The text describes the infamous "Battle of Los Angeles" that occurred on February 24-25, 1942. The event began when three separate radar stations picked up an unidentified flying object (UFO) approaching the city of Los Angeles. The UFO was tracked within five kilometers of the city before vanishing from radar scopes. Despite the lack of visual sightings, anti-aircraft batteries were put on green alert, and the city was blacked out.
The barrage of anti-aircraft artillery lasted for about 20 minutes, and more than 1,400 rounds were expended. The firing became sporadic as a variety of targets were sighted across the city. However, the actual targets were never identified, leading to confusion and speculation.
The military initially claimed that no planes had been shot down, and no bombs had been dropped. However, the Western Defense Command later announced that the barrage had been caused by the presence of 1 to 5 unidentified airplanes. The theory that these airplanes were weather balloons, released by the military, gained support in 1948.
The incident has been a subject of speculation and conspiracy theories over the years. The lack of a definitive conclusion, coupled with conflicting evidence, has led to various theories about what actually occurred that night. Despite extensive research and investigation, the true nature of the event remains a mystery.
1. The Battle of Los Angeles occurred in the early hours of February 25th, 1942. Major cities along the Pacific coast of the United States were blacked out due to concerns of an incoming enemy attack.
2. Searchlights scoured the heavens as the roaring streets of Los Angeles fell silent. The silence was broken by the deafening sound of explosions.
3. The army had opened fire and the city was under attack. The blackout persisted until dawn.
4. The following day, the United States formally declared war on Japan in response to the surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor.
5. The war progressed with Japanese submarines patrolling the Pacific coast and occasionally sinking a ship within sight of a major coastal city. Alerts and blackouts became routine.
6. Less than three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan attacked the US mainland as the Sun was setting on February 23rd, 1942.
7. A Japanese submarine surfaced a few kilometers northwest of Santa Barbara after taking aim at Elwood Oil Field.
8. The shelling lasted for 20 minutes and more than a dozen exploding shells came raining down on the docks and nearby installations.
9. The attack had a significant impact on public fears and a threat of a Japanese invasion now seemed imminent.
10. The military maintained a state of readiness that lasted well into the following day.
11. On the evening of February 24th, naval intelligence issued a warning that an attack could be expected within the next 10 hours.
12. The Southern California coast was put on yellow alert.
13. At 1:44 a.m. on February the 25th, three separate radar stations picked up an unidentified flying object approaching the city of Los Angeles.
14. Anti-aircraft batteries were put in green alert and Gunners prepared for the city to be raided.
15. The UFO had been tracked within 5 kilometers of the city and so the alarm was sounded and Los Angeles was blacked out.
16. The barrage became sporadic as a great variety of targets were sighted all over the city.
17. The confusion was only compounded by the lack of agreement between military officials.
18. The secretary of Navy Franklin Knox claimed the incident had been a false alarm and that no planes had been present.
19. The Secretary of War Henry Stimson assessed that up to 15 unidentified planes had in fact flown over the city.
20. The Western Defense Command announced that no bombs had been dropped and no planes had been shot down.
21. The Battle of Los Angeles was once again right for speculation and by 1948 another theory had gained support.
22. In 1948, a former Army Air Force Major and college professor by the name of William Goss extensively researched the incident on behalf of the US Air Force.
23. Goss came to the conclusion that weather balloons had been responsible and there is a lot of evidence to support that theory.
24. The barrage had supposedly been provoked by a balloon carrying a red flare.