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A great World War II [Restricted] map of the Gulf Coast spanning from Beaumont in Texas to Gulfport in Mississippi. The map focuses on aviation in the area, showing sensitive civilian and military corridors.
Civilian flying is restricted along a large part of the map, notably along the whole Gulf coast. Other "Danger Areas" exist over military camps or other sensitive areas. Radio ranges, seaplane bases, beacons, airfields, fan marker beacons, and civil airways limits are all marked.
In addition to air designations, major land features are visible. Cities named include Port Arthur, Lake Charles, Crowley, Lafayette, New Iberia, Baton Rouge, and Biloxi.
While it may seem excessive to the present observer that economic activities in the southern United States needed to be kept secret during the war, the Gulf of Mexico was actually an important theatre in World War II. The Gulf held many valuable reserves, ranging from the oil fields of Venezuela to the bauxite of the Guyanas. U-boats were ubiquitous around the Caribbean during the middle of the war, after the establishment of the Atlantic convoy system. The coasts of Texas and Louisiana were particularly vulnerable, which was likely why this map was made.
The Gulf Coast was almost entirely restricted to civilian air traffic; the map includes the note: "Civilian Flying Restricted from over water and within an area two miles inland between Brownsville, Tex., and Jacksonville, Fla."
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