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by Charles Varvaro on April 9th, 2005

Charles Varvaro

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Was the U.S. mainland ever bombed during World War II?

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  • by RJTRIES on July 18th, 2006

    RJTRIES

    There were three attacks by the japanese against the USA proper in WWII----of these two were submarine shellings, and one was an aerial bombing

    On 2/23/42, a japanese sub surfaced off the coast of Santa Barbra (Goleta) and also San Diego and shelled certain areas of the cities---oil refineries----the shore batteries that could NOT have been seen from the ocean, but would have had to specifically been scouted and reported to the enemy, had been removed the previous day. It was the only points on the coast in which an enemy could surface and attack without being shot at by coastal defenses.

    The next attacks came in March near the Astoria area of Oregon when another Japanese sub surfaced and using indirect fire was able to accurately shell inland shore batteries. The import of this--once again, these batteries were emplaced after the start of the war and there was no way to see them from the ocean. And this was the only blind spot in the coastal defenses. Given that there were large air patrols, it wasn't possible for japanese observers to scout the location during the day. Additionally, the coastal defenses were emplaced after the start of hostilities in February 1942. They were indirect fire weapons which meant they were not directly on the coast, but several miles from the coast. The fact that the japanese put their first rounds on target meant that someone scouted them out.

    Finally, in late spring 1942 ship based japanese planes attacked Brookings/Mt. Emily oregon in an attempt to start forest fires.


    Thess three attacks, combined with radio interceptions eminating from coastal areas along california where there were high concentrations of japanese living resulted in the necessary forced relocation of japanese away from teh coast---despite having asked these people to voluntarily relocate in January/Feb 1942....

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