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Pearl Harbor
Just before 8 a.m. hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the U.S. naval base at Honolulu. The Japanese destroyed 20 vessels, 8 battle ships, 200 airplanes. More than 2,000 soldiers and sailors died from the attack. The next day America declared war on Japan. After more than 2 years into the conflict the U.S. had entered the war. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise but U.S. and Japan had been edging towards war for awhile. -
Battle of Java Sea
The Allies tried to mount a defense at Java as the Japanese were rapidly advancing through the Dutch East Indies. They used two different invasion fleets. The Battle was a resounding victory for Japan. Japan killed 2,300 sailors, two cruisers, and three destroyers. -
Bataan Death March and Loss of Phillipines
The American and Phillipino forces were forced to surrender, the next day they were forced to march. 76,000 prisioners were forced to march across the 60 mile stretch konwn as the Bataan Death March. The trip lasted 12 days. General Masahura Homma was blamed for this and was convicted of war crimes and executed. -
Doolittle Raid
This was the first U.S. air raid to strike Japan on its home land in WW2. The Bombers were launched from an aircraft carrier into combat. The Battle did not do much damage in terms of destroying things, but it boosted morale for Americans and it made Japan bring troops back to Japan to defend the homeland. -
Island Hopping Stategy
This stategy was bypassing strong held islands and attacking at weak points. They used this strategy to capture Tarawa. They would use air and ground attacks to capture more islands using the island hopping theory. The U.S. moved along the Pacific Coast with this strategy. -
Battle of Coral Sea
This was a battle between Japan and the U.S. The United States lost the battle with only 543 casualties. Japan was close to 2,000. Japan had many more ships and believed this victory spelled the end of the U.S. Navy. They said the U.S. tactics were idiotic. When the battle was over the Japanese general ordered for the siezure of Midway. -
Battle of Midway
This was one of the most decisive battles of WW2. The U.S. was able to counterattack on Japan's ambush plan. The victory allowed the United States to move into an offensive position. The U.S. figured out the codes of Japan and were able to know the exact plan the Japanese had in mind. -
Guadalcanal
This was the first major offensive the Allies launched in WW2. Guadalcanal was one of the most important Japanese strongholds because of its proximity to Australia. The U.S. Navy foiled Japan's reinforcement idea as only 4,000 of the 10,000 troops reached land. By February 9, 1943, they had completely taken over the island. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
This was a decisive air and sea battle that crippled the Japanese fleet, permitted U.S. invasion of the Phillippines, and reinforced Allies control of the Pacific. The Japanese lost four carriers, eleven destroyers, several hundred aicraft, and 11,000 sailors. This battle destroyed most of Japan's remaining surface fleet. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
This was a battle where the U.S. captured the island of Iwo Jima.This battle had some of the bloodiest fighting in the Pacific in WW2. Almost all of the 22,000 Japanese soldiers on the island were killed in battle. The rest were taken prisioner. U.S. casualties exceeded that of the Japanese for the only time in the U.S. Marine Corps. -
Battle of Okinawa
After Island Hopping across the Pacific, the U.S. needed an island where they could have an air base close to Japan. The Japanese sank 36 ships in kamakazee attacks in this battle. 10,000 sailors were injured from the attacks. The land attack began on april 1st. Japan suffered over 100,000 casualties where U.S. suffered 50,000. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
The U.S. became the first nation to use atomic weaponry as they dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The bomb consisted of 15,000 tons of TnT and immediately killed 80,000 people. The purpose was to save American lives and end the war as quickly as possible. some people think it was to show the Soviet Union what power the U.S. had. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
The bomb droppe don Nagasaki was enough to make the Japanese surrender. The bon had 22,000 tons of TnT. The estimated death total from the bomb is anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000. The leader of the Manhattan project said there would be another bomb ready for August 17 if necessary. -
VJ Day
Victory over Japan was finally reached after almost six years of fighting. Japan's new leader broadcasted the news over radio on the 15th of August. After the announcement japanese soldiers committed suicide. The Formal signing of the end of the war happened on September 2, 1945.
