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Battle of Los Angeles
On February 25, 1942, just months after Pearl Harbor, anti-aircraft batteries across Los Angeles fired 1,400 rounds at an unknown aerial object. Air raid sirens wailed, searchlights converged on a target, and the city went dark. Three people died from friendly fire. The target was never identified.
1942
Los Angeles, California, USA
1000000+ witnesses
A city opened fire on an unidentified object during wartime.
The Night
February 24-25, 1942:
- Post Pearl Harbor paranoia
- Air raid alert issued
- 3:16 AM gunfire began
- Lasted over an hour
- City blacked out
The Alert
What triggered it:
- Radar contacts reported
- Unidentified aircraft
- Japanese attack feared
- Army put on alert
- Batteries readied
The Attack
What happened:
- 1,400 rounds fired
- Multiple batteries
- Searchlights tracked object
- Shells burst around target
- No hits confirmed
The Object
What was seen:
- Converging searchlights
- Something in the beams
- Large object reported
- Moved slowly
- Didn’t fall
The Casualties
The cost:
- Three civilians died
- Heart attacks
- Car accidents
- Friendly fire damage
- Buildings hit
The Investigation
Official response:
- War nerves blamed
- Weather balloons suggested
- No enemy planes
- No bombs dropped
- Case never solved
The Photo
Famous image:
- LA Times front page
- Searchlights converging
- Shells exploding
- Something visible
- Heavily debated