Volume 17 , Issue 8

WWII Friendly Fire (5 July 1943)

Back in July 1943 there was bombing of Boise City in Oklahoma, while at the other end of the world the U.S. was involved in a bitter war against the Axis forces during World War II (WWII). [Information taken from the following link: WWII Bombing of Boise City, OK.]



Back then the Axis forces wanted to control Europe and the Pacific, while the Allies fought for peace. It seems the Nazi's had began their last offensive against Kursk, and the Australian and U.S. Army forces under Gen. MacArthur were struggling to fight back the Japanese at Buna in New Guinea.

Meanwhile, back in the panhandle of Oklahoma, Boise City, the citizens were following the news, and pilots at Dalhart Army Air bAse in Texas were preparing four B-17 bombers for a practice run in a nighttime training mission a few hours after dark.

B-17 navigator was to lead the flight group from Dalhart base to drop bombs on a range near Conlen, Texas (a small square area, lit by four lights at each corner).

It was a simple mission that went wrong. The training mission began as scheduled, late in the evening, as the young navigator felt confident in his abilities. The pilots were well prepared that night as they took to the skies.

Most of the 1,200 residents of Boise City had gone to bed, and the lights of the small town had been shut off, except the lights that surrounded the courthouse square. If you know the layout of Boise city, Oklahoma, the courthouse sets at the junction of two highways in the center of town, navigated by a one-way circle around the courthouse.

It was just after midnight when all hell broke loose in this sleepy little town that night in July, 1943. Stories mentioned the first bomb thundered through the roof of a garage and exploded, digging a four foot deep hole in the floor. The B-17dropped a second bomb that struck the white framed Baptist church, exploding beside the building, braking out several windows, and was three feet deep.

After the first bomb fell, the town's air warning office manned by John Adkins, phoned the FBI in Oklahoma and sent the Adjutant General a wire: "Boise City bombed one A.m. Baptist Church, garage hit."

There was a third bomb that struck between the sidewalk and curb in front of the Style Shoppe Building, just a few feet away from where a driver of a gasoline tanker was rushing to get out of the city.

The fourth bomb came close to striking a parked fuel transport truck, striking the ground, exploding yards froth McGowan Boarding House.

After the light and power man for Boise City flipped the town's master light switch, the town was thrust into complete darkness. They report the only lights that could be seen were from the remaining two bombs as they struck the ground in small explosions.

Whether it was the blackout or radio message to the pilot in response of Adkins' wire, the navigator of the B-17 realized his almost fatal mistake. After leaving Dalhart base, the young navigator had made a 45-mile mistake as he mistook the four lights centered on Boise City's main Square for the intended practice target. Afterwards, the pilots quickly departed back to Dalhart, Texas.

The 100-pound practice explosives dropped that night left numerous craters in the town of Boise City, Oklahoma, and thankfully no one was actually injured. Each bomb was filled with four pounds of dynamite and ninety pounds of sand.

This accidental bombing made Boise City famous. It was the only continental American town to be bombed during WWII.

And ... A year after the misguided bombing of Boise City, the same bomber crew led an 800-plane daylight raid on Berlin, becoming one of the most decorated of World War II. All crew members survived WWII, going on to tell stories about their slightly misguided raid on a small town out in the western edge of the Oklahoma panhandle.
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