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Bombing of Pearl Harbor
In the early morning hours of December 7, 1942, Japanese planes drop bombs on the US Naval base off the coast of Hawaii. The next day, the US declares war on Japan. -
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Japan conquers
Japan seizes islands in the Pacific, including the Aleutian Islands, Midway Island, Andaman Islands, Salamaua and Lae on New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Singapore, Java, Dutch East Indies, Dutch Borneo and the Solomon Islands. Japan seemed practically unstoppable. -
Surprise Doolittle air raids on Japan
Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle commands a number of B-25 bombers to bomb the city of Tokyo, Japan, where they do little damage but boost the morale of the American troops. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea is fought between Japan and the United States. Much like trench warfare, the opponents were often hidden and could sit around for long periods of time without making any moves. Most of the fighting was done by fighter planes. The result of this battle prevented Japan from moving further southward. -
Battle of Midway
Midway Island is an island west of Hawaii. When American forces found out that the Japanese hoped to attack Midway Island, they knew they would be outnumbered and decided to attack with surprise as their weapon. When Japanese fighter planes went to attack, American planes attacked and destroyed many Japanese ships. -
Battle of Guadalcanal
The Americans landed on the island of Guadalcanal and others on August 7, 1942. Hence there was a bloody battle between the Japanese and the Americans, going on for six months as each side quickly supplied fresh troops. Finally, after Japan lost most of their 36,000 men, they abandoned the attack in February 1942. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
General Macarthur arrived on the island of Leyte, in the Phillipines, hoping to claim it back for the US. However, a long fight ensued in which the Japanese lost their formerly amazing navy. -
US troops take Iwo Jima
After a month of constant fighting and bloody battle, American troops take the island of Iwo Jima. -
Battle of Okinawa
The Americans moved to Okinawa, an island only 350 miles from the coast of mainland Japan. The Battle of Okinawa is considered the bloodiest land battle of the war. It ended with 110,000 Japanese and 12,500 American troops dead and countless more wouned. Through this death, however, the US got that much closer to Japan. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The first atomic bomb ever used in warfare is dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Nearly 73,000 people died almost immediately, while many more were left to suffer the effects of radiation. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
In Nagasaki, Japan, the second atomic bomb used in the history of war was dropped on August 9, 1945. This bombing killed about 37,500 people. -
Japanese surrender
The Japanese agree to unconditional surrender and World War II is over on the Pacific front.
