Dublin Core
Title
Personal Accounts from Aircraft Spotters
Subject
Aircraft Spotter Corp
Description
Narratives from Louisa County Aircraft Spotters
Norma Trainham Peers, Green Springs District, Louisa Co, VA
Norma said that she and her husband, Millard Filmore Peers, lived in the Green Springs. Fill's parents owned a large property on the north side of Rt. 22, a mile or so east of the intersection of
Rt. 22 & Rt. 15. Both she and her husband would go up to "The Corner" or "Piedmont," as the area has been known most of her life. That is, the intersection of Rt. 22 and Rt. 15 (near Boswells' Tavern).
On the southwest corner of the intersection sat Fred Gallion's service station (where the Shell Station is today). On that property was a small house where they reported any plane activity. She said they usually worked in shifts, from 6 PM to mid-night or mid-night to 6 AM. In addition to Norma and Filmore, she remembered that Alfred Peers (her husband's brother), Thomas Leckie and his sister, Catherine, and Francis & Fredericka Purcell also were spotters. She said there were probably others, but she does not remember. Their job was to listen for planes, any planes, and report it at this building at "The Corner."
On the Peers' property (at the old home place) was a landing strip. Norma said this strip was also a place where folks spotted planes.
Thomas Leckie, Green Springs, Louisa Co. VA
Tom Leckie said that he and his sister, Catherine, spotted planes, from their parents' farm, located on Rt. 22, about four or five miles east of the intersection of Rt 15 & Rt 22. They spotted planes, both single engine and bi-planes and the direction the planes were headed. Their job was to report any activity by phone (a no-charge long distance number in Richmond).
Tom served as a spotter from 1941 until 1942 when he enlisted. At first he tried to get into the Navy, but they said he couldn't see well enough to use a gas mask. He then tried the Army and they gave him a gas mask with built in eyeglasses. So, he served in the field artillery in Belgium, Germany and France. He does not remember if his sister continued to spot planes. Tom returned from war in 1945.
Norma Trainham Peers, Green Springs District, Louisa Co, VA
Norma said that she and her husband, Millard Filmore Peers, lived in the Green Springs. Fill's parents owned a large property on the north side of Rt. 22, a mile or so east of the intersection of
Rt. 22 & Rt. 15. Both she and her husband would go up to "The Corner" or "Piedmont," as the area has been known most of her life. That is, the intersection of Rt. 22 and Rt. 15 (near Boswells' Tavern).
On the southwest corner of the intersection sat Fred Gallion's service station (where the Shell Station is today). On that property was a small house where they reported any plane activity. She said they usually worked in shifts, from 6 PM to mid-night or mid-night to 6 AM. In addition to Norma and Filmore, she remembered that Alfred Peers (her husband's brother), Thomas Leckie and his sister, Catherine, and Francis & Fredericka Purcell also were spotters. She said there were probably others, but she does not remember. Their job was to listen for planes, any planes, and report it at this building at "The Corner."
On the Peers' property (at the old home place) was a landing strip. Norma said this strip was also a place where folks spotted planes.
Thomas Leckie, Green Springs, Louisa Co. VA
Tom Leckie said that he and his sister, Catherine, spotted planes, from their parents' farm, located on Rt. 22, about four or five miles east of the intersection of Rt 15 & Rt 22. They spotted planes, both single engine and bi-planes and the direction the planes were headed. Their job was to report any activity by phone (a no-charge long distance number in Richmond).
Tom served as a spotter from 1941 until 1942 when he enlisted. At first he tried to get into the Navy, but they said he couldn't see well enough to use a gas mask. He then tried the Army and they gave him a gas mask with built in eyeglasses. So, he served in the field artillery in Belgium, Germany and France. He does not remember if his sister continued to spot planes. Tom returned from war in 1945.
Creator
Doniphan Purcell Howland
Source
Oral histories of local residents
Publisher
Louisa County Historical Society
Date
1941-1945
Contributor
Doniphan Purcell Howland
Rights
No retrictions
Contribution Form
Online Submission
No