Submarines, Balloons, and the Battle of Los Angeles

[@catjudo1]

Ending an already fantastic video with Nobuo Fujita's visits to Brookings, Oregon and a reading from Fujita-san's journal was absolutely inspired, sir. I had come across his visits before, and read that the Samuri sword he donated had been in his family for generations and would have passed to his son had he not donated it to the town of Brookings. I wonder what his son thought of this, as it was certainly a gesture of goodwill on a very personal scale. My paternal grandfather flew in the Pacific theater during the war and went to visit Japan in the 1960s. He said that the Japanese were the kindest and most polite people he had ever met. During the visit he asked how he could pay his respects to the Japanese killed in the War, particularly those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki; his host smiled and said to him , "You just did, Jerry-san. You just did."

[@angusforster1511]

Your wonderful videos have my children getting enthusiastic about history, they are fantastic. The diary quote from Japanese pilot was a very moving way to conclude. Thank you so much for showing how fascinating history really is.

[@RCAvhstape]

Marty, quit copying and pasting your racist nonsense.

Schools barely teach american history anymore, but will spend entire semesters on LGBT rights and white racism against everything.

[@huntnwabbits8150]

marty man - get back on your meds......

[@Gizmomadug]

"the Emperor sent back a calculated mind threat to a precise target..and it worked." FACT.

[@davidmarquardt2445]

Attu and Kiska the outer most islands, were briefly occupied by the Japanese. When US forces retook the islands, they found the grave of a US pilot who had been shot down. The troops were surprised to find that he was buried in a properly dug grave, with a cross to mark it and they had written on it something like " Here lies an American soldier who died in honored service to the Mother land". Even though they killed him, they respected his courage.

[@HangtownDave]

Excellent video! I live in Oregon north of Brookings on the pacific coast and the concrete remnants of hardened military defense sites are still scattered as a reminder of this point in history all along the shoreline from California to Washington state. A friend of mine worked for the Forestry Department during that time manning a fire lookout in the Siskiyou National Forest, and claims to have witnessed and reported one of the bombings. I met Mr. Fujita at a local function at which he spoke in the early 90's and was moved by his sincerity, wisdom and depth of character. A truly remarkable person. Thank you History Guy for sharing this story, its nice to see a bit of local history shared with the world.

[@simplythebest4341]

HangtownDave you are lucky to live up there if you know anyone who is hiring I would love to move up there I can pretty much fix anything and I would even be willing to do Lumberjack work because it's hard and good money.

[@infidelapostate3094]

@@simplythebest4341 the only ones hiring around here are weed & hemp farms... _just sayin'_ 😉

[@jackdundon2261]

In the Willamette Valley, (Eugene albany salem) every construction company is hiring. I am sure k-falls, Medford is hiring too. As well as Portland. A good man can get a good job. I have a college degree (oregon state university) and I am a cement finisher, starting wages are 22.00 an hour and top out at 40.00 an hour (foreman like me) plus prevailing wage, I JUST broke 90,000.00 for the year. (With 3 months left + I expect Christmas bonus between 10 AND 15,000.00 If your coming from California, PLEASE leve that liberal horse-crap in California!

[@spazboy8962]

He donated his samurai sword?!? WOW! What an absolutely incredible gesture. Thank you sir, may you rest in eternal peace...

[@WarHawk-]

Agreed that this was an incredible gesture because to a Japanese warrior during WW II, his 'samurai' sword was his soul.

[@richardcomerford1828]

I can not honestly think of one channel, among all the diverse ideas presented, more deserving of my support. You are a treasure sir. I wish I could do more than praise your efforts.

[@nothandmade9686]

Great to hear a story of reunion and reconciliation at the end.

[@Javaman92]

It was all good but that ending was my favorite!

[@RCAvhstape]

So Marty, how many times are you going to copy and paste that hogwash and crap all over History Guy's videos?

[@Cheeseatingjunlista]

Marty, you are either in need of psychiatric assistance, which I suspect is the case, or you are merely an evil troll conspiralunatic

[@blip1]

@Marty Man I think the problem is that you are hysterical over an incident that is approaching the age of 80 years. Pull yourself together.

