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Sequence of Events: Saturday, December 6, 1941 - Washington
D.C. - U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt makes a final appeal
to the Emperor of Japan for peace. There is no reply. Late this
same day, the U.S. code-breaking service begins intercepting
a 14-part Japanese message and deciphers the first 13 parts,
passing them on to the President and Secretary of State. The
Americans believe a Japanese attack is imminent, most likely
somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Sunday, December 7 - Washington
D.C. - The last part of the Japanese message, stating that diplomatic
relations with the U.S. are to be broken off, reaches Washington
in the morning and is decoded at approximately 9 a.m. About an
hour later, another Japanese message is intercepted. It instructs
the Japanese embassy to deliver the main message to the Americans
at 1 p.m. The Americans realize this time corresponds with early
morning time in Pearl Harbor, which is several hours behind.
The U.S. War Department then sends out an alert but uses a commercial
telegraph because radio contact with Hawaii is temporarily broken.
Delays prevent the alert from arriving at headquarters in Oahu
until noontime (Hawaii time) four hours after the attack has
already begun.
Sunday, December 7 - Islands of Hawaii, near Oahu - The
Japanese attack force under the command of Admiral Nagumo, consisting
of six carriers with 423 planes, is about to attack. At 6 a.m.,
the first attack wave of 183 Japanese planes takes off from the
carriers located 230 miles north of Oahu and heads for the U.S.
Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Pearl Harbor - At 7:02 a.m., two Army operators at
Oahu's northern shore radar station detect the Japanese air attack
approaching and contact a junior officer who disregards their
reports, thinking they are American B-17 planes which are expected
in from the U.S. west coast.
Near Oahu - At 7:15 a.m., a second attack wave
of 167 planes takes off from the Japanese carriers and heads
for Pearl Harbor.
Pearl Harbor is not on a state
on high alert. Senior commanders have concluded, based on available
intelligence, there is no reason to believe an attack is imminent.
Aircraft are therefore left parked wingtip to wingtip on airfields,
anti-aircraft guns are unmanned with many ammunition boxes kept
locked in accordance with peacetime regulations. There are also
no torpedo nets protecting the fleet anchorage. And since it
is Sunday morning, many officers and crewmen are leisurely ashore.
At 7:53 a.m., the first Japanese
assault wave, with 51 'Val' dive bombers, 40 'Kate' torpedo bombers,
50 high level bombers and 43 'Zero' fighters, commences the attack
with flight commander, Mitsuo Fuchida, sounding the battle cry:
"Tora! Tora! Tora!" (Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!).
The Americans are taken completely
by surprise. The first attack wave targets airfields and battleships.
The second wave targets other ships and shipyard facilities.
The air raid lasts until 9:45 a.m. Eight battleships are damaged,
with five sunk. Three light cruisers, three destroyers and three
smaller vessels are lost along with 188 aircraft. The Japanese
lose 27 planes and five midget submarines which attempted to
penetrate the inner harbor and launch torpedoes.
Escaping damage from the attack
are the prime targets, the three U.S. Pacific Fleet aircraft
carriers, Lexington, Enterprise and Saratoga, which were not
in the port. Also escaping damage are the base fuel tanks.
In Washington, various delays
prevent the Japanese diplomats from presenting their war message
to Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, until 2:30 p.m. (Washington
time) just as the first reports of the air raid at Pearl Harbor
are being read by Hull.
News of the "sneak attack"
is broadcast to the American public via radio bulletins, with
many popular Sunday afternoon entertainment programs being interrupted.
The news sends a shockwave across the nation and results in a
tremendous influx of young volunteers into the U.S. armed forces.
The attack also unites the nation behind the President and effectively
ends isolationist sentiment in the country.
Monday, December 8 - The United States and Britain declare
war on Japan with President Roosevelt calling December 7, "a
date which will live in infamy..."
Thursday, December 11 - Germany and Italy declare war on the
United States. The European and Southeast Asian wars have now
become a global conflict with the Axis powers; Japan, Germany
and Italy, united against America, Britain, France, and their
Allies.
Wednesday, December 17 - Admiral Chester W. Nimitz becomes
the new commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Both senior commanders at Pearl
Harbor; Navy Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, and Army Lt. General
Walter C. Short, were relieved of their duties following the
attack. Subsequent investigations will fault the men for failing
to adopt adequate defense measures.
When it was over, the U.S.losses
were:
Casualties
USA : 218 KIA, 364 WIA.
USN: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA.
