Pearl Harbor –Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor –Dec. 7, 19411941

Yamamoto

Nagumo

Japanese Zero

CasualtiesCasualties

2,335 US Killed – 4 battleships sunk2,335 US Killed – 4 battleships sunk 64 Japanese killed – 29 planes 64 Japanese killed – 29 planes

destroyeddestroyed Pearl Harbor was a complete and Pearl Harbor was a complete and

total success for the Japanesetotal success for the Japanese Did not destroy the US carriers who Did not destroy the US carriers who

were not in the harborwere not in the harbor

Doolittle Raid – April 18, Doolittle Raid – April 18, 19421942

Involved 16 carrier Involved 16 carrier bombersbombers

Only a pinprick on Tokyo Only a pinprick on Tokyo but had a significant but had a significant psychological effectpsychological effect

Bailed out over ChinaBailed out over China Two died in bailouts and Two died in bailouts and

8 were made prisoners – 8 were made prisoners – 4 survived as POW till 4 survived as POW till the end of the warthe end of the war

15 of the 80 raiders are 15 of the 80 raiders are still livingstill living

Japan’s Overall StrategyJapan’s Overall Strategy

Japan wanted to conquer outer island of Japan wanted to conquer outer island of the Pacific and then form a strong the Pacific and then form a strong defensive perimeter in which the US defensive perimeter in which the US would batter themselves into exhaustion would batter themselves into exhaustion and only able to launch offensives from and only able to launch offensives from HawaiiHawaii

To do this Japan set up a three-fold plan To do this Japan set up a three-fold plan and in all of these wanted to coax US and in all of these wanted to coax US carriers into action in order to destroy carriers into action in order to destroy themthem

Japan’s Threefold PlanJapan’s Threefold Plan

The Solomon Islands – control of The Solomon Islands – control of these islands would effectively cut these islands would effectively cut off American support to Australia, off American support to Australia, isolating it and putting the Japanese isolating it and putting the Japanese in a position to force the Australians in a position to force the Australians to submit to Japanese controlto submit to Japanese control

US reaction – Battle of GuadacanalUS reaction – Battle of Guadacanal

Japan’s Threefold PlanJapan’s Threefold Plan

Midway Island – Last American base Midway Island – Last American base outside of Hawaii. Japanese would outside of Hawaii. Japanese would complete the ring of islands blocking complete the ring of islands blocking US Naval offensive actionUS Naval offensive action

US reaction – Battle of MidwayUS reaction – Battle of Midway

Japan’s Threefold PlanJapan’s Threefold Plan

Papua New Guinea – capture of Port Papua New Guinea – capture of Port Moresby could be used as a Moresby could be used as a Japanese naval and air base. Japanese naval and air base. Japanese would control Coral Sea Japanese would control Coral Sea and virtually all of Australia’s north and virtually all of Australia’s north coastcoast

US reaction – Battle of the Coral Sea US reaction – Battle of the Coral Sea and Battle of Buna and Gonaand Battle of Buna and Gona

Battle of the Coral Sea – Battle of the Coral Sea – May 7-8, 1942May 7-8, 1942

Though a Japanese Though a Japanese victory it victory it convinced the convinced the Japanese not to Japanese not to make a landing at make a landing at Port MoresbyPort Moresby

US lost the carrier US lost the carrier LexingtonLexington

Battle of Midway – June Battle of Midway – June 4-7, 19424-7, 1942

Eastern New Guinea - Eastern New Guinea - 19421942

Japanese are held back crossing Japanese are held back crossing Owen Stanley RangeOwen Stanley Range

Japanese Army defeated by Japanese Army defeated by Australians at Milne BayAustralians at Milne Bay

With taking of Henderson Field on With taking of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Japanese give up taking Guadalcanal, Japanese give up taking Port Moresby and retreat back to Port Moresby and retreat back to Gona and BunaGona and Buna

These beachheads are eventually These beachheads are eventually taken at the end of Decembertaken at the end of December

GuadalcanalGuadalcanal

Henderson Air Field

Importance Of Importance Of GuadalcanalGuadalcanal

Needed the Henderson Field airstrip to Needed the Henderson Field airstrip to provide a defensive perimeter of the provide a defensive perimeter of the Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands

Japanese consistently tried to take back Japanese consistently tried to take back the island but failedthe island but failed

Battle lasted from August 42’ until Battle lasted from August 42’ until February 43 when the Japanese February 43 when the Japanese evacuated over 11,000 troopsevacuated over 11,000 troops

US – 1600 killed Japanese – 21,700 US – 1600 killed Japanese – 21,700 killedkilled

The PlanThe Plan

Admiral Nimitz would attack the Admiral Nimitz would attack the Central PacificCentral Pacific

General MacArthur would hit New General MacArthur would hit New Guinea with the objective being the Guinea with the objective being the retaking of the Philippinesretaking of the Philippines

Admiral Halsey would “island-hop” up Admiral Halsey would “island-hop” up the Solomon the Solomon

Halsey and MacArthur would move to Halsey and MacArthur would move to form a pincer movement on the form a pincer movement on the Japanese strong hold of RabaulJapanese strong hold of Rabaul

Bloody TarawaBloody Tarawa

Attack began in November of 1943Attack began in November of 1943 Battle showed the deadly nature of Battle showed the deadly nature of

their attackstheir attacks Out of 4,500 Japanese soldiers only Out of 4,500 Japanese soldiers only

17 survived17 survived 1,000 Marines lost their lives1,000 Marines lost their lives