The Battle of Los Angeles (1942): UFOs, Wartime Panic, and the Night the Skies Lit Up

In the early hours of February 25, 1942, just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the skies over Los Angeles erupted in chaos. Air raid sirens wailed, anti-aircraft guns roared, and thousands of residents looked up in terror as unidentified objects hovered over the city. Yet no enemy aircraft were ever found—and the mystery of what really happened that night remains unsolved.

The Battle of Los Angeles (1942) is a compelling deep dive into one of the most enigmatic and widely debated UFO incidents in American history. Blending military history, wartime psychology, eyewitness accounts, and cultural analysis, author Patrick Gunn guides readers through:

The timeline of the dramatic night and its immediate aftermath

Firsthand witness reports from civilians and military personnel

Theories ranging from Japanese bombers to extraterrestrial visitors

Media coverage and its role in fueling hysteria

Government investigations, denials, and the legacy of secrecy

The lasting cultural impact on UFO lore, film, and literature

With rich historical context and a critical eye, this book explores not just what happened in 1942—but why it still matters. Was it a false alarm, a government cover-up, or something far more mysterious?

For fans of military history, UFO phenomena, and unsolved mysteries, The Battle of Los Angeles (1942) is a must-read account of the night Los Angeles went to war with the unknown.