PEARL HARBOR ATTACK

PEARL HARBOR ATTACK

On Sunday Dec. 7, 1941, at 7:55 a.m., Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and other targets including the Army Air Corps’ Hickam Field. The airfield was an important objective because the Japanese attack on the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor was dependent on eliminating air opposition and precluding U.S. planes from following the Japanese aircraft back to their carriers and bombing them.

Pearl Harbor facts

U.S. military officers did not immediately act on a report of a cryptologist who on Dec. 6 intercepted a Japanese message inquiring about ship movements and berthing positions at Pearl Harbor; and a radar operator who reported seeing on Sunday morning, Dec. 7, a large group of airplanes on his screen heading toward Oahu.

The entire Japanese attack took only one hour and 15 minutes.

The Japanese force consisted of 353 aircraft, including 40 torpedo planes, 103 level bombers, 131 dive-bombers, and 79 fighters; two heavy cruisers, 35 submarines, two light cruisers, nine oilers, two battleships and 11 destroyers.

The Japanese lost 29 aircraft, five midget submarines; and one Japanese soldier was taken prisoner and 129 Japanese soldiers were killed.

The Japanese destroyed or damaged 19 Navy ships, including eight battleships. Three aircraft carriers of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were out to sea on maneuvers.

Pearl Harbor U.S. casualties

Navy: 2,008 killed; 710 wounded.

Army: 218 killed; 364 wounded.

Marines: 109 killed; 69 wounded.

Civilians: 68 killed; 35 wounded.

Source: National World War II Museum in Washington, D.C.