[crazylegs]

Me and a mate got a talking about the old world war II air raid sirens and how loud they actually were, he said he would love to get hold of one and take it to a rave, I said it would have to be an old hand crank one but would probably still be to big to carry around at a rave without becoming extremely tired!

So I went looking as you do when something makes you curious and of course I turns to good old Google for starters. Well I couldn't believe what we turned up and learnt about the good old Air raid siren..

This particular Siren is still in situ 60 odd years later...Amazing!

Then there was this beast the loudest siren in the world, can be heard 30 miles away and stand 100 feet in front of it and bye bye hearing, hello permanent silence..
Its actually run by a V8 Hemi and can turn fog to water droplets, it also expels the compressed air forced into it at 400mph so no standing in front either to feel the force.. Just unbelievable

Its amazing things Google turn up, sorry I know its only a thread on Air raid sirens but I found some things about them fascinating!

[feckit]

Still many around these days mostly as they were in case of a nuclear war back in the 1980's in the days of the Cold War and possible attacks from Russia.

[Taffycat]

Interesting linkys CL.

When we first moved here in the 1970s, an air raid siren would go off about once each week (usually on a Wednesday evening, if memory serves.) It would be sounding the "all clear" rather than the "grab a tin helmet and duck" wailings, and even though I was not born until six years after the war, the sound would always give me chills.

Anyway, that went on for years, but then stopped happening, but your post has reminded me of it.

[EvanDavis]

Originally Posted by crazylegs

sorry I know its only a thread on Air raid sirens but I found some things about them fascinating!

No need to appologise CL. I find stuff like this very interesting. Compared to some of the folk on here I am but a kid. OUCH! I can feel the ear bashing I am heading for

[nivrip]

Originally Posted by Taffycat

When we first moved here in the 1970s, an air raid siren would go off about once each week (usually on a Wednesday evening, if memory serves.) It would be sounding the "all clear"

WHY ???????

[Taffycat]

Originally Posted by nivrip

WHY ???????

Well I know this will sound daft, Niv, .... but we never managed to find out!

Originally Posted by EvanDavis

Compared to some of the folk on here I am but a kid. OUCH!

Oops! Soz Evan... did my toecap accidentally make contact your shin...?

[EvanDavis]

Originally Posted by Taffycat

Oops! Soz Evan... did my toecap accidentally make contact your shin...?

Yes the bit right between my and just higher than my knee caps

[floppybootstomp]

I can vaguely remember hearing air raid sirens as well.

And I can also remember, at about the age of 4 or 5, seeing a barrage balloon tethered on the site which was to become my secondary school. They wuz a bit slow taking them things down.

Talking of sirens, when I first started me disco way back in the ice age I managed to get hold of an American Diesel train hooter which I'd let off occasionally at gigs. man, that was LOUD

Unfortunately it didn't last because being only 20 years old at the time I didn't realise them USA peeps use 110 volts whilst we knights of the round table use 240 volts. So eventually it blew.

[bootneck02]

I found your bit on the air raid siren very interesting. I was in the AFS ( Auxiliary Fire Service) in the early 1960's we were trained for Nuclear Warfare as part of the training. The idea was that if war was declared the professional Fire service would be evacuated to a place of safety and we would man the fire stations. When the balloon went up it would be us that copped the radiation, blast etc but commence in fighting fires and rescues and not them. They would return and finish the job off, I suppose we would be dying of radiation poisoning or dead by then. The siren was sounded every week as the all clear to ensure that the siren was operational if it did not sound a report was sent to the Home Office and they would send someone to repair it. I was at the time working in a large factory and we had the hand portable ones at the fire points so we could evacuate, no one had thought about air raid shelters so I expect it was a case put your head between your knees and kiss your a*** good-by. I think the AFS was wound up with the CD(Civil Defence Corps) in 1963/4 with the partial disbandoment of the Observer Corps who by then were there to monitor the spread of radiation in the case of war, I think they disbanded completly in the 1980's.

[floppybootstomp]

Duck and Cover boys and girls.

Just remember, a good citizen should always trust the British Goverment

You know it makes sense.