Jan. 11, 1942: Miami, Dade goes dark in WWII blackout drill
Dade County participated in its first blackout drill for 30 minutes beginning at 10:15 p.m. to determine if residents "are ready to defend themselves to the fullest extent against enemy bombers," the Miami News reported, stating it was "probable" some American cities would be bombed during the year. At the sound of an alarm, residents were ordered to extinguish all lights in their homes and go into a room supplied with water and sanitary facilities they could access without turning on a light. All outside street lights were turned off as well. The drill was witnessed from a Goodyear blimp by Philip Wylie of the Dade County Defense Council, who wrote, "It was a shocking experience to see the luminous, colored patterns of a sprawling city blink and vanish from the vantage point of the sky. I have looked at Miami and Miami Beach and the Gables from the air at night, and the bright design has always seemed ineradicable." Read stories about the blackout in the Jan. 11 and 12 editions of the Miami News
On This Day in Florida History
On This Day in Florida History