[@blip1]

@Marty Man I would also point out that I am supposed to purchase the 1980s document in your link. Nice work.

[@SteveF1967]

"The IJN had ambitious plans at the start of WWII...". Truer words have never been spoken.

[@christian-michaelhansen471]

As a Seattle to Portland, Oregon resident, I’ve heard many of these stories from my native born friends and family. I had not heard the Brookings tale until just now. It is indeed, History That Deserves to be Remembered. Thanks to THG for educating me once again.

[@johnferguson7235]

SS Montebello was an oil tanker sunk by the Japanese submarine, I-21, off the coast of California on December 23, 1941 Montebello was torpedoed after leaving for Vancouver, British Columbia, from the small Central Coast seaport of Port San Luis .... At approximately 5:45 am, off the coast of the small town of Cambria, California, just north of Morro Bay, two torpedoes hit the ship. History that deserves to be remembered.

[@104thDIVTimberwolf]

My Dad's first Birthday!

[@rabbi120348]

@@104thDIVTimberwolf Exactly 20 years before my Bar Mitzvah!

[@tedcarl5382]

I read an article a few years ago in SLO, that they are trying to figure out how to clean it up. Apparently it still has substantial crude on board, resting about 600 ft(?) down.

[@bradmiller213]

I knew of the balloon bombs, but never realized there were that many launched 9000, wow.

[@xcalibertrekker6693]

Same I remember hearing about them decades ago in another documentary but never knew they were deployed in those numbers. They sure were desperate to attack us. They knew the only way was try to intimidate us but they didn't understand that WE CAN NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY ENEMIES. :-)

[@DrRich-mw4hu]

Brad MIller, same here.. I always held the fictional belief that the US main land had never EVER sustained any bombs much less actual casualties from anything other than a handful of desperate balloon NOT 40000!! The professor blew my mind AGAIN!!! 👀🤔👀 -Rich

[@bradmiller213]

@Xcaliber Trekker...One thing I can't understand is, think of the cost/success ratio. I punched some numbers through a calculator, and made some VERY general assumptions. Let's say each balloon cost them $50 each, 1940's US dollars, times 9000. That would put the cost at just shy of $500,00. I think I probably figured low. We know that probably less than half a dozen balloons actually made it to the US, and of those, killed less that a dozen people. How do you justify that kind of cost? Desparate or not, that's a pretty low return on capital spent.

[@robajohnson]

@@bradmiller213 " How do you justify that kind of cost?" First, you don't assume it's going to fail. Frankly they fact they that nothing significant came from it is still stunning! Second, what else did they have? $500,000 could have bought a major Battleship but they did not have the steel or oil to build it. 500 k could have bought a lot of planes but they did not have factories left to build them. This was a low resource operation. it was something they *could* do. Plus not having the vast information of the internet back then I do not think they understood hard it is to start a fire in the soggy Pacific northwest or exactly how empty the west overall is/was. Still, think of how destructive modern wildfires are in the west. Just ONE of those balloons could have done severe damage. Again, I am often shocked it was such a failure and I know US geography probably better than those planners did.

[@jamesslick4790]

I'd make a "Dragon Ball Z" reference, but I think I just did. LOL.

[@saml7610]

"...to be interned in brookings Oregon" great phrasing when talking about Fujitu's ashes.

[@ivanlaracuente6234]

Thank you so much for your videos! I am an ex-Army officer who was stationed in Germany when the Berlin wall was up and when it came down.

[@cosmoray9750]

13:29 " If we knew each other, If we understood each other as friends. This foolish war would have never happened ".....Very powerful words. If we don't learn from history. Then we are domed to repeat it...

[@GMAMEC]

“I sincerely hope there will come a time when everyone can overcome their differences with talking....” ♥️♥️♥️

[@gregoryhajder348]

The biggest result was a very hillarious movie titled "1941" directed by Steven Spielberg.

[@dukecraig2402]

"I think we hit it.....I saw it go down"

[@nevyen149]

"Horrywood!!!"

[@bx8garageman]

'BOMBS! I DON'T HEAR ANY BOMBS...they came all the way from Asia don't you think they'd bring a few bombs along?!' Lol!!!

