"The Air Raid Warden Was a Spy: And Other Tales from Home-Front America in World War II" by William B. Breuer

The author brings to light many previously unknown stories of behind-the-scenes bravery and covert activities that helped the Allies win critical victories.





Contents
Introduction

Part One—Shock Waves Hit America
"On the Ground, by God!"
Dispute in the President's Office
Calls for Retreat to Rockies
Submarines Off West Coast
Roosevelt Rallies the Nation
Eavesdropper in the German Embassy
A Television Pioneer
Instant Psychologists
Strange Doings across the Land
A Stop-and-Go Railroad Trip
"San Francisco Is Being Bombed!"
Watching for Enemy Paratroopers
A Covert Raid into Mexico
Fear for Roosevelt's Life
FBI Joins in Sinking Submarine
Rounding L'p Subversive Suspects
A Feud over Wiretapping
Mission: Halt Ambassador's Hara-Kiri
A Field Marshal Is Shocked
Nazi U-Boat in New York Harbor
A Journalist Prowls the Normandie
The Salesman's Luck Runs Out

Part Two—America under Siege Joe Louis Contributes Huge Purse
A Grieving Father Joins Navy
Self-Appointed Do-Gooders
A Hollywood Victory Committee
Actress Dies for Her Country
Dismantling a Nazi Spy Network
A Debacle in Manhattan
The Battle of Los Angeles
“We Poison Rats and Japs”
Goal: Coalition of Africa and Japan
Mysterious Malady on Ships
The FBI and the OSS Feud
Hijinks on a Hospital Roof
Suspicions Run Rampant
“German Officers” Stalk Harbor
Commercial Radio’s First War
U-Boats “Ruining” Tourist Season
Helping a German POW Escape
Strange Scenario in San Francisco
Silencing a Priest Rabble-Rouser
Nazi Agents in Key Industry Posts
Blasts Rock Defense Facilities
Eastern America Set Ablaze
The Mysterious Shangri-la
Comic Strip Puzzles Tokyo Warlords
Disaster Impacts Two U.S. Towns
“A Date with Destiny”
A Tumultuous Homecoming
Lord Haw-Haw and His Spies

Part Three—A Sleeping Giant Awakens
Invasion Target: California
Washington: Chaotic Capital
A Young Reporter Is Awed
“Doll Woman” an Enemy Agent
Panic Erupts at Concert
Standard Oil Aids the Nazis
A Guidebook for Nazi Spies
They Came to Blow Up America
Artillery Confrontation in Oregon
German-American Bund Demolished
First Lady Rattles Some Cages
“I’m Proud of You, Mom!”
Horse Racing Flourishes
Psychological Saboteurs at Work
Hollywood Superstars Sign Up to Fight
War Hero Meets Joe Kennedy
Wants to Spotlight U.S. Spies
Government Censors Movies
Navajo Code-Talkers
Popular Orchestra Disbanded
Gone with the Wind in Chicago
Nasty Bartenders and Redneck Cops
Plane Bombs Pacific Northwest

Part Four—A Nation in Total War
Covert Project on Constitution Avenue 1
Patton Calls on the President
Weapons Mysteriously Vanish
A Huge Bounty on Hitler’s Head
A Tempest in a Teapot
Press Conference for “Women Only” 1
Secret Plan to Draft Females
Women in Combat Experiment
Jailbreak for a Boyfriend
Megabucks for Jack Benny’s Violin
“Mom, Keep Your Chin Up!”
Firm Gets Big Payoff
A Glamorous Nazi Agent
Marine Commander’s Dilemma
A Patriotic Heroine’s Long Ordeal
A Platinum Smuggler’s Demise
“Get Going! Time Is Short!”
Women Flock to War Plants
Recruiting the Blind and the Deaf
Offer to a Striptease Artist
The FBI Arrests “Good Old Ernie”
America’s Least-Known Boomtown
“Hello, America! Berlin Calling!”
A Picture Stuns the Nation
A Tragedy in St. Louis
“Legal Kidnapping” by Soviet Thugs
Spy Nabbed a Second Time
Scoundrels in the War Effort
“Bomb Japan Out of Existence”
War Hero Bounced from Air Corps
An Overseer of GI Morals
Top-Secret Projects Opened to Women
Roosevelt: Chloroform Drew Pearson
An Ace German Operative

Part Five—On the Road to Victory
Hoodwinking Hitler from New York
A Spy in Allied Headquarters?
Two Broadcast Rivals Called Up
Tributes to a Fallen Female Pilot
Cheers for a Lady
D Day Anxieties and Prayers
A Virginia Town Is Jolted
Calamity at Port Chicago
Secret Project in a Movie Studio
WASPs Test New B-29
The Fable of Fala
Roosevelt’s Foe Keeps a Secret
A Father-and-Daughter Spy Team
Stumbling into a World Series
A Riot Erupts in New York City
Dark Intruders Sneak Ashore
Robot Bombs Threaten East Coast
The Führer Staggers America
Back Home for Christmas
Episode on a Florida Bus
A GI Changes His Mind

Part Six—The Lights Go On Again
A Blaze of Glory
A “Byrne-out” Hits the Nation
“It Was His Duty”
A Battered Warrior Limps Home
Visit by a Navy Chaplain
“Will I Be Able to See?”
“Franklin Died Like a Soldier”
Mama Truman Visits the White House
GIs’ Best Friend Dies in Battle
Restrained Joy Breaks Out
Two Old Friends Meet
Poll: Hang Hirohito
“Your Son Is Close to Death”
A Rain of Explosive Balloons
Paratroopers in Operation Firefly
A Purple Heart Parade
Plane Crashes into Skyscraper
An Invasion of German Scientists
Curious Happenings in Utah
A Haunting Prediction
Proposed Use of Disabling Gas
“I Was Thinking about Our Boys”
“Let’s Take a Second Day Off!”
A Nation Goes Wild
A GI Refugee Returns
“Experts” Visualize Crime Wave
Notes and Sources
Index