Bombing of Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona Destroyed (8:10 AM)

Dec 7, 1941

The USS Arizona was mortally wounded by an armorpiercing bomb which ignited the ship's forward ammunition magazine. (Department of Defense)

Second Wave Launched (7:15 AM)

Dec 7, 1941

The second wave of Japanese fighters/bombers was launched at 7:15 AM to support the fighters from the first wave. The total number of fighters/bombers in the second wave was 167. (Rosenburg, Jennifer.)

First Japanese Planes reach Pearl Harbor (7:55 AM)

Dec 7, 1941

The first wave of Japanese planes reach Pearl Harbor. Before Pearl Harbor was bombed, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida (leader of the air attack) called out, "Tora! Tora! Tora!" ("Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!"), a coded message which told the entire Japanese navy that they had caught the Americans totally by surprise.(Rosenburg, Jennifer.)

Attack Begins (8:00 AM)

Dec 7, 1941

At 8:00 a.m., Admiral Husband Kimmel, in charge of Pearl Harbor, sent out a hurried dispatch to all in the U.S. naval fleet, "AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL." (Rosenburg, Jennifer.)

Airfields Attacked (7:55 AM)

Dec 7, 1941

The first wave of Japanese planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m. were ordered to target the airfields that surrounded Pearl Harbor. (Rosenburg, Jennifer.)

Japanese Planes Return to Aircraft Carrier (12:14 PM)

Dec 7, 1941

All Japanese planes had returned to their aircraft carriers by 12:14 PM. (Rosenburg, Jennifer.)

2 Hours Into The Battle (9:45 AM)

Dec 7, 1941

The Japanese planes left Pearl Harbor and headed back to their aircraft carriers. The attack on Pearl Harbor was over. (Rosenburg, Jennifer.)

Japanese Return to Japan (1:14 PM)

Dec 7, 1941

The Japanese aircraft carriers start to go home at 1:14 PM. (Rosenburg, Jennifer)

Japanese First Wave Spotted (7:00 AM)

Dec 7, 1941

The first wave of Japanese fighters/bombers were spotted by an alert operator of an army radar station at opana. (Department of Defense)

First Wave Launched (6:00 AM)

Dec 7, 1941

At 6:00 am the first wave of Japanese planes was launched out to Pearl Harbor to start the attack. The total number of planes in the first wave was 183. (Rosenburg, Jennifer.)