[@dukecraig2402]

@@bx8garageman Death Valley Ca....high noon.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@bx8garageman One of the funniest parts of the movie is when Christopher Lee's character, the Nazi, and the Japanese U-boat commander talk to each other in German and Japanese but they seem to understand each other perfectly, "What kind of junk did your government sell us?" "These are the finest Swiss insturments, the error is in your crew."

[@nomore9203]

The sad thing is the ART of TALKING is dying these days. Very good History lesson today. Thank You...

[@LostShipMate]

Do you mean Rhetoric?

[@nomore9203]

When you talk to someone and they do not like what you say then they call you a Nazi or other dumb names.

[@douglasrodrigues332]

@@nomore9203 , "someone," as in democrats? I gave up trying to have political conversations with so-called liberals years ago.

[@usedbrickie9166]

You must talk to yourself or a lot to the trees. 60;s area I know

[@nomore9203]

Yes Sir. But I still try to talk to theme. I have shown some of the have half of the are not Nazi's. the way I show them this is I use HISTORY and ask them to prove me wrong. That is why I LOVE the The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered.......

[@stoneyll]

Another fascinating history lesson... The old John Belushi movie, 1941 was somewhat loosely based on this incident.. I cannot thank you enough.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

That movie was a riot. "I'm a bug!"

[@joejohnston5859]

When I lived in west Marin County in the '90s, a neighboring rancher named Ed Pozzi who had lived in the area since the 1920s told me a story that one morning in 1943 he discovered the bodies of about a dozen Japanese sailors washed up at the mouth of the Estero de San Antonio. The Army sent troops from the Presidio in San Francisco to collect the bodies and told him that a Japanese submarine had been sunk by a PBY north of the Farallon Islands. I had almost forgotten this story until your excellent history lesson reminded me. Thank you!

[@KeithKman]

Another amazing episode. You really should have a TV show with this exact format. Younger generations would learn so much they aren’t taught in school. Thank you!

[@phil4826]

No need. This already is a TV show!

[@nicholaslucia7836]

KZbin has replaced TV for the younger generation.

[@jeffreyhavlik3562]

T.V. is dead. What are you on about?

[@bharn253]

And you are non political. Good and bad guys come in all colors and nationalities. As in real life...

[@johnbent62]

Discovery channels...why are you not hiring this gentleman? I'd watch every single episode. A wonderful story, perfectly described.

[@Skywalker8562]

The "History Channel" on cable TV has become a cartoon network and self-serving propaganda.

[@billthetraveler51]

It's not just a history lesson. Your videos are inspirational as well. Thank you again for the wonderful presentation.

[@toms641]

I had an uncle who lived in the Los Angeles area during the War years. I was so young and naive back then, so I never asked him why he wasn't in the military. But in thinking back, he was working in Defense contracting, was a engineer in the Howard Hughes organization. Apparently he knew Mr. Hughes well. He mentioned to me that after that offshore shelling attack, all the aircraft contractors (who had long flat factory buildings in the area) disguised the roofs of these buildings with fake landscaping, (trees, bushes) and roadways. Maybe it worked, they never got bombed. Great content History Guy!

[@r.a.monigold9789]

...we must continue the long slog towards talk without fights. Thank you for sharing...

[@idahoflyfishingadventures5244]

Back to back great videos for us. We live next to Mount Spokane. Really enjoyed the Mourn 79 history. Next day this one. Our daughter lives in Brookings. What a treat!

[@blip1]

The final couple of minutes of this video are almost tear-worthy. Now I know why "Empire of the Sun" got to me.

[@drsonnysell4471]

Respect & Gratitude Professor!!

[@ddegn]

Your videos often evoke an emotional response from me. This video was another powerful one. Thank you very much for making these videos.

[@thebonesaw..4634]

I'm sure you meant to say, "*was another powerful one". It was for me too. One of the few good things to come out of war is that it gives us the power to heal... and the opportunity to better understand each other in peace.

[@ddegn]

The Bonesaw Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I usually forget to add "NOT", it's not often I mistakenly add one when not intended.

