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War in the Pacific
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Japanese Advance
Japanese struck Pearl Harbor and Clark Field to try to gain military control of the Western Pacific. By destroying both of American forces in the region they thought America would just give up and surrender to them. They would give them easy acess to natural resources. Japan wanted economic independence. Japan attacked other allies colonies next. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The bombing of Pearl Harbor was the first of several attacks that happened in the Pacific. It was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, It was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers, and also torpedos. This was the start of the war in the pacific. -
China Joins The War
China joined the Allies on December 9, 1941, by officially declaring war on Germany, Italy, and its longtime enemy, Japan. The USA already had sent equipment to China. They wanted to make China stronger so they can defeat Japan. China's Nationalist leader was Jiang Jieshi. -
Japan Overruns
Japan overruned the British strongholds of Hong Kong and Singapore, seized the Dutch East Indies and Malaya, and invaded Burma. Then they turned all their attention to securing Philippines. -
The Fall of Philippines
Struggling with starvation and many attacks from Japan most of Bataan's defenders surrendered in early April 1942. About 2,000 soldiers and nurses escaped to the island of Corregidor. American troops on Corregidor survived another month of continual Japanese bombardment by living in the rock tunnels of the fortress. -
Battle of Coral Sea
In May 1942, a largely American naval group engaged a superior Japanese fleet in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia. It was five day battle and it destroyed nearly half of both of their planes. The Japanese destroyed the Lexington and badly damaged the Yorktown, another carrier. It ended in a draw but, it prevented Japan from invading Australia. This war opened a new chapter in naval warfare. It was carried out entirely by aircraft. -
The Fall of Philippines Part 2
Running low on ammunition and food, more than 11,000 Americans and Filipinos surrendered to invading Japanese forces on May 6. The Japanese captured about 76,000 Filipinos and Americans as prisoners of war. They were already weak and had diseases. Japanese split the prisoners into groups of 500 to 1,000. Prisoners were treated brutally. During 6 to 12 days at least 1,000 prisoners died. They even denied water for them to drink. The ones that were to weak to keep up were killed. -
Bataan Death March
The prisoners that were brutally tortured became known as the Bataan Death March. If the prisoners were not able to keep up they would be executed. They had to keep on moving to survive.Their ordeal became known as the Bataan Death March. Those who survived were sent to primitive prison camps, where an additional 15,000 or more died. -
Battle of Midway
Japanese Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku lured his way near Midway Island. He planned a invasion of Midway. He thought American Admiral Chester Nimitz would use all his resources to protect the island that was so vital to the defense of Hawaii. Japanese bomber attacked on the island and a simultaneous, unsuccessful American strike on the Japanese fleet. America sank three of the four heavy Japanese carriers and finished off the fourth one also. The American victory owed much to Commander Joseph. -
The Battle of Guadalcanal
First goal was to capture Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Japan was building an airfield to threaten nearby allies bases and lines with communication to Australia. 2,200 Japanese that were defending the island ran into the jungle to defend the island. They went through swamps and rivers. The marine mad easy targets for Japanese snipers They lasted 5 months attacking each other so it went up to February. Japan's outnumbered forces finally slipped off the island in February 1943. Allies Win ! -
Island Hopping
American forces began island-hopping, a military strategy of selectively attacking specific enemy-held islands and bypassing others. It made America move faster to head to their target which was Japan. It was going on during the years of 1943 to 1944. General MacArthur and Admiral William Halsey leapfrogged through the Solomon Islands while Admiral Nimitz led a similar island-hopping campaign in the Gilbert Islands. The end of 1944, B-29 Superfortresses dropped bombs over Japan cities. -
Philippines Campaign
America starts pushing towards Japan during the summer of 1944. 160,000 American troops invaded the Philippine island of Leyte. Americans fought their way into the island the greatest naval battle formed called Battle of Leyte Gulf. More than 280 warships took part in this battle. Japan warships were told to attack the United States Navy. Kamikazes are known as suicide planes and they were used in this battle. About 80,000 Japanese defenders died and less than 1,000 surrendered. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
American forces suffered an estimated 25,000 casualties in this battle but, they were also awarded 27 medals of honor. In this battle the marines stormed to the beach. The picture shows them traveling through boats to get there. They kept fighting almost until they were left one defender. -
Battle of Okinawa
This battle fought from April to June 1945. It was on Japanese soil. The nearly 50,000 casualties made the Battle of Okinawa the costliest engagement of the Pacific war. It made a clear path to Japan for the allies. There was nearly 2,000 Japanese kamikazes attacks. The Allies gathered some 1,300 warships and more than 180,000 combat troops. American soldiers stormed ashore. -
Japan Surrenders
On August 6, 1945 a American plane the Enola Gay, It dropped a single atomic bomb in Hiroshima. A southern city in Japan. At least 80,000 died. The 90 percent of the cities buildings were destroyed. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. On August 14, the government of Japan surrendered. Next day, Americans celebrated V-J Day. Victory for America!
