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By October 1940, Americans had cracked one of the codes that the Japenese used in sending secret messages
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After cracking the codes that the Japenese used to to send secret messages, the U.S. government sent aid to strengthen Chinese resistance. And when the Japanese overran French Indochina--Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos--in July 1941, Roosevelt cut off oil shipments
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Early in the morningof December 7, 1941, American sailors at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii aoke to the roar of explosives. Pearl Harbor was being attacked! The japenese sunk or damaged 19 ships, including 8 battleships. More than 2,300 Americans were killed, with over 1,100 wounded.
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In January 1942, Japan marched into the Phillipine capital of Manila. American and Filipino fforces took up a defensive position on the Bataan Peninsula on the northwestern edge of Manila Bay.
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By February 1942, the Japanese had reached Singapore, strategically located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. After a fierce pounding, the colony surrendered.
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After a string of victories, the Japanese seemed unbeatable. Nonetheless, the Allies were anxious to strike back in the Pacific. The U.S. in particular wanted revenge for Pearl Harbor. In April 1942, 16 B-25 bombers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, bombed Tokyo and several other Japanese cities.
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May 4-8, 1942.
It was the first aircraft carrier battle ever fought, and the first naval battle in which the opposing forces of surface ships at no stage sighted or fired at each other. All attacks were carried out by aeroplanes.It is also the largest naval battle that has ever been fought off Australia’s shores. The battle was significant for two main reasons:
It was the first time in World War 2 that the Japanese experienced failure in a major operation; and
the battle stopped the Japanese -
The Battle of Midway is considered by many to be the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign during World War 2. The battle occurred between June 4th and 7th, 1942 approximately six months after the Japanese surprise attack against Pearl Harbor. During the battle, the U.S. Navy would decisively defeat the Imperial Navy and more importantly, inflict damage to the point the Japanese fleet would not recover from during the war..
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At dawn on August 7, 1942, several thousand U.S. Marines , with the Australia for support, landed on Guadalcanal's airfield. But the battle for control of the island turned into a savage struggle as both sides poured in fresh troops. in February 1943, after six months of lightnong on land and at sea, the Battle of Guadalcanal finally ended.