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Lexington, Mass
July 19, 194u
To Chairman, Executive Committee)
LE;,iINGTCN CIVILIEud D2'.gN$E COMMITTEE
From. Allen W Rucker, Cna.irman, sub-committee
on Air Defense
SUBJECT Air Delouse Organization, Report
of Progress ^^rr
To date this committee has organized and put Into operation\if
the i olloaing moves
4CXela
1 Personnel Lexington residents who are members of ti3
Minute Man Sportmena Club)sedrthe American- Legion ynx wf
. Simm0/all familiar with fire-arms and many of b em
with past records of active military service. We shall
shortly have a more complete survey snowing the number
of men available for air defense and not subject to
immediate call for military service, both in and outside
of the two organizations named; a Personnel Officer is in charge
1
2 Arms. We have initiated and will have complete within
ten days an inventory of fire-arms available among the
membership of the two organizations named above, as to
type and model, calibre and guage of rifles, shot-guns
and small-arms A Gunnery Officer is in charge of the
inventory and possible disposition of available arms
3 lv s. We have provided for complete topographical and
outline maps of the town, showing all military features
including landing points for planes and for parachutists
with possible points of attack identified. On those maps
necessary tactical information will be plotted to permit
concentration and disposition of defense forces to best
advantage A Range Officer is in charge of this work.
4. Vital Areas We have initiated a complete listing and
mapping for identification all vital areas in the Town,
including water supply, lighting, communication and
fuel storage, preliminary to determining tactical dis-
position for the defense of such areas; an Area officer
is in charge of this work.
5 Transportation. We have undertaken to set up plans pro-
viding
for transportation of defense forces, routes of
travel to critical areas, and the transportation and
storeage of equipment as may be later required A .supply
Officer is in charge of this phase of the work.
(2)
6 Communication and Signalling We have provided for
laison with adjoining Towns with respect to joint action
at critical areas lying in one, two or more towns, as
and when similar committees in such towns are organized;
we have provided for investigation of portable or semi-
portable two-way radio sets; we have under way a plan
for providing the necessary signal arrangements with
all units of the defense committee in event of alarms
7 Scouting. Vie expect to secure the cooperation of the
Doy and Girl Scout units as lookouts assigned to cover the
several defense zones in vicinity of their homes and trained
to communicate with the proper headquarters; we hope to
enlist the cooperation of mail-carriers, milk drivers and
similar persons in scouting or lookout activities; a
Scout Officer is in charge
3. Organization We expect to zone the Town by certain
areas; the residences of all members of the Air Defense
Corps will be msrked on a map and as far as feasible
members assigned to defense duty in their own or nearby
zones; each unit or section will be in command of a i
leader chosen in light of past military experience with
a second in command; coordinated action of all units and
sections will be provided for; the duties, dispositions,
routes and positions as well as concentration points
will be assigned; subsequently, movements will be rehearsed
until all personnel is entirely familiar with its duties
in the several conditions which may arise; a Headquarters
and necessary Officer personnel will be in charge.
9 Target Practice Arrangements are being made for familiarizing
the Air Defense Corps with airplane tactics, rates of flight,
appearance of the target at various ranges; contact will be
made through the Adjutant General's Office for securing
available material and data on recent experience from the
Army General Staff; classes will be held, supplemented by
small scale planes operated on wires, to permit sighting
practice; target practice will be organized with special
encouragement to all Corps members who wish to brush up
and who have not been actively in such sports in recent years;
A Range Officer and the Gunnery Officer will be in charge.
10. Tactical Dispositions Upon completion of the necessary mapping
of Vital Areas, Critical Points of Attack, etc , the committee
will continue its work in noting defense positions for day and
for night use, to be occupied in event of emergency, with
especial attention to the tactical movement and mission of
(U)
units and sections under varying conditions; the basic
conditions under whica the Corps will operate will be
explained in meetings to be hold in the future, a schedule
for which will be arranged; the basic mission of the defense
units will be established and the tactical operations to
achieve it set out; from time to time maneouvers will be
undertaken as time and circumstances make practicable to
render the Air Defense Corps a unit in action; a Tactical
Officer with section and unit leaders will be in charge.
Summary This committee will reduce all plan developments
to paper and communicate them to the Executive Committee from
time to time.
The members of the committee are cooperra�ting eenthusiastically
and earnestly and our plans may be expected t at —Gil dispatch.
Allen W Bucker, Chairman
SUB-COMKITTEE on AIR Dia MDSE
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