The Forensic View has frequently presented examples of influences that can alter eyewitness processes. Such influences are often strongly highlighted by real-world events outside the courtroom.

The Battle of Los Angeles, on February 24-25, 1942, presents us with just such an event; and this one was epic.

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, an attack on the U.S. West Coast was strongly anticipated. As a direct result, the “Battle of Los Angeles” yielded a very uncomfortable night—a night which proved lethal in at least five cases.

Californians had blacked out their windows, to prevent Japanese bombers from zeroing in. Los Angeles hosted several antiaircraft batteries, accompanied by eye-searing batteries of aerial searchlights over the cities. Air-raid wardens roamed the city; an attack was anticipated at any moment.

Then it all began.

In and around Los Angeles, firing against an attacking Japanese air armada on the night of February 24-25, American anti-aircraft batteries allegedly shot nearly 18,000 pounds of shrapnel into the air, all of which of course came screaming back down in white-hot fury on the property of the American taxpayers who’d paid for it. Yet this seemed entirely justified.

Relatively precise military estimates of enemy aircraft speeds and altitudes were reported. Single death-dealing aircraft were observed peeling off in individual attacks. Some aircraft were seen crashing into the city, doing untold damage. Military observers saw entire squadrons, between 12 and 25 bombers strong, flying in close formation to drop flaming death on the City of Angels.

People on the ground were terrified; driving like hell for the edge of town through panic-driven traffic gridlocks,........

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