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Pearl Harbor
As the sun rosa on Sunday morning the Japanese strike force launched a surprise raid on American territory. This attack took place on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Japenese attck lasted two hours and by the time it was over the Pacific Fleet was a tangled mass of smoking metal. All eight battleships in the harbor suffered damage, four were sunk. 200 aircraft were destroyed, even more were damaged, and 2400 Americans died. Meanwhile, Japan only lost a handful of submarines -
Battle of Java Sea
Japanese caused much damage to the Allied navies during this battle and they conquered British-controlled Burma and other key positions in the South Pacific. Allies were sunned by the rapid success of the Japanese military. -
Loss of Philippines and Baatan Death March
For five days and nights, the Japanese forced the starving and sick soldiers to march though the forests of Bataan. Any who dropped out of line were either beaten or shot and were left for dead. The Japanese provided very little foor or water. When arriving to the Japanese prison camp, there was a lack of food and medicine, killing hundreds more American and Filipino lives. -
Doolittle Raid
James Doolittle led a group of 16 American bombers on a daring raid of Tokyo and other Japanese cities. This raid didn't do major damage to the Japanese targets. It did give the American people something to celebrate and it worried and angered Japanese leaders. This outrage would cloud their judgment and lead to major military mistakes in the months ahead. -
Island Hopping Strategy
Island Hopping is the phrase given to the strategy employed by the United States to gain military bases and secure the many small islands in the Pacific. The US troops targeted the islands that were not as strongly defended by the Japanese. They continued to attack other islands from the bases they had established. Slowly the US army moved closer to Japan, taking control of many of the surrounding islands. -
Battle of Coral Sea
This battle featured the one part of the Pacific fleet that had not been badly damaged at Pearl Harbor. This battle took place as Japanese forces were preparing to invade the British controlled Port Moseby on the island of New Guinea. The Americans lost an aircraft carrier and several aircrafts. This was the first time the Japanese advance had been halted. -
Battle of Midway
The attacking Japanese planes took off from a froup of four aircraft carriers that were leading an assult on Midway. American air defenses were waiting and managed to fight off the air raid. During this battle, the Japanese planes did not manage to destory one of the American carriers. This battle was a tremendous victory for the Americans. -
Guadalcanal
An Allied presence in the Solomons would help protect Australia from Japanese takeover and would provide a base for further efforts to push back the Japanese. A key goal was to capture Guadalcanal.This battle took place on land, on sea, and in the air. In February, 1942 the Japanese fled the island, becoming a key moment in the war. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Nearly 300 ships took part in the biggest naval battle ever fought. Allies had a huge advantage as far as number in ships go. Japanese lost four carriers, three ships, and other vessels. This battle had the first use of the Japanese weapon- the kamikaze attack. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Early in the battle, marines captured the island's tallest point, Mount Suribachi. Even with the capture of Mount Suribachi, the Japanese refused to surrender. By the end of the battle the Americans lost nearly 7000 peopl and many were wounded. More than 20000 Japanese defenders had been on Iwo Jima originally, but all but 1000 of them fought to the death. -
Battle of Okinawa
Only 350 miles from Japan, this island was to be the launchinhg pad for the final invasion of Japan. This would be the bloodiest task the Americans would face in the Pacific. Over 12000 Americans died during this and thousnads more were injured. Japan lost 110000 troops in the fighting. American gained control of the island in June 1945. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
An American B-29 named the Enola Gay flew over the city of Hiroshima and dropped its atomic bomb. 80000 residents died immediately and 35000 others were injured. two-thirds of the city's 90000 buildings were destroyed. Japan's leaders still did not make any action to end the war forcing American to decide the next step. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
The United States dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki and the death toll was 40000. Even still, this did not bring and end to the war. hirohito favored surrender but the military leaders risisted. -
VJ Day
Hirohito announced the end of the war in a radio broadcast. I was the first time the Japanese people had ever heard the emperor's voice. After the end of the war, the United Nations was created to prevent any other future wars.