USMC: 109 KIA, 69 WIA.
Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA.
TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA.
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Battleships
USS Arizona (BB-39) - total loss when a bomb hit her magazine.
USS Oklahoma (BB-37) - Total loss when she capsized and sunk
in the harbor.
USS California (BB-44) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and
repaired.
USS West Virginia (BB-48) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and
repaired.
USS Nevada - (BB-36) Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) - Light damage.
USS Maryland (BB-46) - Light damage.
USS Tennessee (BB-43) Light damage.
USS Utah (AG-16) - (former battleship used as a target) - Sunk.
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Cruisers
USS New Orleans(CA-32) - Light Damage..
USS San Francisco(CA38) - Light Damage.
USS Detroit(CL-8) - Light Damage.
USS Raleigh (CL-7) - Heavily damaged but repaired.
USS Helena(CL-50) - Light Damage.
USS Honolulu(CL-48) - Light Damage..
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Destroyers
USS Downes (DD-375) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Cassin - (DD-37 2) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Shaw (DD-373) - Very heavy damage.
USS Helm (DD-388) - Light Damage.
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Minelayer
USS Ogala (CM-4) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.
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Seaplane Tender
USS Curtiss (AV-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.
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Repair Ship
USS Vestal (AR-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.
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Harbor Tug
USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.
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Aircraft
188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S. Army Air Corps.)
All Images © US Navy, ©
National Archives © NHC Naval Historical Center
October 10 1941. Aerial view
looking north over Ford Island, the Battleships are for the most
part at sea. Carrier Enterprise is moored at the berth that California
occupied on December 7th.
October 13, 1941. Aerial view
looking over the submarine base in the direction of Ford Island.
(North End)
October 13, 1941. Aerial
view looking back over the submarine base.
October 1941, Aerial
view of the entire harbor.
November 10 1941. Aerial view
directly over Ford Island, 5 battleships are in port as well
as the carrier USS Lexington moored opposite of "Battleship
Row".
Aboard a Japanese carrier before
the attack on Pearl Harbor, crew members cheer departing pilots.
Opening seconds of the attack...
torpedo exploding against Oklahoma. The Japanese plane that launched
the torpedo can be seen peeling off after making its run. Another
can be seen just left of the hammer head crane about to start
its attack run.
Another shot from the opening
seconds of the attack, Torpedo exploding into Oklahoma and West
Virginia. Note the height of the water spray from the force of
the explosions.
Yet another shot from the opening
seconds of the attack, "Battleship Row" Note after
effects of torpedo hits on Oklahoma and West Virginia, Oil can
be seen already gushing from the ships.
Also Note California (Far Right) has already taken a torpedo
hit.
On the 1010 dock smoke can be seen coming from the torpedoed
Helena, with Oglala alongside.
One of the most interesting photos
ever seen. The top photo taken by a Japanese aircraft during
the attack. This photo was taken between 0755 and 0805, when
the Arizona exploded. Note oil gushing from Oklahoma and West
Virginia from previous torpedo hits and bomb exploding on Arizona's
stern. The bottom half of the photo shows Battleship Row three
days later taken from a US aircraft, Maryland moored beside the
capsized Oklahoma. West Virginia is on the bottom pinning Tennessee
to quay and Arizona is totally destroyed, note oil seeping from
Arizona's Hulk, Arizona still bleeds oil to this day.
Shortly after the explosion that
destroyed Arizona, "Battleship Row" is obscured by
smoke from the burning Arizona. Oklahoma has capsized and is
just visible through the smoke.
A photo taken from a
Japanese plane during the attack shows vulnerable American battleships,
and in the distance, smoke rising from Hickam Airfield where
35 men having breakfast in the mess hall were killed after a
direct bomb hit.
"Battleship Row" West
Virginia (left foreground) her side tore open by as many as 7
torpedo hits burns, sunken at her berth. Tennessee, relatively
undamaged is seen behind West Virginia trapped in her berth by
the West Virginia on one side and the mooring quays on the other.
Tennessee had to keep her screws turning to push away the oil
fires coming from the devastated Arizona (right).
This image from the 1010 dock
shows the extent of the devastation on "Battleship Row".
California, engulfed by smoke
and flames from the burning oil of West Virginia and Arizona.
0900, Looking up "Battleship
Row". The inferno is from the fires on West Virginia and
Arizona. California is a left listing from torpedo hits.
The overturned Oklahoma (center)
and Maryland (left) White smoke rises from West Virginia as her
fires are brought under control Arizona burns fiercely in the
background.
