Cairo in Tippecanoe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Cairo Skywatch Tower
Photographed By Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010
1. Cairo Skywatch Tower Marker
(Click on any of these photos to see the details.)
Inscription.
Cairo Skywatch Tower. . U.S. Air Force commissioned observation tower August 16, 1952 for Operation Skywatch, part of Civilian Ground Observation Corps during Korean War. Constructed by community volunteers. Approximately ninety people alternated shifts to maintain twenty-four-hour watch for enemy planes because there was no national radar system.
U.S. Air Force commissioned observation tower August 16, 1952 for Operation Skywatch, part of Civilian Ground Observation Corps during Korean War. Constructed by community volunteers. Approximately ninety people alternated shifts to maintain twenty-four-hour watch for enemy planes because there was no national radar system.
Erected 1995 by Indiana Historic Bureau. (Marker Number 79.1995.1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Korean. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.
Location. 40° 32.44′ N, 86° 55.444′ W. Marker is in Cairo, Indiana, in Tippecanoe County. Marker is on County Road W 850 N east of County Road N 100 W, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Lafayette IN 47906, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Courtesy:: Trevor Searcy, August 22, 2010
2. Obverse View - Cairo Skywatch Tower Marker
Photographed By Courtesy:: Trevor Searcy, August 22, 2010
3. Full View - Cairo Skywatch Tower Marker
Photographed By Courtesy:: Trevor Searcy, August 22, 2010
4. Wide View - Cairo Skywatch Tower Marker
Photographed By Courtesy:: Trevor Searcy, August 22, 2010
5. Cairo Skywatch Tower and the Marker
Photographed By Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010
6. 1976 Statue and Dedication of " Cairo Memorial Park "
Photographed By Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010
7. 1976 Dedication - Marker
Text Reads:
Operation Skywatch
Cairo, Indiana - November 14, 1976
They also serve who stand and watch.
Charles E. Halleck U.S.
Congressman 2nd District Indiana
August 16, 1952
The Cairo, Indiana “Operation Skywatch” memorial dedication, in the year of our Nation’s Bicentennial.
Honoring the many thousands of U.S.A. Citizens who volunteered their services and resources in the defense of their country. In the Civil Defense effort during the U.S.A. Air Force “Operation Skywatch” in the early 1950's Korean War Police Action days and especially the citizens of Cairo, Indiana Community, and all those who “Stood the Watch...”
Ground Observer Post
Delt(a) Lima 3 - Green
“The First” Ground Observation Post in the U.S.A. to be Officially Commissioned by the USAF... August 16, 1952 . . . (last line un-readable)
Photographed By Courtesy:: Trevor Searcy, August 22, 2010
8. Top Statue - 1976 Dedication Statue - "Cairo Memorial Park"
Photographed By Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010
9. Statue Dedication - Inscription
1976 - They also serve who stand and Watch -
((Seal of: G O C (Ground Observation Corps) United States Air Force - Observer))
Photographed By Courtesy:: Trevor Searcy, August 22, 2010
10. Lower - Left - Seal on the Base of the 1976 Dedication Statue
Photographed By Courtesy:: Trevor Searcy, August 22, 2010
11. Seal on Lower - Right - Base of the 1976 Dedication Statue
Observers also assisted with reporting weather warning of storms.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 1,259 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on March 11, 2016, by Tim Lange of Lafayette, Indiana. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on August 24, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.