It was a cold, winter night in 1942. Late on February 24^th, beams of searchlights were crisscrossing the darkened sky seeking any inbound enemy aircraft. Suddenly, a barrage of ordinance was unleashed into the heavens from the numerous artillery guns protecting the city.

Was this London in the blitz? Could it have been Berlin being bombarded by the Allies? No, this happened in the skies over our own city of the angels, Los Angeles.

The Great Air Raid is something of a mystery. Since the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a few months earlier, the people of Los Angeles were justifiably anxious and perhaps a little trigger-happy. The frantic shooting by various units of that night weren’t sure what they were firing at as no planes were ever confirmed seen or shot down.

Few people know about this event in history possibly because the government wanted it relegated to obscurity. However, the Fort MacArthur Museum in San Pedro would like for you to experience that night at their annual re-enactment of The Great Air Raid of 1942 on the evening of Saturday, February 23rd.

There are many places in LA to travel back in time, but this event is probably the closest you’ll ever get.

Two years ago I went to this exciting affair with my friend Lisa. She enjoys movies as much as I do so we normally go to the cinema. On the other hand she enjoys trying something new so when I suggested this, she was all for it. So we headed to San Pedro.

Out by the coast, where the museum is located, it was dark so when we turned onto the road it seemed quiet and deserted. For a moment we wondered if it were cancelled or that we were in the wrong place. However we kept driving and suddenly there we were back in time.

A gentleman dressed in a WWII military uniform waved us by flashlight to a parking spot. As we exited the vehicle we were transported to another age. You could hear the pulsating music of the swing band coming out of the darkness. This year the band performing will be The Jonathon Stout Orchestra featuring Hilary Alexander.

When we neared near the event we saw that many of the people attending were dressed nostalgically in costume. Lisa and I felt out of place in our modern day clothes like some alien spectators from the future. There was military equipment and vehicles of the 1940’s period on static display. The men were wearing the typical prewar uniform of tin flat helmets and leggings. Most people won’t recognize these since most photographs show the outfits wore by the troops later in the war. Therefore, I commend the museum on their commitment to historical accuracy.

Lisa and I enjoyed watching the band playing, the dancers twirling and Maxwell DeMille, the Master of Ceremonies, announcing the evening’s events like a radio show of that era. During the band’s break we explored the museum set in the concrete bunker. It’s a fascinating look at what our coastal defenses were during the war.

When the band resumed playing we climbed the parapet to get a better view. We enjoyed comparing which couple dancing looked the most authentic. Suddenly there was an announcement that the raid was commencing. Sirens wailed, guns started firing and the searchlights frantically pierced the sky.

The lights finally settled onto the intruder. The audience couldn’t help but laugh when it saw it was a blimp looming directly overhead. Lisa and I wondered if it were coincidence until the display on the blimp flashed:
Watch the Great Air Raid of 1942 on the History Channel

All in all it was an enjoyable night! As usual, I have to mention the link to Hollywood in my article. If you’ve ever seen Steven Spielberg’s film 1941, it’s obvious it was based on this event from the past.

So if you’re a WWII buff or interested in an easy way to time travel, go to the Fort MacArthur Museum on the evening of February 23^rd for an thrilling re-enactment of history!

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