While World War II was wrapping up in Europe, millions of troops were forced to continue fighting the war's most intense battles, thousands of miles from home.
While World War II was wrapping up in Europe, millions of troops were forced to continue fighting the war's most intense battles at sea, thousands of miles from home.
The Pacific Theater saw imperial Japan throw their entire might at the Allied Navy, including kamikaze dive bombers, while refusing to surrender until the bitter end. The battles were chaotic, as aircraft carriers from both sides threw thousands of planes at one another, often ending in brutal stalemates or costly victories.
It's impossible to know what life must have been like on those ships, but what images we have paint a dire picture. Here are 25 dramatic photos of the Pacific Theater's chaos.
1
The U.S. Pacific fleet getting ready for battle during the Marshall Islands Campaign, 1944.
2
A Kawasaki Ki-61 makes its final dive for the USS Sangamon, it would miss the deck and only take out a few antennas. Half an hour later a Ki-45 would slam into her deck killing 11. 4th of May, 1945.
3
1 April, 1945: The largest amphibious assault of the Pacific theater, US Army, Marines and 5th Fleet invade the island of Okinawa. The fierce 82-day battle lasted until June 22, 1945.
4
USS Enterprise under a sky of heavy flak during the battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942.
5
A6M Zero Kamikaze moments before hitting the starboard side of USS Missouri on April 11, 1945.
6
Japanese cruiser Mikuma destroyed in the Battle of Midway.
7
Japanese carrier Hiryu swerves to avoid bombs dropped by B-17s during the Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942.
8
Imprint of a Mitsubishi Ki-51 kamikaze along the side of H.M.S Sussex. 1945.
9
A Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero kamikaze is photographed diving onto USS Marcus Island, 1944.
10
American B25 bombers attack Japanese war ships somewhere in the pacific during WWII. 16 Feb 1944.
11
An airman in a Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 "Zero" just before an attempted Kamikaze strike on the carrier USS White Plains.
12
Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers over the Pacific during 1943, colorized.
13
Japanese super battleship Yamato comes to a violent end after being attacked by 380 American carrier-based aircraft. Her escorting destroyers are pictured at left. 1945.
14
U.S planes over Midway, by Joe Scherschel, 1942.
15
A Mitsubishi A6M Zero special attack aircraft diving for a Kamikaze attack on the carrier Lexington off the Philippines, 5 November 1944.
16
Aerial view of the Japanese aircraft carrier Sōryū evading an air attack during the Battle of Midway, 1942.
17
The final moments of a Japanese dive bomber, 1945.
18
Carrier USS Gambier Bay is straddled by Japanese shellfire as she falls out of formation during the Battle Off Samar. October 25, 1944.
19
Japanese Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” aircraft being attacked by a Grumman F6F “Hellcat” during action in the Pacific. Photograph was taken by a gun camera installed in the leading edge of the plane wing and attuned to plane machine-guns and cannon.
20
Sailors abandoning the doomed USS Lexington. Battle of the Coral Sea. 1942.
21
SBD Dive Bomber Dauntless teeters on the nose on the flight deck of USS Cabot, June, 1943.
22
Kamikaze About To Crash Into U.S.S. Essex, 25 November 1944.
23
Japanese dive bomber heading for destruction in the Pacific, 1944.
24
US Marines in Okinawa listen to the news of Germany's surrender in Europe on their radio during WW2, 1945. They would have to continue fighting.
