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Pearl Harbor Fact
When and why did the Japanese decide to attack Pearl Harbor?
What was their biggest planning blunder?
What was destroyed of the U.S. fleet?

Island of Oahu, where Pearl Harbor is located
Japanese Force
Pearl Harbor Fact: In November the Japanese made a decision to attack Pearl Harbor...and on December 7, 1941...the Japanese with 360 planes from 6 Japanese carriers, 2 battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 11 destroyers, and various other ships, attacked. This striking force was under the command of Vice-Adm. Chuichi Nagumo.

Pearl Harbor Canteen
Why did the Japanese attack the U.S.?
The Japanese wanted to possess the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" which included Korea, Manchuria, China, French Indochina, Malaya, Burma, the Philippines and the Netherlands East Indies, as well as the Japanese empire as it existed before the Manchuian incident.
Japanese mistakenly thought that a quick occupation of this territory along with a crippling attack upon the U.S. Pacific fleet would lead to negotiations giving the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" to them.
U.S. Pacific Fleet
The U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor consisted of 70 combat vessels, 24 auxiliaries (most moored for the week end), and 300 U.S. army, navy and marine corps planes.

Ships in Pearl Harbor today
Pearl Harbor fact: Damage done to U.S. Fleet
Out of 8 U.S. battleships in the harbor, 5 were sunk, 1 severely damaged and the other 2 hit. 11 ships were sunk or severely damaged, including 2 destroyers.
140 aircraft were destroyed and 80 more damaged.
Pearl Harbor fact: Lives lost
2,330 U.S. military personnel were killed.

Memorial over sunken Arizona
1,145 U.S. military personnel wounded.
100 civilians were killed or wounded.
Japanese planning blunder
For the Japanese, this was limited tactical success, but due to a planning blunder, they failed to damage shore installations, power plants or oil storage facilities.
The Pacific fleet's 3 aircraft carriers, which were not at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, also escaped damage.
Pearl Harbor fact: Resulted outcome
Plus, most importantly, the surprise attack aroused the "Sleeping Giant" (the U.S.) and caused them to enter the war effort with gusto....never looking back until the job was done.

Related photos from Hawaii...enjoy.

Drive north on Maui
Sometimes there is only a one lane road.

View from hotel

Haleakela Volcano

Luau

Removing the buried roast pig wrapped in leaves & canvas
Hawaiian dancer at Luau

My sister and brother-in-law, Diane & Gordy, by Hawaiian shoreline
Thank you Diane & Gordy for sharing your lovely photos with us.
View/purchase here a necklace I've named after Diane.
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