Pearl Harbor, on the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii, was attacked by the Japanese Imperial Navy, at approximately 8:00 A.M., Sunday morning, December 7, 1941. The surprise attack had been conceived by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. The striking force of 353 Japanese aircraft was led by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida. There had been no formal declaration of war.
Approximately 100 ships of the U.S. Navy were present that morning, consisting of battleships, destroyers, cruisers and various support ships.
Two destroyers, the USS Cassin and the USS Downes were in dry dock #1 and the destroyer USS Shaw was in floating dry dock #2, approximately two hundred yards to the west. The USS Ogala was moored next to the USS Helena near the "1010" dock, Naval Ship yard. Two heavy cruisers, the USS New Orleans and the San Francisco were in the Navy Yard Repair Basin. Over half the U.S. Pacific fleet was out to sea, including the carriers.
Simultaneously, nearby Hickam Field was also the victim of the surprise attack by the Japanese.
18 Army Air corps aircraft including bombers and fighters and attack bombers were destroyed or damaged on the ground. A few U.S. fighters struggled into the air against the invaders and gave a good account of themselves.
A total of twenty-nine Japanese aircraft were shot down by ground fire and U.S. pilots from various military installations on O'ahu.
Pictures of my sister’s recent Trip to Hawaii:
