A brief pictorial history of World War II in the Pacific from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay and the deck of the USS Missouri with references to the CBI Theater.
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"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."
The above words are attributed to Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, leader of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Said to have been spoken following the sneak attack of December 7, 1941 that brought the U.S. into World War II, their source is most likely a Hollywood screenwriter writing for the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! They do however accurately describe the ultimate result of the attack on the United States and the American people.
Battleships ablaze during the attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack was planned to occur shortly after delivery of a message breaking-off talks with the U.S. Delays by the Japanese Embassy in Washington caused the message to be delivered after the attack began, making it an attack by a nation still engaged in peace talks.
USS Arizona sinks following a direct bomb hit during the attack
The unprovoked surprise attack enraged the American spirit and ended isolationism. The following day the United States declared war on Japan, officially entering World War II.
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy"
President Roosevelt addresses joint session of Congress requesting declaration of war on Japan.
B-25 bomber of Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders takes off from USS Hornet
The American people responded as they had never done before nor have since.On April 18, 1942, four months after the Pearl Harbor attack, American planes led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle bombed Tokyo, the capital city of Japan.The raid was militarily insignificant, but a huge boost to American morale, sending a message to the Japanese military.
Japanese carrier Hiryu maneuvers during attack by U.S. bombers. It was later sunk.
The Battle of Midway (June 4-7, 1942) is seen as a turning point in the war. The United States took the offensive in the Pacific and many of the Japanese carriers that attacked Pearl Harbor were sunk.
Famous photograph of the American flag being raised on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima.
The tide had been turned but stubborn resistance led to an island-hopping effort by U.S. forces in the Pacific.
American ground crewman near shark-nosed P-40s waves as B-24 takes off
In the China-Burma-India Theater, "12,000 miles from Main Street," American forces fought on the ground and in the air while supporting China's war effort against Japan.
The Potsdam Conference defined the terms for Unconditional Japanese Surrender
After three years of war, the Allies were in a position to dictate terms of surrender in this declaration.
THE ALTERNATIVE FOR JAPAN IS PROMPT AND UTTER DESTRUCTION
The Japanese Government ignored the declaration by the Allies and its final warning. Plans already in motion for the dropping of an atomic bomb continued.
"ENOLA GAY" dropped the first Atomic Bomb over Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945 the first atomic bomb, "Little Boy" was dropped over Hiroshima by "Enola Gay," a U.S. Army Air Force B-29 Superfortress.
Hiroshima in the aftermath of the Atomic Bomb
Although massive air raids by U.S. Army Air Force B-29s had brought more destruction to Japanese cities in earlier raids, never had a single bomb dropped by a single plane caused more destruction.
Following the dropping of the atomic bomb, U.S. Army Air Force bombers dropped leaflets over the major cities of Japan with the message: "Petition the Emperor to end the war."
The Japanese Government once again ignored the message.
Mushroom cloud rises over Nagasaki following the dropping of the 2nd Atomic Bomb
On August 9, 1945, the second atomic bomb, "Fat Man" was dropped over Nagasaki by "Bockscar."
All but defeated and facing annihilation, the Japanese government finally agreed to unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945.
The day will forever be known as V-J DAY
VICTORY OVER JAPAN
Americans celebrate with newspaper headline telling the story
President Harry S. Truman announces Japanese surrender
Japanese delegation assembled for surrender ceremony
Japan's military forces were ordered to cease-fire and surrender.
Japanese foreign minister signs document on behalf of the Japanese Empire
Signiong took place on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay.
General Douglas MacArthur signs as Supreme Commander for the Allied powers
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U.S. Navy planes celebrate victory with overflight of USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay
Similar ceremonies took place at major battlefronts across the Pacific
On September 7, 1945 General Joseph Stilwell accepted the surrender of Japanese forces in the Ryukus at Okinawa. On September 13, Japanese forces in Burma surrendered.
WORLD WAR II WAS OVER
The famous kiss in Times Square New York celebrating the end of the war
THE GREATEST GENERATION HAD MET AND DEFEATED THE GREAT THREAT
The banner on this ship at New York says it all
SYMBOLS OF THE BEGINNING AND THE END
USS Arizona (BB-39) Memorial and USS Missouri (BB-63) at Pearl Harbor
Morse Code V for Victory
