"LIKE A BOLT OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY"

SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, GREAT DAMAGE & LOSS OF LIFE

Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands (JFK+50) On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor* in Honolulu.  

It was reported that the attack began "without preliminaries" as the Japanese aircraft flew in from the Southwest and immediately began firing machine guns and dropping conventional and torpedo bombs.

The attack began at 8 a.m. local time on a quiet Sunday morning.  The Daily Alaska Empire described the scene as like "a bolt out of a clear blue sky."

The coordinated attack hit Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu and a "state of siege" was declared in the Pacific region.

At Hickam Field**, "a direct bomb" killed 350 U.S. servicemen.  It was reported that fifty Japanese planes attacked the airbase. (The Empire mis-spelled the airbase as "Hickman")

From Tokyo came the following dispatch...

"A state of war exists with the United States and Great Britain."

JFK+50 NOTE

The United States declared war on Japan, December 8, 1941 by the vote of the Congress, 82-0 in the Senate, 383-1 in the House.  At that time, The Daily Alaska Empire reports the loss of two U.S. war ships and 3000 dead or wounded in the attack on Hawaii.

The total casualties of the Pearl Harbor attack are 2,393 Americans killed with 1,178 wounded.  Included in that number are 2008 US Naval personnel, 208 US Army, 109 USMC & 68 civilians.  All toll, 2,403. 

Japanese losses were 129 killed.

In addition, the U.S. lost 4 battleships sunk & 4 damaged, 188 aircraft destroyed & 150 damaged.  Japan lost 29 aircraft & 74 damaged.

*U.S. Naval Base, located on the island of Oahu, 7 miles from Honolulu was established in 1899 & became the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.  The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at PH commemorates the tragic loss of life on December 7, 1941.

**Hickam Field was named for Lt. Col. Horace M. Hickam, aviator pioneer.  HF was dedicated in 1935 & activated in 1938.  It became headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Air Force. 

SOURCES

"Attack on U.S. Is Made By Japan, War Is Declared," The Daily Alaska Empire, Juneau, December 8, 1941, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Declare War, U.S. Japan In Fight," The Daily Alaska Empire, Juneau, December 8, 1941, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Heavy Toll Taken By Jap Planes," The Daily Alaska Empire, Juneau, December 8, 1941, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam," Military Installations, www.installations.miliaryoneresource.mil/

 

 

USS Arizona Hit

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

December 7, 1941

NARA Photo