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Dome camouflaged during WW II

Black and white photograph of telescope dome painted to look like forest.

Photograph by Edgard Fleming; National Research Council

With the outbreak of WW II in the Pacific the West coast was seen as vulnerable to attack. The gleaming white dome of the Observatory was visible for many miles. It was also easily visible from the sky and could be used as a navigation point for aircraft. The dome was painted in order to camouflage it and make it harder to see.