LONDON SMOG: Sixty-five years ago on Dec. 5, 1952, the Great Smog of London descended on the city.
Thousands died over the course of the five days the smog was settled on London, according to the Associated Press.
“Thick, Gagging Fog Blacks Out London 3rd Day,” the Monday, Dec. 8, 1952 edition of The Era proclaimed.
The article explained, “Thick, dirty gagging fog blacked out London today for the third straight day. It was the worse (sic) siege of fog in the city’s modern history, and worse than any wartime blackout.
“Surface transport was at a virtual standstill and thousands of families had to go without milk. A suburban train hit a work gang in the dense fog at Norwood Junction, killing one man and injuring two.
“The British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast an appeal for all off-duty ambulance drivers to get back to the job and relieve crews who answered more than 350 calls during the morning. Because of the fog, ambulances are using three-man crews, instead of two, with the extra preceding his ambulance on foot bearing a torch.
“Travel conditions were hazardous even for pedestrians, who risked head-on collisions with other pedestrians. Those who took the subway often found themselves lost after getting up into the fog. It even filtered indoors, making offices and flats look like smoke-filled rooms.
Planes were ground for the third day, trains were hours late when they ran at all and a few buses operated at a snail’s pace.
“The fog, filled with soot, was so choking that persons out in it wrapped their faces in mufflers.
“The sun was shining only 15 minutes away from the center of London, but the weather man could see no relief for the city itself. It takes wind to get rid of a fog and there isn’t any in sight for London.”
PEARL HARBOR: Today is also the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which occurred Dec. 7, 1941.
On Dec. 8, 1952, The Era had a front page article on the anniversary that proclaimed, “Japan Ignores Pearl Harbor Anniversary.”
“Newly independent Japan today largely ignored the 11th anniversary of its sneak air attack on Pearl Harbor — an attack the nation seems to regard as its greatest mistake,” the article read, explaining that the major newspaper in Tokyo failed to mention the anniversary.
The article did not say how the anniversary was commemorated here in the United States.
That event changed the U.S. involvement in World War II — and that war led to changes around the world. It’s worth taking a moment to think about today.
