Wheels West Day in Susanville History – August 23rd, 1942

Aircraft Warning Watchers Honored in Lassen County

August 23rd, 1942

 Four Lassen county women received recognition last week from Gen. William E. Kenner, commanding general of the IV Fighter command, for the outstanding service rendered by them as observers in the aircraft warning service since December 7.

 The four women, Nellie L. Pattan, Virginia Richins, Elizabeth Smith and Lola Jellison, have maintained Lassen county’s single aircraft warning post since war was declared. Mrs. Pattan is the chief observer for the post and along with her three assistants has spent more than five hundred hours on duty.

 Under the organization of Ray Packwood of Susanville the women set up the post and have shared the hours of sky watching on the alert for enemy aircraft.

 Since army officers were unavailable in this area, Packwood made the presentation of silver “wings” having received a similar medal for his efforts on behalf of the AWS.

 The wings presented to the four women observers bore the inscription “The IV Fighter Command” and the letters AWS. Attached to the emblem is a single bar denoting five hundred hours or more of service.