Pearl Harbor Day

[StarOfAfrica2]

Yanno, sitting out here ......... these hangars on Ford Island still have bullet holes from the attack 65 years ago.  There are still marks of the attack.  Staring at the timeline (and having flown the attack route myself), its amazing how fast it must have been.

[StarOfAfrica2]

0755. Island wide attack begins.  Japanese dive bombers to strike airfields Kaneohe, Ford Island, Hickam, Bellows, Wheeler, Ewa.  Aerial torpedo planes begin their run on ships in Pearl Harbor

[StarOfAfrica2]

ATTACK  BEGINS

Along Battleship Row, battlewagons feel the sting of the newly perfected torpedoes specifically designed for the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor.  At 1010 dock violent explosions rock light cruiser HELENA on her starboard side crippling both her and minelayer OGLALA moored beside her.  On the other side of Battleship row, Ford Island, target ship UTAH also feels the sting of the torpedoes.  The battleship OKLAHOMA begins to capsize.  Light cruiser RALEIGH moored ahead of the UTAH takes measures to prevent capsizing.  Commander Logan Ramsey of Ford Island Command Center sends out message for all radiomen on duty to send out in plain English

"AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR THIS IS NO DRILL"

2nd dispatch orders all patrol planes to seek out enemy.  Simultaneously the call for General Quarters echos throughout Pearl Harbor.  Each ship and their personnel in turn swing into action against the attacking Japanese.  Only one quarter of all guns respond to the enemy.

[StarOfAfrica2]

0802. Machine guns on battleship NEVADA open fire on torpedo planes approaching her port beam.  Two planes hit; however one missile tears huge hole in ship's port bow.

[StarOfAfrica2]

0805. Repair ship VESTAL moored outboard of battleship ARIZONA opens fire.  Admiral Kimmel arrives CINCPAC headquarters.  Battleship CALIFORNIA receives second torpedo "portside at frame 110", prompt action directed by Ensign Edgar M. Fain prevents ship from capsizing.  High level bombers begin their run "on both bows" of battleship row.

[StarOfAfrica2]

0808. KGMB radio interrupts music calling for: "All Army, Navy, and Marine personnel to report to duty".  High level bombers unleash armour piercing, delayed action bombs from altitude of 10,000 feet scoring hits on battleships.

(KGMB is still in operation today, FYI, as a television station)

[StarOfAfrica2]

0810. Forward magazines on battleship ARIZONA suddenly ignite resulting in a tremendous explosion and huge fireball sinking the battleship within nine minutes.  Concussion of explosion blows men off repair ship VESTAL.

[GtoRA2]

and glad my Grandfather lived and the Tennessee didn’t take much damage or I wouldn’t be here.

[StarOfAfrica2]

0817. USS HELM first of several destroyers to clear Pearl Harbor spots a midget submarine struggling to enter harbor.  Shots fired, misses target.  Sub frees itself from reef and submerges.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Ok, time to get to work.  Here's a few more important points in the timeline.

0839. Seaplane tender CURTISS sights midget sub in harbor and commences to fire.  Destroyer MONAGHAN heads for intruder at ramming speed.

0840. Submarine surfaces after sustaining damage.  MONAGHAN hits sub and drops depth charges as she passes. 1st explanation over local radio stations. "A sporadic air attack...rising sun sighted on wing tips".

0850. Lt. Commander Shimazaki orders deployment of 2nd wave over military bases on Oahu.

0854 Attack run begins.  54 high-level bombers hit Naval air stations, 78 dive bombers hit ships in Pearl, 36 fighters circle over harbor to maintain air control.

0900 Crew of the Dutch liner JAGERSFONTEIN opens up with her guns, the first Allies to join the fight.  Radios throughout the island crack out urgent messages "Get off roads and stay off.  Don't block traffic.  Stay at home.  This is the real McCoy".

0930 Tremendous explosions rocks destroyer SHAW sending debris everywhere.  Bomb falls near Governor's home.

1000 First wave arrives back on carriers, 190 miles north of Oahu.

1100 Commander Fuchida circles over Pearl Harbor and assesses damage, then returns to carrier task force.

1300 Commander Fuchida lands on board carrier AKAGI.  Discussion follows with Admiral Nagumo and staff concerning feasibility of launching 3rd wave.

1330 Signal flags on carrier AKAGI orders Japanese task force to withdraw.  

1458 Tadao Fuchikami delivers message from Washington, message decoded and given to General Short regarding ultimatum from Japan to be given at 1300 Washington time. "Just what significance the hour set may have we do not know, but be on the alert accordingly".

[VVV]

StarofAfrica
Very informative thread
All veterans and the current men and women in the U.S. Military

[Regular]

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[Roscoroo]

ben afleck dont belong here ....

this is what belongs
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/12/07/pearl.harbor.ap/

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) -- Nearly 500 survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor observed a moment of silence Thursday to remember those who died in the surprise attack that pulled the United States into World War II.

The survivors bowed their heads at 7:55 a.m., the minute planes began bombing Pearl Harbor 65 years ago.

Many veterans were treating the gathering as their last, uncertain whether they would be alive or healthy enough to travel to Hawaii for the next big memorial, the 70th anniversary, in five years.

"Sixty-five years later, there's not too many of us left," said Don Stratton, a seaman 1st class aboard the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941.

[FBBone]

Originally posted by Regular
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GHEY!!!!

[Ack-Ack]

I always feel strange working for a Japanese company on this day.  We're the only building without our flag at half mast.



ack-ack