During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, men from the Army medical unit, wearing white arm bands with the red cross, lay out their field dressings and stretcher prior to entering a "bombed" building to bring out casualties. The drill simulated a bomb attack on Tacoma.

World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Civilian Defense. Portrait of large group of men wearing uniforms with red cross armbands in front of first aid vehicles. Historic Fire Station #1 is in the background. The men are a medical team from Fort Lewis that has been assigned to Tacoma in the case of an attack, such as a bombing. The group portrait was taken during a March 21, 1943 drill that simulated just that occurrence.

World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Group portraits--1940-1950; Fire stations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Four young marble players at Central School practice for the Tacoma Times City Marble Championship. The winner received a $25 war bond. Left to right: Sun Chow Ling, Carl Jackson, Earl Carroll and Vertis Barrett. (T. Times, 5/3/43, p. 12)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Children playing with marbles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A young marble player, tongue held firmly for concentration, practiced for the Tacoma Times city marble championship at Central school in April of 1943. The winner received a $25.00 war bond.

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Children playing with marbles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In 1943, Marilyn Field (far left), Betty Hall, Doris Sunnen and Suzanne Marion were members of the first battalion of the Tacoma Girl Scout "Safety Pin Brigade". Because of the war, there was a shortage of safety pins in Tacoma. Expectant and new mothers were having difficulty finding fasteners for dipers. Tacoma's Girl Scouts collected pins and attached them to paper cards. The donated pins were made available to all mothers in need. (T. Times, 4/30/43, p.1)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Central School 1B Class. First graders learn to cook. Duane Carter, left, and Edward Mantell, right, wearing aprons, check the contents of a pan sitting on top of a hot plate. The hot plate is on a table with an empty milk bottle, a can of Nestle's cocoa and measuring cup. The boys are making cocoa, with materials supplied by the Dairy Council. (T.Times, 4/24/1943, p. 5)

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carter, Duane; Mantell, Edward

Boy Scout "victims" relax in a military ambulance after being rescued by Civil Defense unit members during a March 21, 1943 drill. The drill simulated the bombing of Tacoma by enemy forces. It opened with a squadron of P-38's flying low over the scene for realism.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Two men in suits stand by their vehicles speaking into field phones, tracking the progress of the March 21, 1943 Civil Defense drill. The drill simulated the bombing of Tacoma, with attendant destruction of buildings and casualties.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

On March 21, 1943, Civil Defense units, public works, public utilities and a medical team from Fort Lewis all participated in a drill that simulated Tacoma being bombed by enemy planes. Such drills were common as Civil Defense units, especially in west coast cities, learned how to respond in case of emergency. White fire hoses snake across the ground where fire fighters fight a very real blaze set in an abandoned building. The fire had been purposely set for training reasons.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

A trio pose in front of the Hotel Winthrop during the March 21, 1943 civil defense drill. The man in the center is believed to be Fire Chief Emory Whitaker.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Civil Defense. Man with helmet reading "Incident Officer" points to area out of picture range; three other men in picture look in that direction. All of the men are standing by a large truck.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Man with hard hat labeled "Incident Officer" writes information on a pad for the other man kneeling on a truck bed.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

Medical units rolled out during a civil defense drill on March 21, 1943, passing the historic Fire Station No. 1 at 425 Tacoma Ave. So. The drill, which simulated bombs being dropped on Tacoma, involved Civil Defense units, public works, public utilities and a medical team from Fort Lewis that was assigned to Tacoma in case of bombing. The drill began on the quiet Sunday afternoon with a squadron of P-38's flying low over the city to lend realism to the event. Fire Station No.1 was built in 1919 and is currently on both the City and the National Historic Registry.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Ambulances--Tacoma--1940-1950; Emergency medical services;

