WW2 1941 Pearl Harbor: Facts, History, Bombing: FDR Day of Infamy Speech, USS Arizona Memorial, Newspaper Headlines

December 7 1941 Pearl Harbor is a day that will live in infamy. It is a day that all Americans who lived during World War ii will remember. This day is the day America entered the ww2. Many Americans were gathered around the radio. Pearl Harbor was the rallying call to arms.

18 ships sunk or seriously damaged. 347 planes destroyed or damage. The carriers were out to sea and were spared. However, the US Fleet was crippled.

The first wave of attack on Pearl Harbor started at 7:55 AM. The 2nd wave started at 8:54 am. The 3rd wave was never carried out because the Japanese commander decided against it.

The US fleet was lined up in battleship row. The Japanese had easy targets that day.

Battleships: Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee, Maryland, California, , Utah, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Oklahoma.

The Nevada tried to make a run towards open sea but never made it out of the harbor. The Oklahoma was listing.

The forward magazines on the USS Arizona were struck by a bomb which caused the major explosion that killed 1000 men. The front upper portion end of the ship collapsed into the hull causing the ship to tilt at a 45 degree angle. Those crew members who were not killed instantly were trapped inside the hull. The USS Arizona was engulfed in flames which burned for 2 days.

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Honolulu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire." - Franklyn D. Roosevelt

Pearl Harbor and Manila Raided Without Warning By Japanese War Planes; Naval Battle Reported

BULLETINS!!

GERMANY SAYS "NO COMMENT"

Berlin, Dec. 7 (AP) - A German spokesman declared tonight there could be no reaction from Germany to the announced Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor until all sides of the case were in hand.

"We cannot comment,: the spokesman said "Until full and exact details of the Japanese as well as the American statements are available"

350 DIE SAYS RADIO MAN (initial report before everything was final)

New York, Dec. 7 - (AP) - Japanese warplanes killed 350 men at Hickman Field and set fire to the U.S. Battleship Oklahoma today in a sudden raid on Pearl Harbor and Honolulu, an NVC observer radioed direct from the scene today.

FLASH

JAPS DECLARE WAR

Tokyo, Monday December 8 (AP) Japanese Imperial Headquarters announced at 6 am today that Japan had entered a state of war with the United States and Britain in the western Pacific as from dawn today.

by the Associated Press

The war that Adolph Hitler started in September 1939 exploded into a world conflict today as Japanese bombers, striking without warning attacked the United states' great Pear Harbor naval base at Honolulu and bases at Manila, the Philippines.

A bulletin from Honolulu said a naval engagement was in progress off that famed island playground with at least one black aircraft carrier in action against Pearl Harbor defenses. Aerial dogfight raged in the skies over Honolulu itself as American warplanes rose to give battle to the Japanese invaders.

In Washington, the White House announced that a U.S. Army transport carrying lumber rather than troops, had been torpedoed 1300 miles west of San Francisco, thereby placing Japanese naval action well east of Hawaii, towards the US mainland.

An NBC broadcast from Honolulu said the Japanese attack had inflicted untold damage the US naval base at Pearl Harbor and on the city itself.

Several Japanese planes were reported shot down.

First reports from Honolulu said that at least two formations of nine four-motored black bombers, marked with Japan's rising sun insignia flew over Honolulu.

Unconfirmed reports said that one ship in Pearl Harbor was seen lying on its side and four others in flames.

"There has been several sighting going on in the air and on the sea," an NBC broadcast said.

"The battle has been going on for three hours."

The latest reports indicated that the United States had won the first battle in the New War.

Later, the Honolulu broadcaster announced: "The Army and the Navy, it appears now have the air and sea" said an NBC broadcaster from Honolulu, a few hours after the Japanese opened the assault.

Pictures

Here are some pictures from a vacation trip to Pearl Harbor. The first place you want to see is the USS Arizona Memorial. It is a very moving and emotional monument to brave men who gave their lives for our country's freedom. It was a day that will live in infamy.

Pictures of The USS Arizona memorial Pearl Harbor Hawaii

picture of uss arizona memorial pearl harbor

List of names of those who died on the USS Arizona	USS Arizona December 7 1941
USS Arizona Anchor	USS Arizona Bell	Memorial wall

The wall of names starts with: To the memory of the gallant men here entombed and their shipmates who gave their lives in action on December 7, 1941 on the U.S.S. Arizona