WWII Watch Tower
All along the watchtower
Flotilla 44 kept the view,
Searched the coast for submarines,
Aided sinking vessels, too
Well, uh, outside in the cold distance
German U-boats prowled
As our men patrolled the waters
And the wind began to howl, hey
All along the watchtower
All along the watchtower…
Five days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entrance into World War II, fifteen local men formed Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 44, manning the lookout tower in Ormond-by-the-Sea and searching the offshore waters of the Atlantic for German submarines. These brave individuals also aided sinking vessels, rescued sailors forced to abandon ship, and patrolled the beaches of Volusia and Flagler Counties seeking infiltrators and enemy submarines.
Restored in 2004, this rare 30-foot World War II coastal watchtower is recognized as a historic site. A placard placed at its base reveals a brief history. The tower is located on the sand dunes around the 2100 block of Ocean shore Boulevard in Ormond-by-the-Sea. Although not considered a park, this place is unique and worthy of a visit.