During a practice "incident" on Sunday March 21, 1943, the fire fighters hook up to a hydrant to battle a real blaze purposely set in an industrial area. The "incident" was being staged as a civil defense practice; it simulated a bombing of Tacoma. The Fire Service also took this opportunity to test the new fully equipped pumping unit of Company 7 of the Auxiliary Fire Service. Companies 2 and 5 also responded to the incident. (T. Times 3/24/1943, pg. 18)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, members of the Auxiliary Fire Service fought a real blaze that had been purposely set in an industrial area. The purpose was to test out the new pumping equipment of Company 7. Companies 2 and 5 also took part in the drill that simulated bombs being dropped on Tacoma.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During the March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, two pumping trucks hooked up to a fire hydrant to fight the real blaze purposely set in an industrial area. Companies 2, 5 and 7 of the Auxiliary Fire Service responded to the call. The drill simulated a bombing raid on Tacoma. Cities on the West Coast were considered vulnerable to attacks.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Members of Company 7 of the Auxiliary Fire Service hook up to a hydrant during the March 21, 1943 civil defense drill. They were battling a real blaze that was deliberately set in an abandoned building in the industrial district. The purpose of the blaze was to test their newly equipped pumping unit.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During a civil defense drill on March 21, 1943, members of Tacoma's Auxiliary Fire Service fought a fire that was deliberately set in the industrial district. The fire was started to give the Civil Defense fire fighters real life experience with their equipment. Taking part in the drill were Companies 2, 5 and 7. (TNT 3/24/1943, pg. 4)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The auxiliary Civil Defense Fire Service battled a very real blaze during a March 21, 1943 drill. The drill simulated a bombing raid by enemy forces on Tacoma; but a real fire was set purposely in the industrial district to give the Fire Service some fire fighting experience.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, members of Tacoma's Auxiliary Fire Service fought a real blaze set in an abandoned building in the industrial district. The experience was intended to give the fire fighters real experience and to test their equipment.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On March 21, 1943 Tacoma's Civilian Defense units, an Army medical unit from Fort Lewis, and the city's departments of public works and public utilities took part in a civil defense drill to test their ability to respond to an enemy attack on the city. The medical unit was photographed as they carried a "casualty" out of the Florence Apartments at 414-22 Tacoma Avenue South after the building was "demolished" by an enemy bomber. The exercises reportedly went smoothly; Tacoma was well prepared to deal with the aftermath of any attack on the city from the air. (T.Times 3/24/1943, pg. 18)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Florence Apartments (Tacoma);

During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, "The Florence," an apartment building located at 414-22 Tacoma Ave. So., was designated as a building demolished by a bomb, where "casualties" needed to be evacuated. During the drill, residents smiled gamely down at the photographer. The Florence had been built in 1923 by William T. Post, who named it after his oldest daughter. It was designed by Lundberg & Mahon, architects.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Florence Apartments (Tacoma);

During a March 21, 1943 civil defense exercise, two uniformed motorcycle officers discuss the situation with a Civil Defense worker outside the Florence Apartments, 414-22 Tacoma Ave. So. The exercise simulated a strategic bombing of Tacoma and the Florence has been designated a destroyed building with "casualties" needing to be evacuated.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Florence Apartments (Tacoma);

The members of one of the companies of Tacoma's auxiliary civil defense fire service posed with their engine and Tacoma Fire Chief Emory Whitaker outside of "The Florence," 414-22 Tacoma Ave. So. The photograph was taken either before or after a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill. The drill proposed that Tacoma had been bombed by enemy forces and the Florence Apartments had been destroyed.

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Florence Apartments (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma's Zone Air Raid Wardens met at the Hotel Winthrop to discuss the "V-Home" campaign, kicking off April 19th and ending May 3, 1943. Pictured standing, left to right, are R.J. Carino, Charles Strong, C.W. Sangster, Tom Miller, Paul Garver, James Crawford; seated Handel Ingham, Russell Longworth. Zone Wardens were responsible for the coordination of precinct and block wardens in their zone. Over 5500 wardens in Tacoma would be involved in the campaign. V (for Victory) Home stickers would be presented by block wardens to those homes that followed instructions to prepare their homes for defense against enemy air activity; conserve food, health and transportation; buy war bonds and save salvage. The wardens are holding a V-Home poster with a simulation of the stamp. (T. Times, 4/19/1943, p.2; TNT 4/19/1943, pg. 19) TPL-6415

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Group portraits; Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Tacoma's eight Zone Air Raid Wardens met at the Hotel Winthrop to receive posters and other materials for the national V-Home campaign, scheduled to start Monday. V-Home stood for Victory Home, and it was a civil defense program targeted at teaching citizens to defend themselves in case of enemy attack. They were also expected to conserve, ration, buy war bonds and save salvage. The Zone wardens coordinated the effort of the precincts and block Air Raid Wardens. They are, left to right, R.J. Carino with printed air raid instructions, Paul Garver with a V-Home poster, C.W. Sangster, Tom Miller, Handel Ingham, Russell Longworth and James Crawford. Seated is Charles Strong holding a copy of the new bomb protection regulation. (TNT 4/19/1943, pg. 1-picture, T. Times, 4/19/1943, p. 2).

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Group portraits;

An unidentified couple poses in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In 1943 the United States celebrated the second wartime Mother's Day of WWII. Hundreds of local mothers took jobs in Tacoma's industrial plants to help the war effort. Women employees like these photographed at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. helped the company that year achieve the coveted "E" pennant for efficiency in production. During the war, much of the American work force was composed of women who had replaced the thousands of men serving in the Armed Forces. (T.Times 5-8-43, p. 1-article)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Service mothers in Defense Plants. Lunch served at many tables outdoors at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company on May 8, 1943, to honor the war-time workers on Mother's Day who are mothers of service men. (Penn Salt) (T. Times)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Luncheons--Tacoma;

Exterior of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company with one of the plant's gardeners in overalls and cap admiring the iris bed. Penn Salt was located on the Tacoma tideflats, along the Hylebos Waterway. TPL-8556

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gardens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);