Artillery practice damages homes

June 15, 1941: San Pedro residents complained that their homes had been damaged by repercussions from large coastal defense cannon fired from Ft. McArthur for the first time in 14 years for target practice.

“Each time the guns spoke, plaster crashed from the ceilings, walls split and fixed plate-glass windows shattered,” The Times said. A San Pedro resident complained “there was not a single room in his home -- less than 2 years old -- which was not damaged.”

Army officers “said they were sorry for the damage, but pointed out that in the present state of emergency it is necessary to train gun crews.”