The following pictures are variations of the the photograph that appeared in the LA Times on February 26, 1942 during the "LA Air Raid:"

If one accounts for the "shell bursts" that appear "very close too" and in front of the object, and omits them from the picture in their minds eye, you are left with a perfect "elliptical shaped object."

In the days that followed the "air raid" the Navy tried to explain away the incident stating that it was the result of "jittery nerves" following the bombing of the oil fields that occurred the night before from the Japanese submarine, I-17. The Army on the other hand, didn't make statements quite so preposterous; they announced that;

1.-"Unidentified airplanes, other than American Army or Navy planes , were probably over Los Angeles and were fired on by elements of the 37th Coast Artillery Brigade (anti-aircraft guns) between 3:12 and 4:14 am. 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 as being as 'very slow' to as much as 200 miles per hour, and at an elevation of from 9000, 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.

The Army further speculated that the "unidentified planes may be from a 'commercial source' operated by enemy agents, who had a 'secret base,' possibly in Mexico, for the purpose of spreading alarm, disclosing locations of anti-aircraft positions, or the effectiveness of blackouts."

While speculation was rampant on just what the objects were, some of the more plausible explanations were one; that the object captured in the photograph was either a "blimp," or what was called a "barrage balloon," which was very important to "British defenses' during the war. However, during that time there were only "3" barrage balloons in the LA area, and all were accounted for. Moreover, the barrage balloons had "wings and a tail" which are clearly not evident in the pictures above.

Secondly, it was suggested that the object might have been a plane launched from the I-17 Japanese submarine which shelled the oil fields on the coast on the 23rd. The planes that were capable of being launched from a Japanese submarine were called "GLEN's" which was the "allied code name" for said aircraft. The "GLEN" was a reconnaissance floatplane launched by catapult from the submarine. On September 9, 1942, a Yokosuka E14Y1 GLEN was "rigged" with bombs, and dropped it's payload on the Oregon coast. Again, there is no evidence of "wings or a tail" and it is highly unlikely that the GLEN, or any plane for that matter could fly that slow. (As described by eye witnesses).

Finally, it has been suggested that it could have been a "Fugo balloon" that were indeed used by the Japanese towards the end of the war, however, the "Fugo" was "round" in shape, and it's likely that they did not have access to "fireproof helium" at that time.

It's important to note that the object as reported by eye witnesses as well as evidenced by the photograph, took "direct hits" from anti-aircraft fire. The objects described by one witness (Chief of Police J.H. McClelland of Long Beach) as "silvery looking planes." So this leaves us with some very interesting questions; what in 1942, could achieve flight, was elliptical in shape, silvery in color and could survive direct hits from 3 inch anti-aircraft guns?

To read about similar events that took place shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, please visit the "Historic UFOs Data Base" which is a featured side-bar at this site.