On December 7th, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. Consisting of six carriers, five submarines, and over 350 aircraft, the Japanese attack killed over 2,000 Americans, sunk or damaged 20 ships, and destroyed 188 American planes. It is one of the worst disasters in American history.
While the attack was a significant blow to the American Navy, it was hardly the preemptive knockout blow the Japanese were hoping for. Instead, it acted as the final straw that pushed the United States into World War II, and directly led to the downfall of Imperial Japan.
Here are 25 rarely-seen photos from the Attacks on Pearl Harbor.
1
Colorized battleship row after the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941.
2
Aerial picture of the attack on Pearl Harbor, taken from a Japanese dive bomber. Hawaii, 1941.
3
The southeastern part of Ford Island, looking northeasterly, with USS California.
4
A sailor runs for cover past flaming wreckage hit by dive bombers that had already blasted Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field at the Kaneohe Bay Naval Station.
5
American sailors at Ford Island Naval Air Station reacting to the explosion of the USS Shaw during the second wave of attacks.
6
View looking down Battleship Row from Ford Island Naval Air Station, shortly after the Japanese torpedo plane attack.
7
The USS Oklahoma raised after capsizing during the attack on Pearl Harbor. 429 crew died when she capsized.
9
The battleship USS Pennsylvania in dry dock with the heavily damaged destroyers USS Cassin (left) and USS Downes after the Pearl Harbor attack.
10
A U.S. battleship sinking during the Pearl Harbor attack.
11
Smoke from building on Ford Island.
12
Destroyer USS Shaw exploding during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
13
Smoke pouring from sinking battleship USS California, and the capsized bulk of the USS Oklahoma.
14
Raising up turrets #3 and 4 from the U.S.S. Arizona.
15
The USS Arizona explodes.
16
The broken state of the USS Arizona, after the attacks.
17
Women firefighters direct a hose after the attack.
18
A diver as he ascends from the oily interior of the sunken battleship USS Arizona.
19
A damaged B-17C Flying Fortress bomber sits on the tarmac near Hangar Number 5 at Hickam Field.
21
A Japanese torpedo plane being recovered, after it was shot down.
22
Two men sit on a bomber’s wreckage, Hickam Airfield.
23
PBY patrol bomber burning at Naval Air Station Kaneohe, Oahu.
24
Japanese model of Pearl Harbor, showing ships located as they were during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack.
