December 7, 1941
Today in World War II Pacific History

SUNDAY, 7 December 1941

The Empire of Japan strikes without warning December 7, 1941 attacking the Territory of Hawaii (Hawaii) and across the International Date Line on December 8, 1941 strikes American and British possessions across the Pacific. The same day, the Empire of Japan officially declares war against the United States and United Kingdom.

IJN: In the early morning, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) launch a surprise attack against Pearl Harbor and Oahu in the Territory of Hawaii (Hawaii). The attack involved five midget submarines and two waves of carrier aircraft launched from six aircraft carriers 200 miles north of Oahu.

Between 9:31am to 9:54am Japanese destroyers Sazanami and Ushio assigned to the Japanese Midway Neutralization Unit under the command of Captain Kaname Konishi bombarded Midway. Defending Marine shore batteries manned by the 6th Defense Battalion return the fire, claiming damage to both destroyers. One of the submarines deployed on simulated war patrols off Midway, Trout (SS-202), makes no contact with the enemy ships; the other, Argonaut (SS-166), is unable to make a successful approach, and Ushio and Sazanami withdraw from the area safely. Subsequent, bad weather will save Midway from a bombing by carrier planes from the Pearl Harbor Attack Force as it withdraws westward.

Damage control hulk DCH 1 (IX-44), formerly destroyer Walker (DD-163), being towed from San Diego, California, to Pearl Harbor, by oiler Neches (AO-5), is cast adrift and scuttled by gunfire from Neches at 26°35'N, 143°49'W.

Japanese midget submarines target Pearl Harbor
In the early morning hours between 12:42am to 3:33am, five Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) fleet submarines: I-16, I-18, I-20, I-22, I-24 each launch a Type A midget submarine south of Oahu that attempt to penetrate Pearl Harbor submerged then navigate counterclockwise around Ford Island, fire their torpedoes then exit to rendezvous with the "mother" submarines seven miles west of Lanai Island. All l five were lost or sunk, with only one managing to enter the anchorage as planned. When detected, the U.S. Navy gave each submarine a letter designation (A-E) based on the order they were detected or sunk.

The first, HA-20 Type A Midget Submarine (Midget A) attempts to follow general stores issue ship USS Antares (AKS-3) into the entrance to Pearl Harbor. At 3:20am the periscope was spotted by USS Condor (AMc-14) two miles off the entrance to Pearl Harbor and at 3:57am she notified USS Ward DD-139 that begins searching for the submarine assisted by a PBY Catalina from VP-14. At 6:30am spotted by lookouts aboard USS Antares (AG-10) as it approaches the outer gate for Pearl Harbor. At 6:37am USS Ward DD-139 spots the periscope and at 6:45am opens fire with her 4" gun, overruns the submarine then releases depth charges that destroy it at 6:55am. Word of the incident is reported up the chain of command but not in time before the first wave commences.

The second, HA-22 Type A Midget Submarine (Midget B)  entered Pearl Harbor, sunk by USS Monaghan (DD-354). The third, HA-19 (Midget C)  grounded off Waimanaio, one crew member captured and became the first Prisoner Of War (POW). The fourth, HA-18 (Midget D) was damaged by depth charges and sank in Keehi Lagoon. The fifth, HA-21 (Midget E) was the only submarine that managed to enter Pearl Harbor and is believed to have fired two torpedoes at USS St. Louis (CL-49) then was sunk in West Lock.

Japanese aircraft strike Pearl Harbor and Oahu
The main attack force was the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) "Kido Butai" First Air Fleet Striking Force comprised of six aircraft carriers: Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku that launched carrier aircraft including A6M Model 21 Zero fighters, D3A1 Val dive bombers and B5N1 Kate torpedo bombers from 230 nautical miles north of Oahu.

Japanese First Strike (First Wave)
The first strike consisted of 213 aircraft. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army radar station at Opana Point on Oahu detects an unusually large "blip" approaching from the north, but the operator reporting the contact is told not to concern himself with the matter since a formation of thirteen B-17 Flying Fortresses are scheduled to arrive on a ferry flight from Hamilton Field in California bound for Hickam Field on Oahu. The watch officer dismisses the report as "nothing unusual." In fact, the large "blip" is the first wave of Japanese planes. At 7:55am, D3A Val tail EI-238 piloted by Lt Cdr Takahashi released the first bomb, a single Type 98 land bomb weighing 242 kg / 533.5 pounds hit the seaplane ramp in front of Hanger 6 at Ford Island Seaplane Base (NAS Ford Island) in the southeastern of Ford Island in the center of Pearl Harbor.


