The Ground Observer Corps
From 1951-1959, the Ground Observer Corps (GOC) were civilian plane spotters who searched the skies for enemy aircraft. In 1953, the Air Force launched Operation Skywatch to expand the program and get more recruits. An integral part of civil defense, the GOC comprised of an estimated 800,000 members who volunteered for shifts at local observation posts and filter centers that tracked aircraft reports.
Ground Observer Corps - Operation Skywatch 