The Battle of Los Angeles
Radar picked up a return off the coast and the city blacked out. Anti-aircraft batteries fired roughly 1,400 shells at targets reported in searchlight beams. No bombs fell and no aircraft were downed, but falling shell fragments damaged buildings and five people died from accidents and heart attacks. Navy Secretary Frank Knox called it a false alarm. A retouched newspaper photo of searchlights converging on a bright spot later became an icon of UFO lore.
The ledger
What the record shows, what people say, and the best explanation available so far.
What's documented
- The barrage, the blackout and the casualties are well recorded.
- The Army and Navy gave conflicting statements at the time.
What's claimed
- The famous photo shows a solid craft under fire.
- The military covered up an unknown object.
Best explanation so far
Most historians point to wartime jitters, a stray weather balloon and anti-aircraft bursts mistaken for targets. The photo was heavily retouched for publication.
Check the sources
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