I wish I still had a radio old enough to have the two little symbols on the AM dial that marked the two CONELRAD frequencies (640 and 1240 IIRC). The idea was that in the event of a Soviet nuclear attack, all stations would switch to those two frequencies so the bombers couldn’t use a broadcast signal as a navigation beacon to their targets like the Japanese did at Pearl Harbor. ICBMs made that obsolete pretty quickly. (I remember air raid drills in elementary school in the ’50s, but I never ducked and/or covered.)
Man, I haven’t thought of CONELRAD in DECADES!! And I lived in Florida in the 60’s about 20 miles from MacDill Air Force Base, and remember weekly “Duck and Cover” drills during the Cuban Missile Crisis!
BE THIS GUY almost 5 years ago
Too late.
dwane.scoty1 almost 5 years ago
“Under your desks, everyone!”
pschearer Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I wish I still had a radio old enough to have the two little symbols on the AM dial that marked the two CONELRAD frequencies (640 and 1240 IIRC). The idea was that in the event of a Soviet nuclear attack, all stations would switch to those two frequencies so the bombers couldn’t use a broadcast signal as a navigation beacon to their targets like the Japanese did at Pearl Harbor. ICBMs made that obsolete pretty quickly. (I remember air raid drills in elementary school in the ’50s, but I never ducked and/or covered.)
Major Matt Mason Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Air raid drills for us meant going into the school basement. Not a bad idea, as the place was built like a fortress ca. 1910 or so…
The Old Wolf almost 5 years ago
As a child of the ’50s, this is especially delicious.
Masterskrain almost 5 years ago
Man, I haven’t thought of CONELRAD in DECADES!! And I lived in Florida in the 60’s about 20 miles from MacDill Air Force Base, and remember weekly “Duck and Cover” drills during the Cuban Missile Crisis!
Norris66 almost 5 years ago
“This is only a test, had this been an actual emergency, you would have been told to bend over, and kiss your butts good bye." ;>)
Michael G. almost 5 years ago
Ah, memories!
http://www.conelrad.com/index.php
kathybear almost 5 years ago
I thought it was CANELRAD, since the second letter is covered.