Photo taken from the stern of
Argonne (AG-31) berthed at the 1010 dock looking back at "Battleship
Row". Arizona and West Virginia burning (right) The overturned
Oklahoma and Maryland are at left.
One of the most published images
from December 7 1941. Arizona burning out of control at right.
West Virginia, decks awash sunken at her berth and burning fiercely
Tennessee trapped between the two raging fires.
Late afternoon on December 7th,
Fires still rage on board the shattered Arizona, her flag still
flying. USS Tennessee (left) had to keep her screws turning to
keep Arizona's fires away. The water pouring over the stern of
Tennessee is the overflow from her flooded aft magazines.
From the 1010 dock looking towards
the navy yard.Oglala capsized in foreground, Helena to the left.
The large fire at the far left is from Cassin and Downes in dry
dock #1. The destroyer Shaw burning fiercely in floating dry
dock in the background.
Late morning, the shattered
hulk of the destroyer Shaw in floating dry dock YFD-2.
AV - 4, Curtis on fire after
being crashed by Japanese aircraft. The Japanese pilot wounded,
or his aircraft fatally hit deliberately crashed his plane into
the Curtis in a scene that would become much more common in 1944
- 1945, The Kamikaze.
The American Flag waves on the
southeastern part of Ford Island as the USS California (BB-44)
lists to port after being struck by Japanese aerial torpedoes
and bombs.
Looking over Pearl Harbor from
Aiea, shortly after the last Japanese plane had departed the
area. The fire left center is from the destroyer Shaw, Nevada
can be seen aground on Hospital Point. right center the destruction
of "Battleship Row".
Looking towards the Navy Yard.To
the left smoke from the burning destroyers in dry dock #1 Center
is the burning destroyer Shaw, with Nevada to her right (white
smoke).
The only color photograph I have
personally seen of the Attack. The Minelayer Oglala capsized
at her berth at the 1010 dock. In the background the overturned
Oklahoma, and Maryland moored behind.
Nevada beached after her attempt
to exit the harbor. The Navy tug Hoga is alongside fighting the
fire on Nevada's bow.
Battleship Row - sitting
ducks
Hickem Field in ruin.
Two shots of the explosion of
the forward magazine of the destroyer Shaw. To the right Nevada
can been seen making her escape attempt.
The target ship USS Utah seen
here capsizing in her berth off Ford Island after being torpedoed
by Japanese aircraft . Photographed from USS Tangier (AV-8),
which was moored astern of Utah. Note colors half-raised over
fantail, boats nearby, and sheds covering Utah's after guns.
USS Utah (AG-16) lies with her
bottom up at Berth F-11, after she was torpedoed by Japanese
planes and capsized on 7 December 1941. In the right background
is USS Raleigh (CL-7), also hit by a Japanese torpedo, which
is being assisted in staying afloat by a barge and a tug tied
up along her port side.
The torpedoed and listing USS
Raleigh at her berth about one hour after the attack.
The overturned Utah is astern of her and Tangier to the far left.
Light Cruiser Raleigh,
fighting to stay afloat.
Rescuers trying to free
trapped crew members from the capsized Oklahoma.
Dry dock #1, The wrecks of the
destroyers Cassin and Downes. Pennsylvania in the background,
This photo is from late on December 7th or early on December
8th.
December 8th 1941, From atop
the water tower looking north. To the right salvage work has
begun on the California. Smoke still pouring from the Arizona.
Flooded Dry dock #1 with the wrecks of the destroyers
Cassin and Downes.
Note scorched bow of Pennsylvania from the fires that consumed
the destroyers.
December 10, 1941, Two shots
of the remains of the Destroyers Cassin and Downes in Dry dock
#1.
Overhead view of "Battleship
Row" December 10th 1941. Far left California surrounded
by rescue craft trying (unsuccessfully) to keep her from sinking
in her berth. Oklahoma overturned with Maryland inboard, West
Virginia sunk upright the trapped Tennessee inboard and the shattered
hulk of Arizona leaking oil, She still leaks oil today 59 years
later.
December 10, 1941, The
shattered hulk of the Battleship Arizona.
December 10, 1941, Overhead view
of the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. The battleship Pennsylvania and
the wrecked destroyers Cassin and Downes in dry dock #1 Helena,
undergoing repair from torpedo damage in dry dock #2 The shattered
wreck of the destroyer Shaw in the floating dry dock.
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