Aviation display causes acid rain

Nov. 12, 1937: “More than 600 automobile owners have reported their cars damaged by the acid rain which followed aerial smoke screen maneuvers over the city by 12 Army planes ... and more complaints are coming in,” The Times said.

Major insurance firms met to assess the problem. S.H. Bucholtz of the Fire Companies Adjustment Bureau said: “The loss may total many thousands of dollars.”

The insurers said they would ask the government to pay for the claims. The acid was said to have damaged clothing in Echo Park and “eaten the paint off the motor cars on which it fell.”

Bucholtz said: “Some car owners will not notice the damage until they inspect their cars carefully, or start to wash them. In many cases it will be necessary to repaint the automobiles.”