What the Ellwood bombardment actually hit

I-17 stopped opposite Ellwood at 19:00 on February 23, 1942, and opened fire fifteen minutes later at a Richfield aviation-fuel tank beyond the beach. The skeleton night crew initially mistook the explosions for an industrial mishap until a worker spotted the submarine. The low, wave-buffeted gun position and lack of a proper fire-control system made precise shooting difficult. Shells destroyed a derrick and pump house and caused minor damage to the pier and catwalks, while missing the fuel tanks. A deputy told a caller that aircraft were coming, but none arrived; night-qualified American pilots were scarce, with few available in California. Firing stopped at 19:35 after an estimated 12 to 25 shells, with roughly 25 judged more plausible for the time spent firing. The deliberate shore target distinguishes Ellwood from the incidental shells that fell at Orleans in 1918.