Chrysler air raid siren

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The Chrysler Air Raid Siren was the world's most powerful and loudest air raid siren ever made.^{[citation needed]} Known as "Big Red" and built during the post World War II Cold War era from 1952-1957 by Chrysler, its power plant contained a brand new designed FirePower Hemi V-8, 331 cubic inch 180 horsepower.^[1] Its six horns produced by Victory Sirens were 3 feet long and produced a sound that some witnessed to have caused a fire in a Detroit base testing facility. The siren can be heard 4-5 miles away and had an output of 138 dBC (Decibels) 30,000 watts. It is 12 feet long, built atop a 1/4 section of a Dodge truck chassis rail, and weighs and estimated three tons.

In 1952, the cost of a Chrysler Air Raid siren was $5,500.00. ^[2] The United States government helped buy some of for state and county law enforcement agencies around the country. In Los Angeles County six were placed around key locations of populated areas and another ten were sold to other government agencies in the State of California. Most of these "Big Red Whistles" as nickednamed by civilians were only used for test purposes. Some were located so remotely that due to lack of maintenance and repair they deteriorated.

Some sirens are still located above buildings and watchtowers. However these are rusted and the salvage price is less then the cost to remove them in some cases. Some were restored and placed in museums or on trailers to show the public.

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