Bluffs and Piasa Bird, 2016

Undated "What To Do In Case of An Air Raid" Document

Citation

“Undated "What To Do In Case of An Air Raid" Document,” Madison Historical, accessed November 19, 2025, https://madison-historical.siue.edu/archive/items/show/2433.

Rights

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Description

One-page satirical message listing eight things to do when an air raid occurs.

Transcription

  • "WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN AIR RAID" "1. As soon as the boom start dropping. run like hell" (it doesn't matter where, as long as you run like hell.) "(a) Wear track shoes if possible. If the people in front of you are slow you won't have any troble getting over them." "2 Take advantage of opportunities afforded you when air raid siree sound the warning o attack. i.e (a) if in a bakery. grab some pies or cakes. ect. (b) if in a tavers grab a bottle (c) if in a moive. grab a blonde." "if you find an unexpleded bomb. always pick it up and shake it violently, (maybe the firing pin is stock). if that does'nt work. have it in the furnace. the fire Dept. will come later and take care of things" "4 if an incendiary bomb is found burning n a building throw gasoline on it you cant put it out anyhow so you might just as well have little fun. (a) if no gasoline is availbale. throw a bucket of water on it and lie down-you're dead. note-the properties of the bomb fire the hydrogen from the water causing rather rapid combuetion. in fact, it will explode with a helluvn crash." "5. Always get excited and holler bloody murder. (it will add to the fun and scare the heck out of the kids.)" "Drink heavily, eat onions. Limburger cheese. ect before entering a rowded air rid shelter (it will make you very unpopular with the people within your immediate vionity elimiating any unacessary discomfort that would prevail if people crowed too closely.)" "7. if you should be the victim of a direct bomb hit. dont't go to pieces, Lie still and you won't be noticed." "8. Knock the air-raid wardnes down if they start to tell you what to do. (they always save the best seats for themslelves and their friends anyways.)"

In Collection

Subjects

  • government

Contributor

  • Admire, Genna

Date

Circa 1944

Language

English

Type

  • Miscellaneous Document

Format

  • Color photocopy

Original Format

mimeograph document on paper

Coverage

  • 1940s

Identifier

  • AlbensDavis-D-006
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