#OnThisDate February 23, 1942: Ellwood Under Fire

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At Approximately 7:15 PM Pacific War Time, The Japanese Submarine I-17, Commanded By Captain Kozo Nishino, Surfaced Near The Ellwood Oil Field, Approximately 12 Miles West Of Santa Barbara, California. This Marked The First Axis Military Attack On The Continental United States During World War II.

The I-17, A 365-Foot-Long Submarine Equipped With A 5.5-Inch Deck Gun, Had Been Patrolling The American West Coast Following The Attack On Pearl Harbor. On That February Evening, As President Franklin D. Roosevelt Delivered A Fireside Chat, Nishino Ordered His Crew To Target The Richfield Aviation Fuel Storage Tanks Situated On The Bluffs Overlooking The Coastline.

Over A Span Of Approximately 20 Minutes, The Submarine Fired An Estimated 16 To 25 Shells Toward The Oil Installations. The Bombardment Resulted In Minimal Physical Damage: A Derrick And Pump House Were Destroyed, A Catwalk Was Damaged, And A Single Shell Caused A Five-Foot-Deep Crater On A Nearby Ranch. Remarkably, There Were No Casualties, And The Financial Impact Was Limited To About $500 In Repairs.

Despite The Limited Damage, The Psychological Effect On The American Public Was Profound. The Attack Fueled Widespread Fear Of A Potential Japanese Invasion Of The West Coast. Reports Of Offshore Signal Lights Led To Blackouts And Increased Military Vigilance Along The Coastline. This Heightened State Of Alertness Contributed To Events Such As The "Battle Of Los Angeles," Where Anti-Aircraft Defenses Fired Upon An Assumed Enemy Assault That Later Proved To Be A False Alarm.

In The Broader Context Of World War II, The Ellwood Shelling Underscored The Vulnerability Of The U.S. Mainland To Enemy Attacks. It Served As A Catalyst For Bolstering Coastal Defenses And Influenced The Controversial Decision To Intern Japanese Americans, Driven By Fears Of Espionage And Sabotage.

Today, The Site Of The Ellwood Oil Field Has Been Transformed Into The Sandpiper Golf Course. A Plaque Near The 10th Hole Commemorates The Historic Event, Serving As A Reminder Of The Night When War Touched The American Homeland.

The 1942 Shelling Of Ellwood Stands As A Significant Episode In American History, Highlighting The Far-Reaching Impacts Of Global Conflict And The Enduring Importance Of Preparedness And Resilience.

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