Battle of Los Angeles
Weeks after Pearl Harbor, the US military fired over 1,400 anti-aircraft rounds at an unidentified object over Los Angeles. Searchlights converged on a large, slow-moving object that appeared impervious to the barrage. A famous photograph shows searchlights focused on the object. The Army initially attributed it to war nerves; the Navy said it was a real object. Five civilians died from shrapnel and car accidents during the panic.
Evidence
Battle of Los Angeles — Original Newspaper Coverage
Famous photograph and coverage of the Battle of Los Angeles — when U.S. military anti-aircraft batteries fired 1,430 rounds at an unidentified object over Los Angeles on February 25, 1942. The iconic LA Times photo shows searchlights converging on a large object surrounded by anti-aircraft shell bursts. Despite sustained fire, the object was not brought down. Five civilians died from friendly fire and falling shrapnel. The military initially claimed Japanese aircraft, then retracted to 'war nerves.' The actual object was never identified.