Pearl Harbor –Dec. 7, 1941

Yamamoto

Nagumo

Japanese Zero

Casualties 2,335 US Killed – 4 battleships sunk 2,335 US Killed – 4 battleships sunk 64 Japanese killed – 29 planes destroyed 64 Japanese killed – 29 planes destroyed Pearl Harbor was a complete and total success for the Japanese Pearl Harbor was a complete and total success for the Japanese Did not destroy the US carriers who were not in the harbor Did not destroy the US carriers who were not in the harbor

Doolittle Raid – April 18, 1942 Involved 16 carrier bombers Involved 16 carrier bombers Only a pinprick on Tokyo but had a significant psychological effect Only a pinprick on Tokyo but had a significant psychological effect Bailed out over China Bailed out over China Two died in bailouts and 8 were made prisoners – 4 survived as POW till the end of the war Two died in bailouts and 8 were made prisoners – 4 survived as POW till the end of the war 15 of the 80 raiders are still living 15 of the 80 raiders are still living

Japan’s Overall Strategy Japan wanted to conquer outer island of the Pacific and then form a strong defensive perimeter in which the US would batter themselves into exhaustion and only able to launch offensives from Hawaii Japan wanted to conquer outer island of the Pacific and then form a strong defensive perimeter in which the US would batter themselves into exhaustion and only able to launch offensives from Hawaii To do this Japan set up a three-fold plan and in all of these wanted to coax US carriers into action in order to destroy them To do this Japan set up a three-fold plan and in all of these wanted to coax US carriers into action in order to destroy them

Japan’s Threefold Plan The Solomon Islands – control of these islands would effectively cut off American support to Australia, isolating it and putting the Japanese in a position to force the Australians to submit to Japanese control The Solomon Islands – control of these islands would effectively cut off American support to Australia, isolating it and putting the Japanese in a position to force the Australians to submit to Japanese control US reaction – Battle of Guadacanal US reaction – Battle of Guadacanal

Japan’s Threefold Plan Midway Island – Last American base outside of Hawaii. Japanese would complete the ring of islands blocking US Naval offensive action Midway Island – Last American base outside of Hawaii. Japanese would complete the ring of islands blocking US Naval offensive action US reaction – Battle of Midway US reaction – Battle of Midway

Japan’s Threefold Plan Papua New Guinea – capture of Port Moresby could be used as a Japanese naval and air base. Japanese would control Coral Sea and virtually all of Australia’s north coast Papua New Guinea – capture of Port Moresby could be used as a Japanese naval and air base. Japanese would control Coral Sea and virtually all of Australia’s north coast US reaction – Battle of the Coral Sea and Battle of Buna and Gona US reaction – Battle of the Coral Sea and Battle of Buna and Gona

Battle of the Coral Sea – May 7-8, 1942 Though a Japanese victory it convinced the Japanese not to make a landing at Port Moresby Though a Japanese victory it convinced the Japanese not to make a landing at Port Moresby US lost the carrier Lexington US lost the carrier Lexington

Battle of Midway – June 4-7, 1942

Eastern New Guinea Japanese are held back crossing Owen Stanley Range Japanese are held back crossing Owen Stanley Range Japanese Army defeated by Australians at Milne Bay Japanese Army defeated by Australians at Milne Bay With taking of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Japanese give up taking Port Moresby and retreat back to Gona and Buna With taking of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, Japanese give up taking Port Moresby and retreat back to Gona and Buna These beachheads are eventually taken at the end of December These beachheads are eventually taken at the end of December

Guadalcanal Henderson Air Field

Importance Of Guadalcanal Needed the Henderson Field airstrip to provide a defensive perimeter of the Solomon Islands Needed the Henderson Field airstrip to provide a defensive perimeter of the Solomon Islands Japanese consistently tried to take back the island but failed Japanese consistently tried to take back the island but failed Battle lasted from August 42’ until February 43 when the Japanese evacuated over 11,000 troops Battle lasted from August 42’ until February 43 when the Japanese evacuated over 11,000 troops US – 1600 killed Japanese – 21,700 killed US – 1600 killed Japanese – 21,700 killed

The Plan Admiral Nimitz would attack the Central Pacific Admiral Nimitz would attack the Central Pacific General MacArthur would hit New Guinea with the objective being the retaking of the Philippines General MacArthur would hit New Guinea with the objective being the retaking of the Philippines Admiral Halsey would “island-hop” up the Solomon Admiral Halsey would “island-hop” up the Solomon Halsey and MacArthur would move to form a pincer movement on the Japanese strong hold of Rabaul Halsey and MacArthur would move to form a pincer movement on the Japanese strong hold of Rabaul

Bloody Tarawa Attack began in November of 1943 Attack began in November of 1943 Battle showed the deadly nature of their attacks Battle showed the deadly nature of their attacks Out of 4,500 Japanese soldiers only 17 survived Out of 4,500 Japanese soldiers only 17 survived 1,000 Marines lost their lives 1,000 Marines lost their lives