......Page 159 Roosevelt: Chloroform Drew Pearson......Page 160 An Ace German Operative......Page 161 Part Five—On the Road to Victory......Page 163 Hoodwinking Hitler from New York......Page 165 A Spy in Allied Headquarters?......Page 166 Tributes to a Fallen Female Pilot......Page 168 Cheers for a Lady......Page 170 D Day Anxieties and Prayers......Page 171 Calamity at Port Chicago......Page 175 WASPs Test New B-29......Page 176 The Fable of Fala......Page 177 Roosevelt’s Foe Keeps a Secret......Page 178 A Father-and-Daughter Spy Team......Page 179 Stumbling into a World Series......Page 181 A Riot Erupts in New York City......Page 183 Dark Intruders Sneak Ashore......Page 186 Robot Bombs Threaten East Coast......Page 188 The Führer Staggers America......Page 190 Episode on a Florida Bus......Page 193 A GI Changes His Mind......Page 194 Part Six—The Lights Go On Again......Page 195 A Blaze of Glory......Page 197 “It Was His Duty”......Page 200 A Battered Warrior Limps Home......Page 201 “Will I Be Able to See?”......Page 202 “Franklin Died Like a Soldier”......Page 205 Mama Truman Visits the White House......Page 207 Restrained Joy Breaks Out......Page 208 Poll: Hang Hirohito......Page 210 “Your Son Is Close to Death”......Page 211 A Rain of Explosive Balloons......Page 213 Paratroopers in Operation Firefly......Page 215 A Purple Heart Parade......Page 216 An Invasion of German Scientists......Page 217 Curious Happenings in Utah......Page 219 Proposed Use of Disabling Gas......Page 220 “Let’s Take a Second Day Off!”......Page 221 A Nation Goes Wild......Page 222 A GI Refugee Returns......Page 223 “Experts” Visualize Crime Wave......Page 224 Notes and Sources......Page 225 Index......Page 237 "In his latest collection of stories from World War II, popular author and distinguished historian William Breuer recounts over fifty little-known tales of military actions, espionage, and skullduggery on the home front. Based on personal interviews, official archives, and declassified documents, The Air-Raid Warden Was a Spy features intriguing accounts of covert raids and combat experiments, spies and saboteurs, draft dodgers and do-gooders, and various escapes and secret operations." "Fascinating and fast-paced, The Air-Raid Warden Was a Spy returns the reader to American shores and, in Breuer's inimitable style, reveals dramatic and pivotal moments during the war, such as: the rounding up of 3,846 subversive suspects in the United States within the first seventy-two hours after Pearl Harbor, the plane that bombed the Pacific Northwest, the sinking of a Japanese submarine off the California coast, the near destruction of Coney Island thanks to eager-beaver air-raid wardens who searched the friendly skies for hostile aircraft, the secret plan to draft females, a barrage of explosive balloons, the Nazi U-boat in New York Harbor, the army bomber that crashed into the Empire State Building, and the dismantling of a Nazi spy network based in New York City - which included U.S. citizens." "Breuer deftly captures the nation when the first shock waves hit and war became an all-too-close-to-home reality, as women flocked to war plants and Hollywood celebrities gave hefty paychecks to enlist. As the stories unfold and the home front itself appears to be under siege, The Air-Raid Warden Was a Spy underscores the devotion and sacrifices of the members of the armed forces and their families - and the country's determination to bring the global conflict to an end."--Jacket

Critical acclaim for William B. Breuer

"A first-class historian."
-The Wall Street Journal

Top Secret Tales of World War II

"A book for rainy days and long solitary nights by the fire. If there were a genre for cozy nonfiction, this would be the template."
-Publishers Weekly

"Perfect for the curious and adventure readers and those who love exotic tales and especially history buffs who will be surprised at what they didn't know. Recommended for nearly everyone."
-Kirkus Reviews

Daring Missions of World War II

"The author brings to light many previously unknown stories of behind-the-scenes bravery and covert activities that helped the Allies win critical victories."
-Albuquerque Journal

Secret Weapons of World War II

"Rip-roaring tales . . . a delightful addition to the niche that Breuer has so successfully carved out."
-Publishers Weekly

William Breuer, popular raconteur of fresh and surprising stories from World War II, returns with over fifty little-known tales from the homefront. Based on Breuer's extensive collection of information from personal interviews, official archives, declassified documents, books, articles, and magazines, this fascinating book shares brief stories of military action and espionage on the homefront during World War II stories that are vivid, fast-paced, and incredibly dramatic Critically acclaimed author and historian William B. Breuer presents more than fifty little-known tales from the homefront during World War II, focusing on military actions, espionage, and skullduggery. Like Breuer's previous works, this book features fascinating stories that are vivid, fast-paced, and dramatic. Collects fifty lesser-known World War II stories of military and espionage on the home front as drawn from personal interviews, official archives, declassified documents, books, articles, and magazines. AMERICA'S MAGNIFICENT CAPITOL, its huge white dome topped by a twenty-foot-high statue of Freedom, was keeping watch over sprawling Washington, D.C., on this bleak, frigid Sunday of December 7, 1941.