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Pearl Harbor
Americans thought that Japan would attack American bases in the Phillipines, but they attacked in Oahu's Pearl Harbor. Japanese aircrafts tried to bomb and torpedo as many American ships as possible. No single commander was in charge of Pearl Harbor. Hundreds of fighter planes and several ships were destroyed. 8 battle ships sufferted damage. 2400 Americans died. Japan suffered mininmal damage. Entered WWII as an Allie. -
Battle of Java Sea
Japanese navies caused severe damge to Allie ships and captured British controlled Burma and other key positions in the Pacific. They gained control of several oil reserves, which were vital to their plans. They also established very strategic places for more bases. -
Loss of Philippines and Bataan Death March
Japan could take over the Philippines, but George MacArthur led a force of unequipped and untrained men, primarily Filipinos. MacArthur planned a retreat to the Bataan Pennisula after the Japnaese came ashore in Decmeber 1941. Once there, they had little food and medicine. In March 1942 MacArthur was ordered to leave his men, but he promised his return. Japanese soldiers pushed American and Filipino soldiers 5 days and nights into the Bataan Forest. Those who dropped out of line were beaten. -
Doolittle Raid
James Doolittle led 16 Americas in a daring air raid upon several Japanese cities. The raid didn't do much damage, but it gave something the American people could celebrate. Japanese leasers were angery. This anger would cloud their judgements and lead to other major military mistakes in months coming. -
Island Hopping Stradegy
Guadacanal set the pattern. Allies focused on Japanese weak spots. in 1944 the Allies captured Gilbert, Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana. Allies took control of the industrial power. Pacific fighting was costly, both sdies lost several dozen ships and thousands of aircrafts. Japanese losses were unable to restock. Allies began to send more resources to the Pacific. Code talkers played a key role as well. -
Battle of Coral Sea
Aircraft carriers that had not been damaged at Pearl Harbor were used at the Battle of Coral Sea. Japanese forces were planning on attacking British controlled Port Moseby. U.S. AdmiraL Chester Nimitz sent two planes to the attack. In the enxt abttle, the navies suffered terribly. Americans lost an aircraft carrier and several dozen aircrafts. But they stopped Japanese advance, for the first time. -
Battle of Midway (Part 1)
Japanese leaders wanted to lure Americans into a large sea battle. they would attack Midway ISland, which was in the middle of the Pacific. They wanted to pull in an Aemrcian fleet and destroy it. Japanese had way more carriers and ships. But the Americans had naval intelligence by breaking a Japanese code about the Midway attack. Japanese didn't think they could be beat. Nimitz placed 3 aircraft carriers and his goal was to stop the Japanese from landing at Midway. -
Guadalcanal
Americans wanted the Solomon Islands. These islands threatened nearby Austrailia, an Alli power. A key goal was to capture Guadacanal. The Japanese had made an airfield there, making it very tempting. The environment was terrible fighting conditions, but the Americans came anyways. Six month battle on land, in air, and in water. In Februaury 1943, the Japanese fled the island. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
MacArthur was prepared to come back to the Phillipines. 300 naval ships took part in the largest naval battle ever fought. Allies had many more ships. Japanese began to use kamikaze attacks. The suicide attacks did not effect the outcome of the battle. Japan lost 4 carriers, 3 battleships, and a number of other vessels. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Americans needed a better base to launch raids, so gthey set out to capture Iwo Jima, 750 miles way from Tokoyo. Americans werer outnumbered, but Japan was actually fighting for Japanese land. Americans captured the islands highest point. Japanese refused to surrender. 7,000 U.S. soldiers died. 19,00 Japanese bit the bullet as well out of the 20,000. -
Battle of Okinawa
350 miles away frrom the mainland of Japan, Okinawa was the last straw for the invasion of Japan. This battle was the bloodiest in the Pacific. Japanese forces retreated to the Southern tip of the island. Okinawa was filled with caves and tunnels that the Japanese knew. Over 12,000 Americans died. The Japanese lost 110,000 lives. MAericans were amazed that the Japanese were willing to fight to the death. Americans gained control of the island in June 1945. Major factor on ending of war. -
Atomic Bomb of Hiroshima
American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the city and killed 80,000 people, thousands more would later die of radiation exposure. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
Three days after Hiroshima, a second B-29 dropped another bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. Japanese emporer wanted to surrender but the military resisted. Some even tried to overthrow the governemnt. -
V-J Day
Hirothito annonced the end of the war via radio broadcast. due to the damage of the two atomic bombs. It was the first time the Japanese pople had heard the emporer's voice.
