I was thinking about…
The bombing of Boise City, OK
By Andy Lee
Boise City, Oklahoma played an interesting role during World War II. While the town itself was not directly involved in the war effort, its unique history and location made it a noteworthy place during this time.
Boise City is in the Oklahoma panhandle, a relatively isolated area that was not heavily populated at the time of World War II. The town was founded in 1908, and by the 1930s had a population of around 1,000 people.
In 1943, the United States Army Air Forces established a bombing range near Boise City. This range was used to train bomber crews for the war effort and was an important part of the military’s training program.
Boise City was also the site of an unusual event during the war. On July 5, 1943, a group of soldiers stationed at the bombing range were flying a training mission in a B-17 bomber. The soldiers had gotten off course and upon seeing the lights at the Boise City courthouse mistook it for their target and dropped five bombs around the building. The sixth bomb was dropped further away and is now on display. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured in the incident, but it caused significant damage to several buildings in the town.
The incident received national attention and was even the subject of a Life magazine article. While the bombing was certainly a frightening experience for the people of Boise City, it did serve to highlight the importance of accurate training for military personnel.
Overall, Boise City played a small but interesting role in World War II history. The town’s location and unique history made it a noteworthy place during the war years, and the accidental bombing incident remains a memorable event to this day.
I was thinking about... 