1. The 1st Half of WW II
Pearl Harbor to D-Day

2. Opening of WWII for America
Dec. 7, 1941 – Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and other places in the pacific.
Dec. 8, 1941 – Japan invades the Philippine Islands.
April 9, 1942 – U.S. and Filipino troops on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines surrender.
May 6, 1942 – The Island Fort of Corregidor (at the mouth of Manila Harbor) falls to Japanese and with that, total control of the Philippine Islands.

3. Philippines

4. Battle of Coral Sea – MAy7&8, 1942
Japan hope to take Port Moresby in New Guinea so they could threaten Australia.
We sent 2 Aircraft carriers and support ships to block them.
The battle consisted of attacks by planes. The ships never were in sight of each other.
Technically a draw but it gave us hope.

5. Stopping the Japanese Advance
June 3-6, 1942 – Battle of Midway
Japan hoped to take control of Midway and destroy the rest of our Pacific Fleet.
In 2 waves of U.S. torpedo bombers, we were able to take out 4 Japanese Aircraft Carriers while only losing 1 of ours.
This victory gave us control of the central Pacific.

6. Going of Offense August 1942 – Solomon Island Campaign
After Midway, we started pushing back the Japanese advances.
We launched an offensive in the Solomon Island in August and several mouths later, took control of the key island of Guadalcanal.

7. Focusing on the Nazis We begin to focus on the European Theater
November 8, 1942 – Invasion of North Africa
We invade from the east and the British push in from the west (Egypt).
The goal is to squeeze the Nazis out of Africa

8. Jumping to Europe July 10, 1943 – Invasion of Sicily
We follow the Nazis across the Mediterranean Sea, back to Europe
We hop from Africa to Sicily and hopefully to Italy

9. On to Europe Sept. 3, 1943 – Invasion of Italy
We follow the Nazis to Europe and hope to push up the Italian Peninsula (“Soft under-belly of Europe) and into Austria and Germany.
Not as easy as we thought it would be.

10. D-day June 6, 1944 – Invasion of Normandy France
Operation Over Lord is under way
Great Britain, Canada, and U.S. go across the English Channel to invade France.
We land at Normandy on 5 beachheads, Gold Juno, Sword, Omaha, and Utah.