Pearl Harbor
Photo taken from wikipedia.org
Second only to the events of September 11 2001, this is the worst attack on American soil in history. More than 2,000 military personnel and civilians lost their lives in the attack. This day has become known as “a day which will live in infamy.” The attack was responsible for the United States getting involved in the global conflict which had already affected much of the world.
On the morning of December 7 1941, almost everyone in and around the Pearl Harbor military base was either sleeping, eating breakfast, or simply doing their normal routine for a Sunday morning. Suddenly, hundreds of Japanese planes appeared in the skies over the base. Within three hours, thousands were dead or wounded. The Navy had lost many ships and many others were badly damaged.
During the attack, almost everyone and anything was a target. The Japanese fired on hospitals, buildings, and airbases. Almost all of the planes at Hickam air field were destroyed. However two pilots managed to get airborne and shoot down a few planes. Although the Japanese lost a few fighters to these brave pilots, it did nothing to stop the attack.
Out in the ocean, the Japanese were awaiting word on how successful the attack had been. Briefly, they considered sending in a third wave of fighters to inflict even more damage. It was determined that after the success of the first two waves, they had lost the element of surprise and decided to pull back. The aim of the attack was to force the United States into peace talks to allow the Japanese to move further into their conquered territories. However the attack did not have the effect the Japanese had planned.
