#TBT in the Archives 2/4/16: WWII Air Raid Preparations

Even though Shippensburg University was never the target of World War II bombings, the college took all precautions necessary to ensure the safety of the student body. Throughout the war, Shippensburg used a couple of different techniques to get the word out about what to do in case of an enemy attack on campus, or elsewhere in the country.

This clip from the 1942 Campus Reflector shows that Shippensburg was helping the war effort not just by preparing students for crises, but by advertising war bonds. This war bond ad pictures Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller who left baseball from 1942-1944 to serve in the Navy.

During the war, Shippensburg would publish "Air Raid Precautions" in the student handbooks so that students would know what to do if an air raid ever did befall the campus. The university designated stations where students could go to be safe in the event that enemy bombing ever came through Shippensburg.

This section from the 1943-1944 Shippensburg State Teachers College student handbook explains how the campus was preparing for a potential attack.

To ensure that everyone on campus knew what to do and how to find the shelters, the university would hold regular training for students and faculty. This was imperative to the safety of everyone not only when they were on campus, but also when they were traveling, perhaps to areas more susceptible to enemy air attacks.

This clip from the Campus Reflector, released exactly 74 years ago, shows the importance of being prepared for enemy attacks.

The college made sure that every student had a detailed list of the locations of all the campus safety shelters. The handout also detailed what to bring to the shelter and how to act when there. If a raid were to happen, it would have been vital that everyone adhere to these rules to ensure their safety until the threat had subsided.

This is the "Air Raid Safety" handout given to students in the 1941-42 school year. It outlines all of the vital information which a student or faculty member would need to know in a time of crisis, including where to seek shelter on campus (particular corridors, locker rooms, and communal buildings such as the gym were designated as shelters).

Want to learn more about Ship's history? No need to wait for the next Throwback Thursday! Contact Archives & Special Collections via e-mail: specialcollections@ship.edu or phone: 717-477-1516.