B-17 Flying Fortress that arrived during the Japanese attack
Thirteen B-17s on a ferry flight from Hamilton Field to Hickam Field led by Major Richard H. Carmichael. The formation arrived during the first wave of attacking Japanese aircraft and the bombers landed at various airfields on Oahu, some attacked by Japanese aircraft and others accidentally fired on by American anti-aircraft gunners that mistook them for enemy aircraft.

88th Reconnaissance Squadron (88th RS)
B-17E "Why Don't We Do This More Often" 41-2429 pilot Carmichael (crew no. 1) landed Haleiwa Airfield strafed but not damaged
B-17E "Naughty But Nice" 2430  pilot Caffin (crew no. 2) landed Haleiwa Airfield
B-17E pilot 1st Lt Richard F. Ezzard (crew no. 3) aborted the flight after take off, returned to Hamilton Field
B-17E pilot 1st Lt Frank W. Potter (crew no. 4) aborted before take off, did not depart Hamilton Field
B-17E 41-2432  pilot Thacker (crew no. 5) landed Hickam Field but blew a tire on landing
B-17E "San Antonio Rose" 41-2416  pilot Bostrom (crew no. 6) force landed Kuhuku Golf Course
B-17E 41-2433  pilot Brandon (crew no. 7) landed Hickam Field
B-17E 41-2434  pilot Rawls (crew no. 8) landed Hickam Field strafed on the ground

38th Reconnaissance Squadron (38th RS)
B-17E 41-2413  pilot Landon (crew no. 1)
B-17E 41-2408  pilot Barthelmess (crew no. 2) landed safely Hickam Field
B-17C 40-2074  pilot Swenson (crew no. 3) strafed while landing at Hickam Field set on fire causing the rear to separate
B-17C 40-2063  pilot Allen (crew no. 4) landed safely Hickam Field
B-17C 40-2054  pilot Cooper (crew no. 5) landed safely Hickam Field
B-17E pilot 1st Lt Harold T. Hastings (crew no. 6) delayed by engine trouble and did not take off with the original group
B-17C "Skipper" 40-2049  pilot Richards (crew no. 7) force landed Bellows Field salvaged for parts
B-17E pilot 1st Lt Boris M. Zubko (crew no. 8) delayed by engine trouble and did not take off with the original group.

Japanese Second Strike (Second Wave)
The second strike consisted of 170 aircraft. Afterwards, the attack force departed westward back to Japan.


American Interception
During the Japanese attack, roughly twenty American fighter planes managed to get airborne including five obsolete P-35s. Several P-40B Warhawks manged to intercept including 2nd Lt. George S. Welch and 2nd Lt. Kenneth "Ken" Taylor who both claimed aerial victories.

Aftermath
Immediately after the attacks, U.S. planes searched unsuccessfully for the Japanese fleet. Among the search aircraft was JRS-1 Baby Clipper 4346 pilot Ensign Wesley Hoyt Ruth took off on a patrol 250 miles north and found nothing.

American Casualties
2,403 killed in action and 1,178 wounded in action
US Army : 218 KIA, 364 WIA
US Navy: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA
US Marine Corps: 109 KIA, 69 WIA
Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA

Battleships sunk or damaged
USS Arizona BB-39 sunk by an armor piercing bomb that detonated her forward magazine
USS Oklahoma BB-37 capsized and sank as a total loss, salvaged 1943-1944, sunk while being towed May 17, 1947
USS California BB-44 sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS West Virginia BB-48 sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS Nevada BB-36 beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) light damage
USS Maryland (BB-46) light damage
USS Tennessee (BB-43) light damage
USS Utah (AG-16) total loss, sunk

Cruisers damaged
USS New Orleans (CA-32) light damage
USS San Francisco (CA-38) undamaged by the attack but under overhaul
USS Detroit (CL-8) light damage.
USS Raleigh (CL-7) heavily damaged but repaired
USS Helena (CL-50) light damage
USS Honolulu (CL-48) light damage to the hull from a near miss bomb

Destroyers sunk or damaged
USS Downes (DD-375) destroyed in drydock no. 1, parts salvaged
USS Cassin (DD-372) destroyed in drydock no. 1, parts salvaged
USS Shaw (DD-373) very heavy damage
USS Helm (DD-388) light damage

Minelayers Sunk
USS Ogala (CM-4) sunk, later raised and repaired.

