The Crest Observation Post.

During World War II there was an observation post located behind the Suncrest Clubhouse (what is now the Community Church). It was manned by volunteers. Called the Ground Observer Corps, the volunteer organization was assigned the task of observing and reporting movement of all aircraft over the landward areas. The purpose was to track aircraft flying over San Diego County to report possible activity of a Japanese invasion.

The post was in a very small building and consisted of a chair, a telephone, and whatever magazines could be rounded up for the observers’ use. The volunteers worked in four hour shifts and the post was manned 24 hours a day. When a plane flew over, the observer would call the tracking station located in Santa Ana where they had a very large map of the area. On this map the trackers placed miniature airplanes, and plotted the course and direction of the plane based on the observers’ information. The high school boys would generally take a night shift so they could get up in the mornings and go to school. It was all part of people doing what they could for the war.

What exactly was the Ground Observer Corp?

“It is a volunteer organization of specially trained men and women  civilians who are assigned the task of observing and reporting the movement of all aircraft over the landward areas.  These post must be staffed every minute of the day and night. Constant vigilance frequently results in guiding our own aircraft, lost in or above an overcast, to a safe landing. Scores of American planes and hundred of American lives have been saved by the prompt and intelligent operation of the many specialized workers in the AWS.”