[BC] German Radio Spying 1938

[Donald Chester]

Although it was a little before my day, I have heard reports that during the War, (legal) U.S. resident aliens originally from hostile nations, at least those living along the east coast, were forbidden to have short wave radios, and were ordered to turn them in to local authorities. One Italian immigrant claimed that when the war was over, they still wouldn't give him his radio back.

I have also heard stories (unverified), that in some areas, radio repairmen were directed to disable the short wave bands on radios brought in for repair, regardless of who owned the radio. But, over the years many 1930s-era broadcast radios with short wave bands have passed through my hands, and I have yet to encounter one that appeared to have had the s.w. coverage disabled.