This photo of school children kneeling under their desks isn’t a bunch of school kids praying; it’s the Duck and Cover. I started elementary school in the 1960s, at Lincoln School, where they taught me the nuclear bomb drill — Duck and Cover. Everyone had to prepare for an atomic bomb blast from the Soviet Union. At school, I dutifully dove under my desk and hid in the fetal position. Yep, I did the “duck and cover” in the 1960s.
Duck and Cover Bomb Siren
You had to stay away from windows and cover yourself — protect your face and skin from breaking glass, and a sunburn that you would never forget (until you were dead.) But I don’t remember being told this part.
I think the siren was the two-tone sound — going up and then down.
Some sirens were one-tone.
The Duck and Cover Turtle Film
They made movies to teach us as well — the famous “Duck and Cover” produced by the Federal Civil Defense Administration. There was a cartoon character — a turtle named Bert that taught kids how he hides in his shell for safety when a monkey waves a firecracker over his head. Hmmm… no wonder I was confused and not too worried.I asked my husband if he remembers doing the drill, and he replied, “of course, it was a chance to see a girl’s underwear.” Yea, we wore dresses. Never thought of that. See, men are visual, even when they’re young.
Bomb Shelter Prepping in the 1960s
An artist’s rendition of a temporary basement fallout shelter, ca.1957.
Photograph of a display of survival supplies for the well-stocked fallout shelter, ca.1961.
Photograph of a basement family fallout shelter 1960s
Photograph of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization exhibit at a local civil defense fair. ca. 1960
This is awesome – thank you so much for the ride down memory lane. I have been feeling a bit of deja vu and realized that 1968 was a pretty horrific year. I was doing some research and ran across your article . I was born in 1960 and grew up in Tampa, near MacDill airforce base and 300 miles from Cuba so I am well versed in the “duck and cover.” What makes me happiest is that your husband validated the claim I have been making all of these years (the boys were looking at our underwear!) and why I started wearing shorts under my dresses. We could not wear pants to school until the sixth grade… maybe it was the 7th!!!!!! At least some things have changed. Let’s hope for more positive change!! Blessings! Susan
I was in elementary school in the 60’s and routinely did duck and cover. I did not realize til reading this article that I too had no idea why we were doing this. Nobody told us. It just seemed like a fire drill at the time. I should have been frightened to death! I guess part of that was youth (you just did what the grown ups said to do) and part was just the routine of it. I do remember that the sound of the siren was a bit alarming, but again, I had no fear. Just another day at school!
My favorite lie from the U.S. GOVERNMENT to survive the intense WHITE LIGHT INITIAL BLAST of the Atom Bomb was to take a single piece of newspaper and put it over your head.
Yet, that same bomb would decimate miles of buildings and earth except for you and your single sheet of newspaper.
I questioned that and my mother slapped my face for daring to defy the US government.
it wasn’t her fault she was brainwashed into being a sheep like so many people have now Become and thank God for the internet where people are beginning to wake up and question the government which now in the United States is as corrupt as any dictatorship ever on the face of this Eart.
Hi,
I write flash fiction to found images (for my own amusement, practice, and idea generation more than anything else) and found myself writing a piece in which ‘Duck and Cover’ features. As part of my research I came across your post and found it very interesting, thought you may like to see its influence in the writing; http://dakoa.deviantart.com/art/Milkshakes-and-Martians-664035426
Hope you have a greet weekend!
I remember this well, out in the San Fernando Valley, where I grew up. We had “drop drills” but I don’t recall any siren, the teacher would just yell “DROP!” and we would dive under the desks until we got the all clear. I think we knew no one would survive, or if you did, it wouldn’t be pretty.
Ahh too bad you did not get the bomb siren — it was crazy loud, like it would freak you out today if you heard it.
What a cool article! My children have asked me to write in a book all my stories. I’ve shared different stories with them about things I’ve experienced in my life. I began writing my book about 2 years ago and still have another 2 years to go. One of the things that I am sharing with them is the “Duck and Cover” part of my life. Having grown up in Baltimore, MD in the early 60’s I too experienced this. We too were never told what it was all about, we just did it because, well, because it was life back then. Are the pictures yours? Could I use some of these in my book? Have you read Hugh Nibley’s, “Teachings of the Book of Mormon”? We bought the set to gain a greater understanding. He was quite the scholar. Thanks for posting this article! It was fun to read.
That is so interesting because I have been telling my husband to write his stories too! (he has wild ones, not a member and a mom who had no rules). He must have worn out many guardian angels 🙂
I love Nibley — I have all his talks on mp3 on my site here (there is a tab at the top of the site). I listen to him and re-read his stuff all the time– still learning things from him!
The photos are not mine, but in the public domain. Keep writing — your kids will be glad.
Lol, my husband and I were just talking about this a couple of weeks ago. I think our kids thought we were crazy. First of all, they’ve always been homeschooled, and then, this just didn’t make sense to them. How was a desk going to protect us? I’m sure my husband thought the same think yours did too 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
Blessings,
Marcia