Spotters on the tower of the Empire State Building scan the skies for "enemy" planes, October 9, 1941. (The U.S. wasn't in the war yet.) Maneuvers to perfect the defense of the north and central Atlantic seaboard against air attacks were started by the First Air Force. Some 40,000 civilian volunteer air raid spotters assisted the Army defenders. These two men were part of a group of 36 American Legionnaires taking turns at watch on the tower.
Photo: Robert Kradin for the AP















