Ask Mr. Know It All

Q. Not long ago I watched the movie “Battle: Los Angeles.” I was told that this film is based on a true event — the California city was actually under attack by aliens. This sounds far-fetched to me. What do you know about it?

M.W.M., Hazleton, Pa.

A. To say the 2011 film was based on a true event is far-fetched; saying it was inspired by a real-life incident is true. The actual Battle of Los Angeles occurred late Feb. 24, 1942, and continued into the next day.

Unidentified objects were seen flying near Los Angeles, forcing the military to open fire. The U.S. recently had entered World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Bombardment of Ellwood, a community north of Los Angeles that was attacked with gunfire by a Japanese submarine, happened the day before. Many worried that the flying objects indicated an attack by Japanese forces. The government later called the Battle of Los Angeles incident a “false alarm,” blaming the result on “war nerves.” The panic likely was triggered by a lost weather balloon.

Doubters, and there are many, wonder why more than 1,440 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition was unable to bring down a single weather balloon. Instead, they think that the targets were extraterrestrial spacecraft. For those with a computer, go to YouTube and enter “Battle of Los Angeles 1942” for videos about the event.

DID YOU KNOW?

James Doohan was a Canadian actor best known for his role as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in the television and film series “Star Trek.” During World War II, he was a commissioned officer, and he participated in the invasion of Normandy at Juno Beach on D-Day. After leading his men through a field of anti-tank mines to reach higher ground, the group settled in for the night. Crossing between command posts, he was shot six times — not by the enemy, but by a nervous Canadian sentry. A bullet to his chest was stopped by a silver cigarette case.

Q. I was very young, possibly in preschool, when my folks took me to Italy for several weeks. I know I was there because they told me I was with them. About a month ago, I started getting flashbacks of the trip. One vision I have is of men wearing colorful shirts and kerchiefs. They are carrying a platform with a very large statue, and they are running through the streets with other similar statues in pursuit. My folks are long gone, but I would love to know more about this event. I would even consider going to witness it again.

N.L., Roanoke, Va.

A. It sounds like you are describing the Corsa dei Ceri, the Race of the Candles, that takes every year in Gubbio, in Northern Italy. The race has been run every year since the 12th century. Villagers carry three statues in the race: saints Ubaldo (for whom the race was started), Anthony and George. The outcome is rigged; every year, St. Ubaldo comes in first, St. George second and St. Anthony last. The race takes place May 15. Some historians believe the race began after an important victory in a war with neighboring cities, and Gubbio decided to celebrate the event with an annual festival.

If you can’t make it to Gubbio, Italy, why not visit Jessup, Pa.? The Scranton suburb has a smaller version of the celebration. The date also is May 15. Look for me; I’ll see you there.

Q. Now that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are getting divorced, there is a lot being written about both of them. One story said Katie is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. So am I! In which year did she graduate? I think we are the same age.

F.E., Plainview, Texas

A. Katie Holmes, 33, did not graduate from the University of Notre Dame; she graduated from Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls Roman Catholic college preparatory high school in Toledo.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

2012 Gary Clothier