[@thebonesaw..4634]

@Despiser Despised -- Obvious troll... is obvious.

[@godfreecharlie]

My grandfather (Spike Franz) trained at Fort Stevens just before going to France in WWI. He was part of an artillery crew manning a howitzer. He would take me through the fort showing me the gun batteries and facilities. This is the first I've heard of the Japanese involvement and find it interesting. My grandfather and my whole family are lifelong Oregonians who will enjoy your history lessons. It's great that you have made it so interesting and a pleasure to absorb the knowledge. Thanks again, CCF

[@grantrichards4950]

Great video! In addition to the Liberty ships mentioned, Kaiser also turned out 50 escort carriers in less than two years from his shipyards on the Columbia, in Vancouver, Wa. My father served on CVE101 during the war.

[@Theonixco]

What a gracious thing the town of Brookings, and Fujita did for each other. What wonderful way to wrap a very informative video!

[@nevik9199]

watching the history guy, time well spent!

[@zandarzandarevic5466]

Whenever i turn the Tv on and the ad's start rollin, i just turn it off for good and go to this channel. Fuck TV, history guy, you got my thumbs up

[@bj052088meyers]

Thank You History Guy. We didn't know Archie Mitchell or his first wife Elsie. But we do know several of their current family. They are a great family with an amazing legacy.

[@preahko]

Great episode! Especially the ending.

[@mkaiser29]

I agree!!

[@kcamera4975]

That last part was very emotional. Thanks

[@ryangrafft5360]

Thank you for the great video! Especially the message at the end. Keep up the great work!

[@hipocampelofantocame]

Wow, what a great resource you are. I was in grammar school during WWll on an island in Tampa bay, FLA with blackout at night, no one on the beach after dark, and numerous tall submarine spotting towers around.The small islands scattered around were daylight bombing targets for pilots training in Tampa. Large chunks of raw rubber from torpedoed freighters would wash up on the beach and had to be certified as non mines before removal. I was a Coast Guard picket boat mascot and was taught all the skills, including radio communication; I was even allowed to steer the boat. I've loved the Coast Guard service ever since, and think back often on those exciting times. History rocks!

[@chrislj2890]

Wonderful video, and that ending darn near brought a tear to my eye. Bravo and r.i.p. Mr. Fujita.

[@Adventuredude2]

As a citizen of Oregon and history buff myself, I am glad you covered this topic! Part of Fort Stevens is still present and available for tour. Also you were spot on regarding Brookings, Oregon. THANKS!

[@billb1725]

Concise, informative and absolutely fascinating. Please keep these coming. History lessons are underrated.

[@ifor20got]

Thumbs up before I even start watching. You have the only channel I actually look forward to watching Everytime. Thank you History Guy

[@skyhawksailor8736]

Another affect of these attacks were the Defense Backbone Route (DBR), which caused the Department of Defense to run a communications route from San Diego to Seattle on the East side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. AT&T brought in crews of linemen from all over the US to construct this route with repeater stations about every 70 miles. There were also branch lines which would go out of cities like Reno to the West Coast Military installations. This route was designed to keep a commando team from being able to cut communications between all the West Coast Military Installations. The complete route from San Diego through Las Vegas, Reno, Klamath Falls, and Seattle was completed in less than a year. It was a double cross arm, open wire phone lines using copper cladded steel wire.

[@v.e.7236]

Another gem; a display of a little humanity and aviation related - what's not to enjoy?

[@davedoyle6835]

Excellent video again!

[@torpedo8384]

Dear Sir, I am thoroughly enjoying, remembering and learning from your videos. I look forward to one or more videos on the 100th Battalion and the 442nd RCT. Perhaps 2-3 covering their formation, and the battles of Monte Casino and the battle for the lost battalion. Mahalo

[@admiralcapn]

I've binged your videos and now have to wait for each upload! Great stuff, great content, great delivery. You should examine the tunnels of the PA turnpike, especially the bypassed ones. They really were ahead of their time, and then so quickly behind the times.

