Pearl Harbor

Knowing that conflict was coming between Japan and the United States, the military of the Empire of Japan decided to conduct a surprise attack on the American fleet in order to delay the entry of the United States into war.  On the morning of December 7, 1941 two waves of attacks by over 350 planes were conducted on the American ships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Flying in from the north, the planes swept over "battleship row," dropping their bombs.  The USS Arizona took a direct hit, sending it quickly under water with most of her crew.


In the end, 2,403 Americans were killed in the attack. Several ships were sunk or severely damaged. Over 180 American planes were destroyed.  Luckily, the aircraft carriers of the American fleet were not in harbor and were able to be quickly brought into action.

President Franklin described December 7, 1941 as a "day that will live in infamy."  This was the event that brought the United States into the war.  After the United States declared war on Japan, Germany declared war on the United States.  This was now truly a world war.

The USS Arizona
(Public Domain)

The USS California sinking
(Public Domain)