Rare Footage In The 1940s Shows Delaware In A Completely Different Way

It’s well known to natives that Delaware was an important spot for the US Military during World War II. After all, when we walk on the beaches we can see the imposing Fire Control Towers along the shoreline, and we can even wander through Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen State Park. While we often see remnants of World War II in Delaware through our own eyes, it’s rare to find footage taken in the First State during the war itself. Luckily, Youtube user mpdoughboy153 was given digital footage of Fort DuPont and the surrounding area in 1941. This 16mm film has been digitized and shows off the life of a member of the 261st Coast Artillery Battalion of the Delaware Army National Guard.

Watch for rare footage of life in the 1940s in Delaware, from something as simple as a pickup baseball game to the construction of barracks that eventually held German Prisoners of War. Soldier’s marches at Fort DuPont are also shown, as well as a look at old Finnegan farm, where soldiers used to practice their drills. You might recognize it as current day Port Penn Rd!

Take a look at this rare footage of life during World War II in Delaware and see how many landmarks and locations you can recognize.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/

If you want to learn more about Delaware’s World War II history, I recommend reading Fort Miles: The WWII Ruins In Delaware Will Take You Back In Time and then planning a trip to Cape Henlopen State Park, where you can wander through the old Fort, tour the barracks, and even climb one of the observation towers that was used to spot German U-Boats off of the coast.