[@stevenperkins6690]

First time I've seen your videos and I think my buddy nailed it by sending me this one.. I'm a charter deckhand and commercial fisherman here in the mouth of the Columbia and I've always loved our history here and ft. Stevens and I do my best to share with our customers but I truly never knew the IJN was that close. So to say thank you and I won't forget this

[@Miata822]

Planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest next spring. Brookings Oregon now on the list. +

[@all-yw2yr]

Wow what a story "if we knew each other, if we understood each other as friends this foolish war would've never happened, I hope the time will come when everyone can overcome their differences with talking not fighting" wise words, if we can only look back and learn from our mistakes. Thank you for such a great story.

[@orangelion03]

Well done sir! I live near Santa Barbara and have been to the golf course that now sits where the shelled refinery once stood several times...most recently two weeks ago when my fiance and I stopped there on our way home from a trip. Many years ago, when I first moved to the coast near Los Angeles, I took a an adult night-school class on the military history of the area. This included tours of Fort MacArthur and visits to observation bunkers and other small fortifications scattered along the California coast in response to this attack.

[@mattbartley2843]

As I understand it, Fort MacArthur was built as a World War 1 era artillery base intended to take on battleships attacking the neighboring port, which never actually happened either. They have an annual commemoration there of this "Great Los Angeles Air Raid".

[@orangelion03]

Matt Bartley It's been 30+ years, but if my memory serves, the teacher of that history class was the organizer/creator of that annual commemoration. I think he may have written a book about it. I lived in Redondo/Torrance/PV area for 15 years and visited Fort Mac many times. I live in Ventura area now, and there are two now heavily eroded and sometimes buried gun emplacements on the shore just west of the mouth of the Ventura River. Built in response to the Santa Barbara attack, they were intended to protect the oil field and facilities located just inland. www.fortwiki.com/Battery_155_-_Ventura

[@ELCADAROSA]

Another outstanding and thorough lesson! You present more information on a given subject in 10 - 15 minutes than most history teachers do in a single period or class. Well done, sir!

[@annieb7919]

Neil Newhall Didn't you mean "more than history teachers do in an entire year"?!

[@dahveed284]

Wow, 92k subscribers. Fantastic growth the last few months. Another great episode.

[@petuniasevan]

My mother was a small child during the "Battle of Los Angeles". That and the blackouts, jitters, and rationing are still strong memories for her.

[@andrewphillips8341]

"Sir, They destroyed or backstop". "Those Bastards! This time they have gone to far"

[@wkdravenna]

They attacked baseball culture!

[@boydmccollum692]

A back stop too far

[@ArmyMP]

"too"

[@mootpointjones8488]

A very uplifting segment and educational too. Thanks.

[@georgewashington938]

there was a movie about this with John Belushi called '1941'. The Japanese had problems because their compass failed. They then captured Slim Pickens who had a small compass, and the rest is history.

[@Skywalker8562]

Prune juice, a bucket of oil and a brick fooled the Japanese and Slim got away.

[@panzerabwerkanone]

Hollis Wood. Hai Horrywood!

[@Rhinexing]

Each video is more intriguing & well researched than the last. Please keep sharing your knowledge& engaging others with historical facts. THIS is how our history will not be forgotten.

[@johnb332]

Love your channel. History without politics.

[@achillebelanger9866]

The History Guy would be a good President...just saying.

[@jw9737]

@@achillebelanger9866 he's too smart for that job! Political opponents would mistreat him horribly. I do think he'd be a great advisor!

[@11ajoseph]

Unquestioningly, this channel is one of the most valuable on KZbin!!!!!

[@foxtrot35]

My how history is so important. So important...we forget it...dont teach it....only to repeat it. Maybe a lesson on why history is so important and why it must be taught Keep up the good work!

[@nhmooytis7058]

foxtrot35 today’s smiling sushi chef could be tomorrow’s kamikaze....

[@jesseboyd9132]

Great video. Two of the children who died in the ballon explosion were my great aunt and uncle. My grandmother told me about how it happened and how much pain it caused her and her family. In the late 90s I went with my family and the families of the other victims to meet some of the Japanese people who made the balloons. We met at the memorial site on Gearhart Mt near Bly OR. It was very touching and a wonderful chance for healing on both sides.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Awesome story!

