Bombing of Naco

The Bombing of Naco[1][2] was an international incident which

Bombing of Naco
occurred in the border town of Naco, Arizona, during the 1929
Escobar Rebellion. While rebel forces were battling Mexican
'Federales' for control of the neighboring town of Naco, Sonora, the
Irish mercenary and pilot Patrick Murphy was hired to bombard the
government forces with improvised explosives dropped from his
biplane. During the ensuing fighting, Murphy mistakenly dropped
bombs on the American side of the international border on three
occasions, causing significant damage to both private and government-
owned property, as well slight injuries to several American spectators
watching the battle from across the border. The bombing, although
unintentional, is noted for being the first aerial bombardment of the
A Dodge touring car destroyed by Patrick
.[3]
contiguous United States by a foreign power in history
Murphy in the bombing of Naco.
Date April 2, 1929–April 6, 1929
Location Naco, Cochise County, Arizona,
Contents United States

Background
Also known The Naco incident
Suitcase bomb as
Bombing Type Aerial bombardment
Aftermath Participants Patrick Murphy
Popular culture
See also
References

Background
Late in 1928, as the Cristero War was raging in western Mexico, a new revolutionary faction led by General José Gonzalo Escobar
drafted the "Plan of Hermosillo" and occupied the copper mining town of Cananea, Sonora, not far from the international border with
the United States. Encouraged by their successes early on, they next decided to take control of Agua Prieta and Naco, both situated
on the border with Arizona, knowing many of the locals were sympathetic to their cause and thinking the revenue generated by these
two towns would be a good source of income for the revolution. From there, General Escobar intended to carry the war south and
ultimately oust Emilio Portes Gil and take his place as president.[3]

The battle for Naco began early the next year,on the night of March 31, 1929. The rebels later clai
med that they waited until 8:00 PM
to attack, so as not to harm any American citizens shopping on the Mexican side of the border. To start the attack, the rebels loaded a
train car full of explosives and sent it down the tracks toward the center of town. Unfortunately for the rebels, their plan failed when
the train car derailed and exploded before reaching its intended target. After their failure with the train car, the rebels sought outside
help from the United States and found it in an Irish cropduster named Patrick Murphy. Other pilots were hired as well, and the
Federales found a pilot of their own named Jon Gorre. According to a witness, Murphy and Gorre were friends and although hired by
opposing sides, would take turns making bombing runs on the opposing forces in Naco, Sonora, and would spend the night drinking
together and enjoying themselves.[1][3][4]
An Arizona citizen named Charlie Elledge saw much of the fighting in Naco, Sonora, while working to repair the roof of the
immigration building along the border. Elledge says that Murphy and Gorre bought their homemade "suitcase bombs" from the same
man and that about 200 people gathered on the American side of the border each day to watch the fighting, like they had during the
Mexican Revolution a decade before. Some brought their children and picnic baskets with lunch and others climbed on top of train
[3]
cars sitting idle along the border for a better view of the action. The men gambled with each other on where the bombs would fall.

Suitcase bomb
The so-called "suitcase bombs" used by Murphy and the other pilots in Naco were
improvised aerial bombs made by packing dynamite, scrap iron, nails, nuts and bolts
and other small pieces of material to use as fragmentation into a steel cylinder with
fins and an improvised warhead made of dynamite caps and a nail for a firing pin.
The bombs were then stuffed in suitcases that could be attached to the side of the
plane and opened during flight to deliver the payload. Other improvised bombs were
[2][3]
made the same way using five-gallon gasoline cans.

