"Lest We Forget"
Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii
On 7 December 1941 at 7:55am Imperial Japanese Naval Air Forces from six aircraft carriers (Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, and Zuikaku) bombed Pearl Harbor plunging the United States into World War II. Three minutes after the start of the attack a radio message was sent out by Headquarters Pacific Fleet to all commands.
The entire battleship strength of the United States Pacific Fleet and most of the escort and support ships were either sunk or heavily damaged during an air raid that lasted slightly less than three hours.
Map of Pearl Harbor - 7 December 1941
The battleships sunk or heavily damaged were the USS Arizona, USS Nevada, USS Oklahoma, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS West Virginia, USS California, USS Tennessee, and the USS Utah. To ensure success, the Japanese also bombed the airfields at Hickem, Wheeler, Ford Island, and several other airfields destroying most of the military aircraft stationed in the islands. The attack occurred one hour prior to the breaking off of diplomatic relations by the Japanese with the United States. The attack left the United States Pacific Fleet and Army Air Corps forces in shambles; thus making it impossible to conduct offensive operations against the Japanese in the far western areas of the Pacific while isolating the Philippine Islands.
USS Arizona after the attack by the Imperial
Japanese Naval Air Forces on December 7, 1941
at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.
with the loss of 1107 sailors and marines
(Photo - National Archives)
USS Arizona smoldering after the attack
(photo - National Archives)
USS California sunk
(Photo - National Archives)
USS Arizona on 10 December 1941
(Photo - National Archives
USS Arizona - bridge and front mast
several weeks or months after the attack
(Photo - National Archives)
USS Arizona 25 February 1942
Salvage crews working on the stern X and Y turrets removing ammunition
and the turrets themselves (Photo - National Archives)
Salvage crews trying to right the USS Utah.
Efforts proved to be worthless and the USS Utah was left where she was sunk.
A small memorial has been built on Ford Island to honor the men and the ship.
(Photo- National Archives)
In the 24 hours following the attack on Pearl harbor, the Japanese also attacked American possessions in the Philippines, Wake Island, Guam, and Midway Island.