Seaplane Tender Damaged
USS Curtiss (AV-4) severely damaged, repaired

Repair Ship Damaged
USS Vestal (AR-4)  severely damaged but later repaired.

Harbor Tug sunk
USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) sunk but later raised and repaired.

Fortunately for the U.S. Navy none of the three Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers were at port in Pearl Harbor. Also, the strategic fuel reserves and dry docks at Pearl Harbor were not targeted.

Aircraft Losses
A total of 188 American aircraft were destroyed:
US Navy: 92
US Army: 92
Other: 4

American aircraft lost (partial list)
SBD 2159  pilot Willis MIA December 7, 1941
PBY 2357 sunk December 7, 1941
PBY 2359 sunk December 7, 1941
PBY 2361 sunk December 7, 1941
PBY 2362 sunk December 7, 1941
PBY 2363 sunk December 7, 1941 afterwards, salvaged and rebuilt and operated until stricken August 28, 1944
PBY 2364  sunk December 7, 1941
PBY 2365  sunk December 7, 1941
PBY 2369  sunk December 7, 1941
PBY 2451 destroyed December 7, 1941
PBY Kaneohe  sunk December 7, 1941 into Kaneohe Bay (likely PBY 2364, PBY 2365 or PBY 2369)

American aircraft on Oahu December 7, 1941
Aeronca 65TC Chief NC33768  in flight at the start of the attack displayed at the USS Missouri Memorial
J2F Duck 1649  stationed at NAS Pearl Harbor and survived the attack
P-40B 41-13297  stationed at Wheeler Field, survived the attack
PBY- 2446  stationed at NAS Pearl Harbor survived the attack, lost August 16, 1943
PBY 2447  stationed at NAS Pearl Harbor survived the attack, crashed October 26, 1943
SBD 2106  stationed at Luke Field survived the attack, ditched June 11, 1943
JRS-1 4346  stationed at NAS Pearl Harbor survived the attack displayed at NASM Udvar-Hazy Center

Japanese aircraft losses
A total of 29 Japanese aircraft were lost from the 353 planes that participated in the attack,

A6M2 Zero Fighters
A6M2 Zero 2266 Tail BII-120  pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi force landed Niihau Island, POW, suicide
A6M2 Zero 3277 Tail B1-151  pilot Fusata Iida crashed Ford Island
A6M2 Zero 5289 Tail AI-154  pilot Takeshi Hirano crashed Hickam Field
A6M2 Zero  crashed December 7, 1941 at 8:30am, clock displayed at the USS Arizona Memorial and Museum

D3A1 Val Dive Bombers
D3A1 Val 3133  crashed Aiea Heights
D3A1 Val 3178  crashed Pearl Harbor

B5N1 Kate Torpedo Bombers
B5N Kate crashed Pearl Harbor piece of left tail stabilizer displayed at USS Arizona Museum

Japanese Type A midget submarines losses
HA-20 (Midget A)  sunk at 6:55am by gunfire and depth charges from USS Ward DD-139
HA-22 (Midget B)  entered Pearl Harbor, sunk by USS Monaghan DD-354
HA-19 (Midget C)  grounded Waimanaio, one crewman captured, salvage displayed National Museum of the Pacific War
HA-18 (Midget D)  damaged by depth charges, located and salvaged 1960, displayed Eta Jima
HA-21 (Midget E)  believed to have fired two torpedoes at USS St. Louis (CL-49) then sunk West Lock

Unarmed U.S. Army-chartered steam schooner Cynthia Olson is shelled and sunk by Japanese submarine I-26 about 1,000 miles northwest of Diamond Head on Oahu at roughly Lat 33°42'N, Long 145°29'W. She is the first U.S. merchantman to be sunk by a Japanese submarine in World War II. There are no survivors from the 33-man crew or the two Army passengers.

USS Lexington (CV-2) enroute to Midway with U.S. Marine Corps SB2U-3 Vindicators from Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 231 (VMSB-231) aborts the delivery mission after learning of the Japanese attack and instead searches for the Japanese fleet.