[@harrisonmantooth3647]

I still remember my father talking about the shelling of the oil fields and the "attack" around L.A. Yeah, it caused a lot of panic and fear so, in that sense, the Axis archived their goal. Thanks for sharing another great video of our past. History really is fascinating. Stan

[@jmfa57]

I truly love your videos. You have exactly the right formula. Thanks!

[@thelonerider5644]

Also the story at the end about the pilot was unexpected but in a good way.

[@thomaswilkinson3241]

A heartwarming conclusion.

[@daytonaflorida2247]

And to think that all these years I thought the movie 1941 was pure fiction. Apparently it did have some basis in fact, just applied very loosely.

[@tncorgi92]

I vaguely recall that movie. If memory serves, it sort of "bombed" at the box office, didn't it?

[@thebonesaw..4634]

Another fact from that movie was that Nancy Allen... was an absolute biscuit in it.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@tncorgi92 Spiellberg's first try at comedy. It's a riot really. A true cult classic.

[@thebonesaw..4634]

I loved it (still do, for nostalgic reasons); but I think I was the perfect age for it (about 15, which is roughly about as mature as it was).

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@Evan Moyer That is like saying "Animal House" was mildly humorous. Sadly, it never got the praise of his other films. It may explain why Spielberg made no more comedy films.

[@Gkuljian]

I've never enjoyed history; Especially military history. But you are so good at presenting these stories, I am compelled to learn, and even enjoy it. Thanks.

[@desl1794]

Thank you for all the work you do putting together these videos! Nice hat collection! May I make a request for a future video? The Texas City Disaster of 1947, the deadliest industrial accident in the United States. We're looking forward to another great video!

[@rickylittleton1456]

I am absolutely addicted to this channel! I am a history lover myself and this channel is my favorite. Thanks for all your hard work and thanks for keeping history alive!!!Ricky-Merritt Island, Florida

[@mkaiser29]

That was the best damn video I have seen in a year!! #TheHistoryGuy is awesome!! Thank you!!!

[@Braeden123698745]

The story of Nbua Fujita (spelling) brings a tear to my eye. I'm very glad I have the opportunity as I live in Oregon to visit that library now. That's most assuredly on my bucket list now.

[@Lee-70ish]

Knew about the balloons but all the rest was all new, Very interesting history HG

[@rvasquez8057]

These just get better and better. Great job HG....

[@davidharris6581]

I had a good friend who recently died that was an Air Force JAG officer after WWII. The Air Force inherited all of the damage claims from the Army Air Corps. He told me auxiliary fuel tanks and JATO bottles must have a homing device directing them to the nearest barn or chicken coup when dropped. Anyways whenever in the West, especially the Northwest he first had to determine if the damage was caused by friendly fire (drop tanks) or from enemy action (fire bombs from balloons) He was an outside person anyhow and loved all the trekking and hiking to remote locations to investigate. This drug out all the way to the 60's and they were still finding sites damaged from the fire balloons.

[@donaldchase6163]

Thank you for informing us about the attacks on the USA that I've only heard rumors about before. Your videos are very informative and enjoyable. Learning history in high school back in the 60's was never as enjoyable as your videos.

[@ifor20got]

How about something about Earnet Shackleton and his heroic voyage on the James Ciard. By far the greatest display of seamanship in the history of sailing.....

[@tommypetraglia4688]

Yup, that and Capt Bligh self-rescue after mutiny sailing an open longboat 3,000 miles across the South Pacific without a single loss of life. Each of these rightfully vie as the greatest small boat voyage in history.

[@nickhorton5839]

I learn something new from every one of your lessons! Thank you you!

[@sixty3caddy]

"If we knew each other, if we understood each other as friends, this foolish war would never have happened." How very true.

[@678friedbed]

until the Government spreads propaganda and fearmongering turning friends into enemies.

[@MrStan1221]

Thank you, i don't recall ever hearing about this. Being raised in Maryland and Delaware there still stand some towers along the Delaware beaches that i was told were used to spot U boats during the war.

