1. World War II Pacific Theater

2. The Pacific Theater 1942 Japan took Guam, Wake Island, Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma, Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines. Japan took Guam, Wake Island, Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma, Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines. Burma Road supply route into China from India cut. Burma Road supply route into China from India cut.

3. Pacific Theater: Strategy Island Hopping campaign begins 1943 Island Hopping campaign begins 1943 –Sought to neutralize Japanese island strongholds with air and sea power and then move on. Japan pushed back to mainland Japan pushed back to mainland

4. Turning Points Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942) Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942) –entire battle fought with aircraft. –Japan prevented from successfully invading New Guinea and Australia.

5. Turning Points Battle of Midway (June 4-7, 1942) Battle of Midway (June 4-7, 1942) –Allies broke Japanese code. –Significant damage to Japan’s fleet –Significance: no longer any hopes of attacking US mainland.

6. Turning Points Iwo Jima (February, 1945) Iwo Jima (February, 1945) –Fighter planes now close enough to bomb Japan (would escort B-29s coming from the Marianas)

7. Turning Points Okinawa (April 1 – June 1945 Okinawa (April 1 – June 1945 –50,000 American casualties –virtually destroyed Japan’s remaining defenses. –virtually destroyed Japan’s remaining defenses. –Influenced use of the atomic bomb