Cairo Skywatch Tower in West Lafayette, Indiana
During the Korean War in the 1950s, a national radar system didn't exist. To watch for enemy planes, the U.S. Air Force expanded the Ground Observer Corps into Operation Skywatch and commissioned Delta Lima 3 Green Ground Observation Tower on August 16, 1952. Constructed and manned by community volunteers, the tower was staffed 24 hours a day in rotating shifts of approximately 90 people. While the volunteers in Indiana never spotted an enemy plane, the watchtower remains a point of pride in the community. Visitors can ascend the watchtower for beautiful views, especially during sunset.
During the Korean War in the 1950s, a national radar system didn't exist. To watch for enemy planes, the U.S. Air Force expanded the Ground Observer Corps into Operation Skywatch and commissioned Delta Lima 3 Green Ground Observation Tower on August 16, 1952.
Constructed and manned by community volunteers, the tower was staffed 24 hours a day in rotating shifts of approximately 90 people. While the volunteers in Indiana never spotted an enemy plane, the watchtower remains a point of pride in the community. Visitors can ascend the watchtower for beautiful views, especially during sunset.