[@garyjohnsen4812]

There is a sunken Japanese submarine off the mouth of the Columbia River, it's on the charts

[@infidelapostate3094]

A group calling themselves _Oregon Coast Project_ are on Facebook attempting to identify the wreck.

[@TeddyBear651946]

I wish I could have had a history teacher like you when I was young. Thank you for all you do.

[@mrmcbaldspot]

Fort Stevens is one of my favorite places to visit. I live an hour south of it.

[@PNurmi]

mrmcbaldspot, how is the Tillamook cheese company doing? I grew up in Clatsop county and played on Battery Russell but didn't go too far into the underground rooms. Also played on the wreck of the Peter Ardail (maybe mis-spelled) that was not far from Fort Stevens State Park.

[@mrmcbaldspot]

@@PNurmi The Cheese Factory just expanded and is doing very well.

[@annieb7919]

Donald Palmrose LOVE Tillamook cheese AND ice cream! Remember the blimp hangars? Too bad that one burned down. Is one still standing, do you know?

[@annieb7919]

Raging S Is the airplane restaurant still in operation at Evergreen? Loved that place!

[@johnycoho7830]

Donald Palmrose I've never been to Fort Stevens. But I have been to Tillamook several times and the Cheese is awesome.

[@gerannightshadow5688]

I cannot express how glad I am that (1) You run this channel and (2) that I found it. Thank you so much for every video you make. 😊

[@alexgallagher4594]

Do you think you could cover USS North Carolina (BB-55)? Also the feels there at the end.

[@harrychung433]

Thanks for expanding on these snippets on the attacks on the West coast of the United States during WW2. Have heard/read about the submarine attack on Santa Barbara, but not of the other attacks. As for the balloon attacks, I always thought of them more as an annoyance tactic than as a real tactical effort .

[@PerspectiveEngineer]

That was great. If iI could find my glasses I'd say more... I'll be back. ;)

[@DanYeLL2003]

Wow, that story at the end really got to me...

[@bruceschneider4928]

I'm glad we know the Japanese people as friends today. They are wonderful and loyal people.

[@rickuyeda4818]

My Father-N-Law was a WWII Veteran who was captured on Bataan. He was in the Bataan Death March and shipped to Japan to work the coal mines. When I met his daughter in College, his wife objected to their daughter seeing me. My Father-N-Law told his wife, his daughter could see anyone who made her happy. After we married and my Mother-N-Law got to know my family, she grew closer to us than her own family.

[@brandons9398]

Thank you for producing this video. Most have never heard of these events. I’ve studied world war 2 since elementary school. A war that could have been avoided had countries not been so vindictive at the end of the First World War.

[@sargesacker2599]

There were also plans for a squadron of I-400 submarines to launch bombing raids on the west coast or the Panama Canal, but with Admiral Yamamoto's death the project to build the submarines were delayed. By the time a few subs were built and sent, the war was almost at an end. During transit to the west coast of the US, the war ended and the plan couldn't be carried out.

[@Skywalker8562]

The Japanese pilots came close to mutiny at this plan, because it called for the planes to be marked with U.S. insignia..definitely against the rules of war, and more over the Japanese pilots felt it was dishonorable.

[@lizwynaco2222]

Liked the footage of Battery Russell. Explored it many times. You still can to this day.

[@RN-wi8fi]

I know about the balloon bombs as a dear friend of mine was at the time the only FBI field agent in charge of the territory from Los Angeles to Monterey CA. Not only that , he went up and down the coast checking out many supposed enemy sightings. An interesting side note. THere was a large GERMAN and ITALIAN p o w camp located where Vandenberg AFB is now. It was known as Camp Cooke then. Many is the time he had to go to LA to retrieve a POW who escaped because he wanted to see Holly wood movie stars. RIP, Mr. Nolan.

[@markn2904]

Thanks for sharing another history lesson.

[@gregcampwriter]

Steven Spielberg did remember the attack on Los Angeles in his film, 1941.

[@DHW256]

LOL! Yes!

[@juststeve5542]

Interesting to hear some back story leading up to the battle of LA. I hadn't heard it in this context before. Very true words at the end too. Great history lesson.

