Bronze-level articleBattle of Los Angeles

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{{ufology}}{{bronze}}
 
{{ufology}}{{bronze}}
The '''Battle of Los Angeles''' was an event that occurred during the night of 24-25 February, 1942, that remains one of the few "unexplained" [[UFO]] phenomena.  
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The '''Battle of Los Angeles''' occurred during the night of 24-25 February, 1942, - though how appropriate the word "battle" is may be disputable as only one "side" seems to have done anything hostile. It is claimed to be one of the few "unexplained" [[UFO]] phenomena.  
 
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Shortly after the US's entry into WW2 something came under a coordinated searchlight and anti-aircraft attack as it apparently travelled down the coast from Santa Monica to Culver City. <ref>[http://www.militarymuseum.org/BattleofLA.html The California State Military Museum: The Battle of Los Angeles]</ref>
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==Background==
 
==Background==
  
The fact that over 1,400 rounds were fired at the perceived object, without apparent affect, has been used by [[ufo]]logists to challenge the [[hypothesis]] that it was a balloon of some kind<ref>[http://www.ufoevidence.org/cases/case509.htm The 1942 Battle of Los Angeles]</ref> - however there are possible explanations for this [[Battle_of_Los_Angeles#If_it_was_a_balloon.2C_why_didn.27t_it_pop.3F | below]]. <ref>[http://www.rense.com/ufo/battleofla.htm The Battle of LA]</ref> The response was witnessed by thousands on the ground. Eight people died as a consequence of the anti-aircraft fire - five from falling shrapnel, and three from heart attacks
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Shortly after the US's entry into WW2 something came under a coordinated searchlight illumination and anti-aircraft attack as it apparently travelled down the coast from Santa Monica to Culver City. <ref>[http://www.militarymuseum.org/BattleofLA.html The California State Military Museum: The Battle of Los Angeles]</ref>
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The fact that over 1,400 rounds were fired at the perceived object, without apparent affect, has been used by [[ufo]]logists to challenge the [[hypothesis]] that it was a balloon of some kind<ref>[http://www.ufoevidence.org/cases/case509.htm The 1942 Battle of Los Angeles]</ref> - however there are possible explanations for this [[Battle_of_Los_Angeles#If_it_was_a_balloon.2C_why_didn.27t_it_pop.3F | below]]. <ref>[http://www.rense.com/ufo/battleofla.htm The Battle of LA]</ref> The vigorous response to whatever it may have been was witnessed by thousands on the ground. Eight people died as a consequence of this anti-aircraft fire - five from falling shrapnel, and three from heart attacks
  
 
==Hypotheses==
 
==Hypotheses==
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===Weather balloons===
 
===Weather balloons===
  
However, the most logical solution appears to be the the object or objects were weather balloons. In order for the gunners to be aware of climatic conditions, the anti-aircraft companies would release balloons from each of their dozen positions, every six hours. So that they were visible at night, they were illuminated from below by an enclosed candle, which would reflect off the silver lining of the balloon itself.  
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Nevertheless, the most logical solution appears to be the the object or objects were weather balloons. In order for the gunners to be aware of climatic conditions, the anti-aircraft companies would release balloons from each of their dozen positions, every six hours. So that they were visible at night, they were illuminated from below by an enclosed candle, which would reflect off the silver lining of the balloon itself.  
  
 
Reports suggest that gunners from other batteries mistook the balloons for planes and opened fire. Interestingly, the only gun battery that did not fire, D Battery of the 203rd Coast Artillery Regiment, was directly in the supposed flight path of the object. It was this company that had most recently launched its balloons at 3am, shortly before the firing started. Afterwards, staff at the Battery were instructed not to mention the balloon, and the commanding officer, Col. Ray Watson, was pensioned off.<ref>[http://www.historynet.com/phantom-japanese-raid-on-los-angeles-during-world-war-ii.htm/5 History.net - Phantom Japanese Raid on Los Angeles During World War II, Part 5]</ref>
 
Reports suggest that gunners from other batteries mistook the balloons for planes and opened fire. Interestingly, the only gun battery that did not fire, D Battery of the 203rd Coast Artillery Regiment, was directly in the supposed flight path of the object. It was this company that had most recently launched its balloons at 3am, shortly before the firing started. Afterwards, staff at the Battery were instructed not to mention the balloon, and the commanding officer, Col. Ray Watson, was pensioned off.<ref>[http://www.historynet.com/phantom-japanese-raid-on-los-angeles-during-world-war-ii.htm/5 History.net - Phantom Japanese Raid on Los Angeles During World War II, Part 5]</ref>
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===Mistaken Identity===
 
===Mistaken Identity===
  
It seems probable that many of the shell bursts were themselves mistaken for aircraft and this led to the wildly fluctuating reports on the number, speed and altitude of the aerial objects. Further confusion occurred when the Navy and Army issued different statements - the Navy claiming it was a false alarm, and no planes had been over Los Angeles, whilst the Army stated there were possibly five "light enemy aircraft," launched from secret bases within California, Mexico, or from offshore submarines.<ref>[http://www.militarymuseum.org/BattleofLA.html The California State Military Museum: The Battle of Los Angeles]</ref>
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It also seems probable that many of the shell bursts were themselves mistaken for aircraft and this led to the wildly fluctuating reports on the number, speed and altitude of the aerial objects. Further confusion occurred when the Navy and Army issued different statements - the Navy claiming it was a false alarm, and no planes had been over Los Angeles, whilst the Army stated there were possibly five "light enemy aircraft," launched from secret bases within California, Mexico, or from offshore submarines.<ref>[http://www.militarymuseum.org/BattleofLA.html The California State Military Museum: The Battle of Los Angeles]</ref>
  
 
==If it was a balloon, why didn't it pop?==
 
==If it was a balloon, why didn't it pop?==

Revision as of 12:47, 24 September 2010

The woo is out there

UFOlogy

Icon ufology alt.svg
Aliens did it and ran away

The Battle of Los Angeles occurred during the night of 24-25 February, 1942, - though how appropriate the word "battle" is may be disputable as only one "side" seems to have done anything hostile. It is claimed to be one of the few "unexplained" UFO phenomena.

