A reader sent us this very cool link. While today it's popular to attack rural and suburban subdivisions, at least conceptually, back in World War II they were considered harmless enough to camouflage the "Lockheed Burbank Aircraft Plant to protect it from a Japanese air attack. They covered it with camouflage netting and trompe l’oeil to make it look like a rural subdivision from the air." Observe the "before" and "after":
BEFORE:
And AFTER:
More photos at Think or Thwim .
Apparently, despite Lockheed's best efforts to keep the plant a secret, Jack Warner decided better them than me. We have no idea if its true, or if this happened before the camouflage, but we love the story anyway:
Well aware that the Lockheed aircraft plant in Burbank, just blocks from his studio, was certain to be a high-value target, he was horrified one day to have someone point out that, from the air, a Japanese bomber might not be able to tell the difference. Warner promptly visited the studio's paint shop and ordered the erection of an enormous sign on the roof of one of the Warner soundstages. The result? A twenty-foot arrow pointing to Burbank, along with the words: LOCKHEED - THAT-A-WAY!