[@Cheeseatingjunlista]

You are singlehanded reassuring the world that both sanity and a long-term historical perspective are available despite the evidence that almost all of our Leaders world wide are simultaneously allowing power lust and egotism to lie frenziedly about the past in order to progress some fiction that will power them into the future. Here you are talking about the result of a similar series of hard men ( they normally claim they stand for "Strong Leadership") rattling sabres and shouting international insults. I put my trust in the unfashionable notion that sense will eventually prevail. Brilliant and timely video as usual

[@robajohnson]

Considering the enormous lengths the allies had to go to stop the Axis I just don't understand how you conclude that common sense will eventually prevail. Neither Germany nor Japan was ready to quit even after we reduced them both to starving rubble. The Russians had to take every block of the rubble formally known as Berlin to get them to stop. Then we had to drop not one but TWO atom bombs on Japan to get them to finally stop! Where is the common sense? Both of those nations were defeated by '44 yet they just would...not...STOP! Madness, utter madness!

[@tomgreene7942]

I agree with robajohnson, people will fight until the earth blows itself up. Even if you know the enemy, the soldiers will follow orders, and some politician will make the orders, while others will fight back. In Tomck Siberia, in 1991, I was foreign visitor #36, and after going to church for about a month, a Russian approached and told me through an interpreter, that I am the first American he'd known that he didn't hate. I asked him if he met other Americans. He said yes, but they were Protestants. I sighed and said, "Yes but we are supposed to love our Protestant brothers and sisters" He replied: "I know, but it is difficult." (There was a Evangelical church in the town.) He explained that he was a Cornell (sic?) in the Russian Army, and everyday they were told they had to hate Americans, because sooner or later they'd have to fight Americans, and thus they had to be ready. He told me that even in schools, every week they had to put on gas masks for an hour, because some day the Americans would gas them. A month later in Prague, some Czechs confirmed that they did too. Hopefully it's better now, but propaganda can make anyone fight.

[@timothybryan8260]

Thank you history guy for sharing your knowledge !!!

[@larrysherk]

Fabulous romantic and symbolic ending to a strange story!

[@CallieMasters5000]

Here in Texas, there were reports of German ships in the Gulf of Mexico during WWII, though I don't know if they did any damage.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Uboats sank several cargo and tanker ships there.

[@davidjose2193]

...yes and several German UBoats were sunk in the Gulf of Mexico...Including one bombed by a Mexican Air Force T6!

[@robbob5973]

Thank you very much for making your videos. You sir have a gift of making History very interesting. I get a Great education from your knowledge... Rob in Pa.

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

Usually they leave out the balloon attacks. That's a really obscure story you don't see much about. But that's always an unsettling thought and if Japan had put more effort into that it could have caused a lot of problems. I have a suggestion - how about doing one on The Battle of Frenchtown and the River Raisin massacre? 'Remember the Raisin!'

[@annieb7919]

W1seOldg33zer I read a true story in the Reader's Digest in '78 or '79 about a little girl, I believe 3 yrs of age, who was just learning to go potty at home all by herself. One day mommy heard her little one in the bathroom and hearing an electrical thing running, went in to see what was going on. Little One was using mommy's hair dryer to blow grapes around on the counter. When questioned, she told mommy that she was making raisins! Intelligent little one! (Gone are the Good Ole Days!)

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

Annie B lol good one.

[@davidjose2193]

The further discussion of Japanese balloon strategy reveals that an ingenious, but diabolical goal was to use bubonic plague-infected fleas carried in special temperature-controlled canisters. They were to be released at given lower heights to ensure their survival and disease-spreading virulence. Horrendous experiments were conducted on Chinese populations and Allied prisoners to gauge the effectiveness of the plan. Before we give the memory of gracious Japanese post-war gestures too much sentimental credit...please remember that their Tojo-lead militarist government had an extremely sinister and evil end game planned for our North American populations.

[@davidjose2193]

...so evil intentions (including the suicidal civilian defense of the Japanese home islands) ...were met with evil, but necessary actions: in the case of two hideous atomic bombs deployed.

[@billmoyer3254]

which ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives, and ended the war.