Following World War II, the Civil Defense Act of 1950 provided the United States Air Force with a civil defense agency, the Ground Observer Corps, with which to act. On July 14, 1952, the Air Force established a network of observation posts and filter centers on 24 hour duty to monitor and identify aircraft in and approaching the U.S. perimeter--Operation SKYWATCH.

Civilian ground observers were trained to identify aircraft and report to filter centers using telephone communications. Over three-quarters of a million volunteers taking shifts at over 16 thousand posts and 73 relay centers provided the manpower for early identification of aircraft.

One radio spot soliciting volunteers proclaimed: "It may not be a very cheerful thought but the Reds right now have about a thousand bombers that are quite capable of destroying at least 89 American cities in one raid .... Won't you help protect your country, your town, your children? Call your local Civil Defense office and join the Ground Observer Corps today." [Schaffel, Emerging Shield, p.158-159]

In 1954, Colorado was included in an expansion of SKYWATCH, which went into effect on December I, 1955. A new filter center in Colorado Springs was opened, with observer volunteers around the state, many on Western Slope ranches.

In Eagle County, part of Sector "C," these included: Mary and Clarence Bell (post: 1 mi. S. of Sweetwater); Chloe Jackson, Roy Parson (post: Buss' Place, Gypsum); Bonita Eaton, Shirley Shelton (post: Residence of OP Supervisor, Eagle); Oda Schultz and Paul Schultz (post: Ranch, 1/2 mile E. of Edwards); W. L. Leidy, Clarence Schlegal (post: City Hall, Minturn); Walter and Eleaner Forster (post: Piney Peak Hereford Ranch, Hwy I 31, Radium); Ruth Maddalone, Dagmar Erickson (post: 1/4 mi. E of Basalt on Frying Pan Road; Christie Wieben, Ann Wieben (post: 5 mi. S of Snowmass); Haward and La Vern Dearhamer (post: Store at Meredith); Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Bearden (post: Store at Burns); Dorothy Bedell, Chauncy Morehead (post: Old Library Bldg., McCoy).

These observers participated from 1956 until the Ground Observer Corps was inactivated on January 31, 1959. By the late l 950's, a semi-automatic aircraft warning and detection system was developed, SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) that eliminated the need for ground observation.