The Battle of Los Angeles: UFO Panic Over the City of Angels

 The Battle of Los Angeles: UFO Panic Over the City of Angels

Date: February 24-25, 1942

Key Characters: US Army Air Forces personnel, LA citizens, Secretary of War Henry Stimson.

Summary: Just months after Pearl Harbor, fear of a Japanese attack was high. On the night of February 24/25, 1942, unidentified radar contacts triggered a massive anti-aircraft barrage over Los Angeles. Searchlights illuminated an object(s), and thousands of shells were fired for hours. No aircraft were shot down, and no bombs fell. The next day, the Secretary of War stated it was likely a false alarm caused by "war nerves" and possibly a stray weather balloon. Conspiracy theories about UFOs persist, but the official explanation remains a case of wartime jitters and misidentification.

Historical Reference: US Army Western Defense Command reports, Secretary Stimson's press conference, Los Angeles Times coverage, photographs of the barrage.