Bombing
Murphy dropped one suitcase bomb each on his first two bombing runs, both of
which turned out to be duds, and it was his third pass before managed to hit Diagram of the type of "suitcase
anything: the Mexican custom house near where the crowd of American spectators bomb" dropped by Patrick Murphy
had formed. The resulting explosion sent small bits of shrapnel and other fragments and other pilots during the battle.
into the crowd of spectators and caused the American patrons of the bars and clubs
on the Mexican side of the border to rush back to their side of the line. Among the
casualties were a reporter and a photographer, along with many others, but nobody was killed and all of the injuries were considered
minor. After realizing the danger of watching thebattle from such a short distance away, the crowd dispersed and went home, some to
Fry and Buena.[3]

Neither Murphy or any of the other pilots were very successful in hitting their targets, but the high winds which regularly blow in the
region in late spring and early summer most likely contributed to their inaccuracy. The first bomb to actually hit Arizona soil landed
at 7:45 AM on April 2[4] and it was followed by others over the next few days. Murphy's bombing runs smashed windows and
otherwise damaged several buildings on the American side of the border, including a garage, the Phelps-Dodge Mercantile and the
Haas Pharmacy. One bomb also struck the post office building, making it a federal offense, and another landed next to one of the idle
train cars used by the crowd of spectators. Other bombs left large craters in the dirt streets and other unpaved surfaces. Yet another
bomb landed on and devastated a regal Dodge touring car owned by a Mexican Army officer, which had been left on the American
[2][3]
side of the border for safekeeping during the expected hostilities.

Murphy's bombs were responsible for at least a few deaths on the Mexican side of the border, but nobody was killed on the American
side. The Americans suffered more casualties over the following days as bombs landed on their side, but none of the injuries were
life-threatening. The final bombardment took place on April 6, when the rebels launched their final attack to take control of the city.
Murphy was shot down by Mexican soldiers the following day, but he managed to escape and get across the border, where he was
quickly arrested by American authorities. He was released for unspecified reasons after only a couple nights in jail. After being
repulsed in their final attack, the rebels retreated to Cananea by way of Agua Prieta, marking the beginning of the end of the
revolution in the north.[1][3]

Aftermath
The United States Army was slow in responding to the situation, having closed all military posts in Arizona the same year, with the
exception of Fort Huachuca. Fort Huachuca, which is relatively close to Naco, sent two companies of Buffalo Soldiers to occupy
Naco, Arizona, and prevent the fighting from spreading into American territory. The commander of the detachment positioned his
men along the border and had them prepare to attack at a moment's notice while he crossed the border and demanded that the rebel
commanders stop dropping bombs on the Arizona side. By this time, however, the rebels were already defeated, and so the Buffalo
Soldiers never had to engage. A squadron of eighteen warplanes was also dispatched from somewhere in Texas to shoot down any
, and was withdrawn sometime later without incident.[1][3][4]
plane violating American airspace, but it never went into action either

Murphy never faced charges for his bombing of Naco, Arizona, which became the first aerial bombardment of the contiguous United
States by a foreign power in American history. According to local rumor, the rebel commander, General Escobar, kept a plane loaded
with gold near the border so he could escape if the revolution collapsed. When it did, Escobar abandoned his troops and flew into
Arizona, where he asked for and received asylum from the local authorities. The rebellion officially came to an end not long after the
incident in Naco.[1][3]

Popular culture
"The Bombing of Naco" is an American folk song written by Dolan Ellis and is found on his album Tall Tales, Lost Trails &
Heroes[1][5]

See also
Siege of Naco
Lookout Air Raids

References
1. Ellis, Dolan; Sam Lowe (2014).Arizona Lens, Lyrics and Lore. Inkwell Productions. ISBN 9781939625601.
2. "Border Reporter: 'The Bombing of Naco' by Michel Marizco (2011-09-11)"
(http://borderreporter.com/2007/09/the-bo
rder-report-14/). Border Reporter. Retrieved 2015-05-27.
3. Price, Ethel Jackson (2003).Sierra Vista: Young City with a Past. Arcadia. ISBN 0738524344.
4. Temple, Robert D. (2009).Edge Effects: The Border-Name Places. iUniverse. ISBN 1440101469.
5. Tracks and Trails - Sounds (http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/2000/12/21/10251-outdoors/)
, tucsoncitizen.com; 21-
12-2000

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