Contents

Background

Shortly after the US's entry into WW2 something came under a coordinated searchlight illumination and anti-aircraft attack as it apparently travelled down the coast from Santa Monica to Culver City. [1]

The fact that over 1,400 rounds were fired at the perceived object, without apparent affect, has been used by ufologists to challenge the hypothesis that it was a balloon of some kind[2] - however there are possible explanations for this below. [3] The vigorous response to whatever it may have been was witnessed by thousands on the ground. Eight people died as a consequence of this anti-aircraft fire - five from falling shrapnel, and three from heart attacks

Hypotheses

Originally thought to have been a secret Japanese weapon, the incident is now the subject of various hypotheses.

Fu-Go Bombing Balloon

It could have been a Japanese Fu-Go Bombing Balloon, but these were only launched against America from 1944 onwards. However, their existence was kept a secret, until a balloon bomb killed 6 picnickers in Oregon.[4]

Weather balloons

Nevertheless, the most logical solution appears to be the the object or objects were weather balloons. In order for the gunners to be aware of climatic conditions, the anti-aircraft companies would release balloons from each of their dozen positions, every six hours. So that they were visible at night, they were illuminated from below by an enclosed candle, which would reflect off the silver lining of the balloon itself.

Reports suggest that gunners from other batteries mistook the balloons for planes and opened fire. Interestingly, the only gun battery that did not fire, D Battery of the 203rd Coast Artillery Regiment, was directly in the supposed flight path of the object. It was this company that had most recently launched its balloons at 3am, shortly before the firing started. Afterwards, staff at the Battery were instructed not to mention the balloon, and the commanding officer, Col. Ray Watson, was pensioned off.[5]

Mistaken Identity

It also seems probable that many of the shell bursts were themselves mistaken for aircraft and this led to the wildly fluctuating reports on the number, speed and altitude of the aerial objects. Further confusion occurred when the Navy and Army issued different statements - the Navy claiming it was a false alarm, and no planes had been over Los Angeles, whilst the Army stated there were possibly five "light enemy aircraft," launched from secret bases within California, Mexico, or from offshore submarines.[6]

If it was a balloon, why didn't it pop?

There is evidence that anti-aircraft fire might be ineffectual against Zeppelin-type airships and balloons. Rigid and semi-rigid aircraft do not rely on substantial overpressure to sustain their shape, and unlike a party balloon won't necessarily "pop" and deflate immediately when punctured. This means that a balloon may well be able to sustain damage from the anti-aircraft fire but not be actually shot down.

Secondly, it isn't guaranteed that a hydrogen dirigible or balloon will ignite when hit by normal bullets or shrapnel common to anti-aircraft fire. During World War I, a Zeppelin, the L33, was hit by anti-aircraft fire, but did not catch fire. The ship was forced to crash-land in Britain, whereupon her crew set her ablaze.[7]

Additionally, fighter aircraft only began to see successes against Zeppelins, when they switched from normal ammunition to a mixture of "Pomeroy" and "Brock" explosive bullets, as well as the "Buckingham" phosphorus incendiary bullet. A combination of these fired at a Zeppelin would invariably ignite the ship's hydrogen gas-bags.[8] This adds credence to the possibility that shrapnel from the anti-aircraft batteries would not necessarily have destroyed a balloon outright, but could have punctured it, leaving it to descend in to, and later sink in, the Pacific Ocean.

Army Report

Memo from Gen. Marshall to Pres. Roosevelt

The full report from the Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall , to President Roosevelt, included the following points:

  1. Unidentified airplanes, other than American Army or Navy planes, were probably over Los Angeles and were fired on by elements of the 37th CA Brigade. These units expended 1430 rounds of ammunition.
  2. As many as 15 airplanes may have been involved, flying at various speeds from what is officially reported from being "very slow" to in excess of 200 mph and at elevations from 9,000 to 18,000 feet.
  3. No bombs were dropped.
  4. No casualties among our troops.
  5. No planes were shot down.
  6. No American Army or Navy planes were in action.

Consequences

Notwithstanding the fact that the object may or may not have been real, the air raid led to many unfortunate and unusual incidents, especially for Los Angeles' Japanese-American community. Only days before, Roosevelt had issued Executive Order 9066, which called for their internment. More than 30 were arrested that night, on charges of everything from "signalling to the enemy", to having a "lit radio dial." In the beach city of Venice, the FBI brought in a 51-year-old Japanese mother and her two sons when, according to a local paper, a citizen "notified officers that he had seen lights in their home blinking suspiciously." Even the press got in on the act, the Los Angeles Examiner claiming, under the headline "Flare Signals Rise in Jap Area During Shelling," that "12 were arrested for allegedly releasing paper balloons that later burst into flames, becoming flares that 'fell in rotations of 3 white and 3 red' as they descended."[9]

Commemoration

Since 2001, the Fort MacArthur Museum has held an annual entertainment event each February, to commemorate the Battle of Los Angeles.[10]

External links

See also

Footnotes

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