World War II The War in the Pacific

Battles in the Pacific Doolittle’s Raid – Spring 1942 – Lt. Col. James Doolittle led bombing raid on Tokyo Battle of Coral Sea – May 1942 – Naval battle – Lasted 5 days Battle of Midway – June 1942 – Island near Hawaii – U.S. had broken code and attacked first – Turning point – U.S. moved closer to Japan by “island hopping”

More Battles Battle of Guadacanal – August, 1942 – 19,000 troops stormed island – 6 month later Japan abandone island Battle of Leyte Gulf – October, 1944 – In Phillipines – 178,000 troops and 738 ships – Gen. Douglas McArthur regained the Phllipines

Gen. McArthur successfully returns to the Phillipines.

Kamikaze Japanese “suicide planes” Intentionally crashed their planes into their targets 424 kamikaze pilots Sank 16 American ships, damaged 80

Battle of Iwo Jima & Okinawa Iwo Jima – One of Japan’s most heavily fortified islands – 20,700 Japanese in tunnels and caves – 6,000 Marines died – Only 200 Japanese survived Okinawa – Last island before U.S. could directly attack Japan – April to June, 1945 – 7,600 Americans died and 110,000 Japanese – Over 1,900 kamikaza attacks

Marines planting flag after winning Battle of Okinawa

Development of Atomic Bomb Atomic bomb developed by top secret scientific team Called Manhattan Project Based on Einstein’s theories First test in July, 1945

Decision to Use A-bomb Taking of Iwo Jima and Okinawa opened way to invade Japan Such invasion would be costly Roosevelt had died in office; Harry Truman now president Truman decided to use on Japan to shorten war

Hiroshima and Nagasaki B-29 bomber named Enola Gay on August 6, 1945 dropped bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, Japan – 43 seconds later, every building in city turned to dust 3 days later second bomb dropped on Nagasaki

Japan Surrenders On Sept. 2, 1945 On the U.S.S. Missouri battleship