1942.02.26
From George Marshall to Franklin D Roosevelt
[Click on image below to clarify and enlarge]
SECRET
File
Record
section
OCS 21347-86
February 26, 1942.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
The following is the information we have from GHQ at this moment regarding the air alarm over Los Angeles of yesterday morning:
“From details available at this hour:
“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 (AA) between 3:12 and 4:15 AM. These units expended 1430 rounds of ammunition.
“2. As many as fifteen planes may have been involved, flying at various speeds from what is officially reported as being ‘very slow’ to as much as 200 MPH and at elevations from 9000 to 18000 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.
“Investigation continuing. It seems reasonable to conclude that if unidentified airplanes were involved they may have been from commercial sources, operated by enemy agents for purposes of spreading alarm, disclosing location of antiaircraft positions, and slowing production through blackout. Such conclusion is supported by varying speed of operation and the fact that no bombs were dropped.”
(Sgd) G. C. MARSHALL
Chief of Staff.
mkn
SECRET
2/347
86
Orig. despatched to Pres.
2/26/42
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 11652 Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E)
OSD letter, May 3, 1972
By [initials] NARS Date 4.9.74