USS Enterprise (CV-6) was at sea roughly 215 nautical miles west of Oahu. During the attack, search flight under the command of Commander Howard L. Young, CEAG including VB-6 and VS-6, in two-plane sections of SBDs, begins arriving off Oahu as the Japanese attack unfolds and six were shot down by the Japanese planes including SBD Dauntless 2159. The carrier assembled her remaining aircraft in a search for the Japanese striking force, but failed to locate them. Another SBD ends up on Kauai where its radio-gunner is drafted into the local Army defense force with his single .30-caliber machine gun. Almost all of the surviving planes, together with what observation and scouting planes from battleship (VO) and cruiser (VCS) detachments, as well as flying boats (VP) and utility aircraft (VJ) that survive the attack, take part in the desperate, hastily organized searches flown out of Ford Island to look for the Japanese carriers whence the surprise attack had come.

Light minelayer Gamble (DM-15) mistakenly fires upon submarine Thresher (SS-200) off Oahu, 21°15'N, 159°01'W. Thresher mistakes Gamble for destroyer Litchfield (DD-336) (the latter ship assigned to work with submarines in the Hawaiian operating area), the ship with which she is to rendezvous. Gamble, converted from a flush-deck, four-pipe destroyer, resembles Litchfield. Sadly, the delay occasioned by the mistaken identity proves fatal to a seriously injured sailor on board the submarine, who dies four hours before the boat finally reaches port on the 8th, of multiple injuries suffered on 6 December 1941 when heavy seas wash him against the signal deck rail.

USMC: The Marine garrison from the 6th Defense Battalion on Midway suffers 14 casualties including four dead and considerable damage to installations when Japanese destroyers bombard on Sand Island. In American Samoa, the Commanding Officer of the 7th Defense Battalion orders his Marines to man their positions; the Samoan Marine Reserve Battalion was called to active duty to reinforce the defenses.

Navy Yard and Naval Station, Pearl Harbor; Naval Air Stations at Ford Island and Kaneohe Bay; Ewa Mooring Mast Field (Marine Corps air facility); Army airfields at Hickam, Wheeler, and Bellows; and Schofield Barracks suffer varying degrees of bomb and fragment damage. Japanese bombs and strafing destroy 188 Navy, Marine Corps, and USAAF planes. At NAS Kaneohe Bay, Aviation Chief Ordnanceman John W. Finn mounts a machine gun on an instruction stand and returns the fire of strafing planes although wounded many times. Although ordered to leave his post to have his wounds treated, he returns to the squadron areas where, although in great pain, he oversees the rearming of returning PBYs. For his heroism, Finn is awarded the Medal of Honor.

After dark, the first night recovery of planes in World War II by the U.S. Navy occurs when Enterprise turns on searchlights to aid returning SBDs (VB 6 and VS 6) and TBDs (VT 6) that had been launched at dusk in an attempt to find Japanese ships reported off Oahu. Friendly fire, however, downs four of Enterprise's six F4Fs (VF 6) (the strike group escort) that are directed to land at Ford Island. Other Enterprise SBDs make a night landing at Kaneohe Bay, miraculously avoiding automobiles and construction equipment parked on the ramp to prevent just such an occurrence.

Damage to the Pacific Fleet is extensive, but carriers Enterprise and Lexington (CV-2) are, providentially, not in port, having been deployed at the eleventh hour to reinforce advanced bases at Wake and Midway. Saratoga (CV-3) is at San Diego on this day, preparing to return to Oahu. Convinced that he has proved fortunate to have suffered as trifling losses as he has, Vice Admiral Nagumo opts to set course for home, thus inadvertantly sparing fuel tank farms, ship repair facilities, and the submarine base that will prove invaluable to support the U.S. Pacific Fleet as it rebuilds.

The Japanese declaration of war, the so-called "Fourteen Point message" declares an impasse in the ongoing diplomatic negotiations reaches Washington, D.C., after word of the attack on Pearl Harbor has already been received in Washington D.C.

References
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Casualties: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945
Navy History & Heritage Command - Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 Overview and Special Image Selection
7 December 1941 - The Air Force Story - Appendix D - B-17s Arriving During the Attack
7 December 1941 - The Air Force Story - Appendix E - Army, Army Air Forces, and Civilian Casualty List (Part 1)
7 December 1941 - The Air Force Story - Appendix F - Hawaiian Air Force Military Casualty List (Part 2)

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