Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941

On the morning of December 7, 1941 approximately 100 United States Navy Ships were present at Pearl Harbor. The fleet consisted of battleships, destroyers, cruisers, and various support ships. Pearl Harbor, located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, (then a territory of the United States) will forever be remembered for the events which were set in motion on that morning at 7:53.

The United States and Japan were involved in peace talks between the two countries. However Japan had refused any futher discussion and it was rumered that the Japanese were planning an attack. The United States learned of a planned Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Unable to reach the island via radio communication, the navy's warning wouldn't arrive until noon, over two hours after the attack ended.

Under the command of Admiral Nagumo, a Japanese attack force, consisting of six carriers with 423 planes prepares for it's sneak attack on the harbor. At 6:00 a.m. the first attack wave, consisting of 184 planes sets the plans of attacking the harbor in motion.

One hour and fifteen minutes later (7:15 a.m.) a second wave of 167 Japanese planes are sent from the Japanese carriers to carry out a second wave of bombings on the harbor.

Unaware of the coming waves of attack, all is typical in the harbor on this Sunday morning when at 7:53 the first Japanese assault wave begins their attack. Consisting of 40 Kate Torpedo Bombers, 43 Zero Fighters, 50 High Level Bombers and 51 Val dive bombers their flight commander, Mitsuo Fuchida, sounds the battle cry "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (translates as - Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!)

The Americans are completely taken by surprise. Some of the sailors and officers were on shore relaxing and the ammunition was under lock down as is routine at peace time. Those that were aboard were carrying out their morning duties or were simply relaxing when the first attack, targeting airfields and battleships, began. The second wave would target other ships and shipyard facilities, together they would last almost two hours, ending at 9:45 a.m.

The U.S.S. Raleigh is struck by the first torpedo at approximately 7:55 a.m., it is the first of nineteen ships to feel the effects of the Japanese attack.

The 25-year-old U.S.S. Arizona would be the worst hit, and suffer the greatest casualty loss. Hit with a 1,760 pound bomb which exploded the magazines ammunition on board. The ship was ripped apart, 1,177 servicemen lost their lives. The ship quickly sank entombing it's crew. Over 55 years later, small quantities of oil still leaks, and surface at regular intervals from the sunken ship. A memorial has been built over the ship, and the ship can be seen with the naked eye through the water. Old Glory is still flying over the ship, from a pole attached to the severed mainmast. In the Navy's known history, never has there been a ship that has taken so many of it's crew down with her.

Within fifteen minutes of being struck by five torpedos the U.S.S. Oklahoma was completely capsized. Thirty two men were trapped inside the ship for three days. The Oklahoma lost 395 enlisted men and twenty officers.

At best estimates, 58 crew members are still entombed in the U.S.S. Utah, fifty two enlisted men and six officers.

The U.S.S. West Virginia is bombed, with decks awash and burning, she is crippled in the harbor trapping the U.S.S. Tennessee. The West Virginia did survive and was rebuilt.

The U.S.S. Nevada was run aground afire. In dry dock the U.S.S. Cassin and the U.S.S. Downes were left in ruins, the U.S.S. Curtiss was on fire from a bomb. A bomb had entered the U.S.S. Shaw's forward magizine causing a very bad explosion and the U.S.S. Maryland is trapped behind the overturned Oklahoma. The attack left one weapon untouched, the U.S.S. Bowfin.

When the attack is over, 2,409 American lives have ended, 1,178 men are wounded, 21 ships are disabled or intrapped, and 347 planes are destroyed or grounded.

The Americans were able to get a few planes in the air to combat the Japanese, and the small number put up a great fight. Twenty-nine Japanese aircraft were shot down by American pilots and ground fire. Most of the Japanese losses occured during the second attack. The Japanese also lose five midget submarines while attempting to enter them into the harbor to launch additional torpedoes.

The following day the United States and Great Britian declared war on Japan. President Franklin D. Roosevelt states that December 7 will be "a date which will live in infamy..."

In early January 1942, posters and signs began popping up all over The United States, "Remember December 7th" stated one of the first.

Air Raid Pearl Harbor This Is No Drill !!! This site has several actual photos.

U.S.S Arizona Casualty List Military personnel killed on the battleship Arizona, December 7, 1941.

Casualty List Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941

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