TIMES PAST
1962: Pupils' chilling moments in cold war
October 30, 2006
Oct. 30, 1962: Cold War drills were a part of life at Miraleste Elementary School in Rancho Palos Verdes and a brief test of the signal system sounded each day at 9:30 a.m. On this morning, when a "yellow alert" sounded unexpectedly at 8:40 a.m., school officials assumed they were facing a real attack, The Times reported.
When the telephone company said it knew of no malfunction, the principal announced on a bullhorn, "Teachers, move your groups home!" the newspaper said.
"The groups started off briskly, some pupils to be dropped off a door away, others to walk as far as 2.3 miles for what?" The Times said in a reconstruction of the events. "To be with loved ones those who could get home on this, maybe the last day of the world."
At 8:50 a.m., the telephone company said it was a false alarm.
School officials headed off in cars to find the teachers taking children home and to tell them the good news.