-
Saturday, December 6th - Washington D.C.
U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt made his final appeal to the Emperor of Japan for peace. Thy didn't get a reply. Later that day, the U.S. code-breaking service intercepts a 14-part Japanese message and gets the first 13 parts, passing them on to the President and Secretary of State. The Americans believe a Japanese attack is planned. -
Period: to
Before and After of Pearl Harbor
-
Sunday, December 7th, Washington D.C.
The last part of the Japanese message, reaches Washington in the morning and is decoded around 9 a.m. About an hour later, another Japanese message is sent. It instructs the Japanese group to deliver the main message to the Americans at 1 p.m. The Americans realize this time corresponds with early morning time in Pearl Harbor. -
Sunday, December 7th
Islands of Hawaii - The Japanese attack force under the command of Admiral Nagumo, consisting of six carriers with 423 planes, is about to attack. At 6 a.m., the first attack wave of 183 Japanese planes takes off from the carriers and heads for the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. -
PEARL HARBOR - 7:02 am
Two Army operators at Oahu's northern shore radar station detect the Japanese air attack approaching and contact a junior officer who ignores their reports, thinking they are American planes which are expected in from the U.S. west coast. -
Near Oahu - 7:15 am
A second attack wave of 167 planes takes off from the Japanese carriers and heads for Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is not on alert. Commanders have concluded that there is no reason to believe an attack is planned. Aircrafts are left parked wingtip to wingtip on airfields, anti-aircraft guns are unmanned. -
Near Oahu - 7:15 am (Continued)
There are also no torpedo nets protecting the fleet anchorage. And since it is Sunday morning, many officers and crewmen are leisurely ashore. -
At 7:53 am
The first Japanese assault wave commences the attack with flight commander, Mitsuo Fuchida, sounding the battle cry: "Tora! Tora! Tora!" which means "Tiger". -
At 7:53 am (Continued 1)
The Americans are taken completely by surprise. The first attack wave targets airfields and battleships. The second wave targets other ships and shipyard facilities. The air raid lasts until 9:45 a.m. Eight battleships are damaged, with five sunk. The Japanese lose 27 planes and five submarines. -
At 7:53 am (Continued 3)
In Washington, many delays prevent the Japanese from presenting their war message to Secretary of State until 2:30 p.m.. -
At 7:53 am (Continued 4)
News of the "sneak attack" is broadcast to the American public on radio bulletins. The news sends a shockwave across the nation and results in a huge influence to young volunteers into the U.S. armed forces. The attack also helps the nation support the President more. -
At 7:53 am (Continued 2)
The 3 main targets: Lexington, Enterprise and Saratoga, were not in the port. Also escaping damage are the base fuel tanks. The casualty list includes 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians killed, with 1,178 wounded. Included are 1,104 men aboard the Battleship USS Arizona killed after an air bomb was dropped onto the forward magazine causing a huge explosion. -
Monday, December 8th
The United States and Britain declare war on Japan. President Roosevelt called December 7, "A date which will live in infamy." -
Thursday, December 11th
Germany and Italy declare war on the United States. The European and Southeast Asian wars have now become a global conflict. Japan, Germany and Italy, against America, Britain, and France. -
Wednesday, December 17th
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz becomes the new commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Both senior commanders at Pearl Harbor; Navy Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, and Army Lt. General Walter C. Short, were fired from their duties after the attack. Investigations put the men at fault for failing to adopt the appropriate defense measures.
