Did the anti-aircraft fire hit the Los Angeles balloon?

Did defenders actually hit the meteorological balloon associated with the Battle of Los Angeles?

No. The balloon is a later probable explanation for the alert, but there is no indication that the anti-aircraft barrage hit it.

The balloon was inferred afterward from the meteorological unit's launch record rather than recovered as a confirmed target. There is no indication that the barrage hit it. Launching a weather balloon during a coastal alert suggests that air-defense and meteorological personnel were not sharing information effectively. Routine activity became dangerous because the commands responsible for the same airspace failed to coordinate.