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The Japanese Empire launches a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, launching the United States into WWII.
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Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States declares war on Japan.
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In response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States sends a group of bombers to bomb Tokyo. This is more of a psychological move than strategical. The purpose is to show the Japanese that we can hit them at their home.
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Battle between the U.S. and Japanese Navy where air raids were launches against each fleet by the opposite. Complete naval battle. First battle between aircraft carriers.
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June 4-6 In an attempt to win another decisive victory in the pacific, the japanese set up a trap to lure in the U.S. Navy at midway. This however backfires when the U.S. learns of their plan and sets a trap of their own. Four Japanese carriers are lost as well as a heavy cruiser.
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Guadalcanal was a strategic island within the Solomon island chain which boasted a strategic airfield. The U.S. landed marines on the island and captured it. The Japanese had numerous failed attempts to recapture the island.
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Killed when a group of P 38's sent from Henderson Field, Guadacanal shot down his transport plane.
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Marshall islands were the edge of the Japanese defensive in the pacific.
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An U.S. offensive against the japanese to take islands among the Mariana and Palau island chains as bases and airfields for bombers.
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Iwo Jima being a strategic island for refueling for bomber escorts heading to mainland Japan, the United States decides to lay siege to the island and capture it.
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Following the death of FDR, vice president Harry Truman is sworn in as president. Truman is eventually the one who decides to use the atom bomb on Japan.
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The United States drops the atom bomb on the Japanese city, Hiroshima.
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After bombing Hiroshima, the United States drops a second atom bomb on the japanese city, Nagasaki.
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The Japanese Empire surrenders to the United States after the seeing the horrors the atom bomb had done to its people.
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The official surrender of the japanese to General Douglas MacArthur aboard the USS Missouri.
