World War II History

WWII Events Today, December 7
The 70th anniversary of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor and other areas of the Pacific region.

Dec 07, 1941 03:42 Minesweeper CONDOR sights periscope off Honolulu Harbor, notifies patrol destroyer WARD to investigate.
Dec 07, 1941 04:58 Minesweeper CROSSBILL and CONDOR enter Pearl Harbor, defective submarine net remains open.
Dec 07, 1941 06:00 200 miles south of Oahu carrier ENTERPRISE launches 18 aircraft to scout ahead. then to land at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. ETA 0800.
Dec 07, 1941 06:10 220 miles north of Oahu Admiral Nagumo orders launching of 1st wave of 183 aircraft off three carriers. 2 are lost during takeoff.
Dec 07, 1941 06:30 Destroyer WARD again notified of submarine sighting this time by supply ship ANTARES off Pearl Harbor entrance. Navy patrol plane (PBY) dispatched to the scene.
Dec 07, 1941 06:45 WARD opens fire on target hitting conning tower. as she closes in drops depth charges..air attack by PBY follows.
Dec 07, 1941 06:53 WARD’S commander Captain Outerbridge sends message to Commandant 14th Naval District: “We have attacked, fired upon and dropped depth charges upon submarine operating in defensive sea area”.
Dec 07, 1941 07:00 Commander Fuchida flying towards Oahu directs his pilots to home in on local radio station.
Dec 07, 1941 07:02 Private’s Lockhard and Elliott of Opana Radar Station pick up what appears to be a flight of unidentified aircraft bearing in 132 miles north of Oahu. discussion follows.
Dec 07, 1941 07:06 Private Elliott phones switchboard operator Joseph McDonald at Information Center, Ft. Shafter, telling of a large formation of aircraft approaching the Island.
Dec 07, 1941 07:15 Capt. Outerbridge’s attack message, delayed in decoding is delivered to duty officer, 14th Naval District, and to Admiral Kimmel’s duty officer. Japanese launch 2nd wave of 168 assault aircraft.
Dec 07, 1941 07:20 Joseph McDonald finding Lt. Tyler in Information Center, calls Opana and patches Lt. Tyler thru to Private Lockard who describes the large flight picked up on radar and is told, “Well don’t worry about it.”
Dec 07, 1941 07:33 Important message from Gen Marshall from Washington to Short received via RCA in Honolulu. cablegram has no indication of priority. messenger Tadao Fuchikami proceeds on normal route.
Dec 07, 1941 07:35 Reconnaissance plane from cruiser CHIKUMA reports main fleet in Pearl Harbor.
Dec 07, 1941 07:39 Opana Station loses aircraft on radar 20 miles off coast of Oahu due to “dead zone” caused by surrounding hills.
Dec 07, 1941 07:40 1st wave sights North Shore of Oahu. deployment for attack begins.
Dec 07, 1941 07:49 Commander Fuchida orders attack. all pilots to begin assault on military bases on Oahu.
Dec 07, 1941 07:53 Fuchida radios code to entire Japanese Navy “TORA TORA TORA” indicating success, maximum strategic surprise. Pearl Harbor caught unaware.
Dec 07, 1941 07:55 Along Battleship Row, battlewagons feel the sting of the newly perfected torpedoes specifically designed for the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor
Dec 07, 1941 07:55 At 1010 dock violent explosions rock light cruiser HELENA on her starboard side crippling both her and minelayer OGLALA moored beside her.
Dec 07, 1941 07:55 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.
Dec 07, 1941 07:55 On the other side of Battleship row, Ford Island, target ship UTAH also feels the sting of the torpedoes. and like the battleship OKLAHOMA begins to capsize.
Dec 07, 1941 08:00 B-17′s from the mainland reach Oahu after 14 hour flight. Aircraft from carrier ENTERPRISE arrive Ford Island. both caught between enemy and friendly fire.
Dec 07, 1941 08:00 Light cruiser RALEIGH moored ahead of the UTAH takes measures to prevent capsizing.
Dec 07, 1941 08:01 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”.
Dec 07, 1941 08:01 Simultaneously the call for General Quarters echos throughout Pearl Harbor.
Dec 07, 1941 08:02 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.
Dec 07, 1941 08:05 Admiral Kimmel arrives CINCPAC headquarters.
Dec 07, 1941 08:05 Battleship CALIFORNIA receives second torpedo “portside at frame 110″. Prompt action directed by Ensign Edgar M. Fain prevents ship from capsizing.
Dec 07, 1941 08:05 High level bombers begin their run “on both bows” of battleship row.
Dec 07, 1941 08:05 Repair ship VESTAL moored outboard of battleship ARIZONA opens fire.
Dec 07, 1941 08:08 High level bombers unleash armour piercing, delayed action bombs from altitude of 10,000 feet scoring hits on battleships.
Dec 07, 1941 08:08 KGMB radio interrupts music calling for: “All Army, Navy, and Marine personnel to report to duty”.
Dec 07, 1941 08:10 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.
Dec 07, 1941 08:12 General Short advises entire Pacific Fleet and Washington, “Hostilities with Japan commenced with air raid on Pearl Harbor”
Dec 07, 1941 08:15 2nd dispatch orders all patrol planes to seek out enemy.
Dec 07, 1941 08:15 KGMB interrupts music with 2nd call ordering all military personnel to report for duty.
Dec 07, 1941 08:17 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.
Dec 07, 1941 08:25 Using a Browning Automatic Rifle Lt. Stephen Saltzman and Sgt. Lowell Klatt shot down enemy plane making strafing run on Schofield Barracks.
Dec 07, 1941 08:26 Honolulu Fire Department responds to call for assistance from Hickam Field. 3 firemen killed. 6 wounded.
Dec 07, 1941 08:30 3rd call out for military via local radio stations.
Dec 07, 1941 08:35 Tanker NEOSHO half loaded with high octane aviation fuel moves clear of Battleship Row and oil tanks on Ford Island. Damage reported in city. Police warn civilians to leave streets and return to their homes.
Dec 07, 1941 08:39 Seaplane tender CURTISS sights midget sub in harbor and commences to fire..Destroyer MONAGHAN heads for intruder at ramming speed.
Dec 07, 1941 08:40 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”.
Dec 07, 1941 08:50 Lt. Commander Shimazaki orders deployment of 2nd wave over military bases on Oahu.
Dec 07, 1941 08:54 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.
Dec 07, 1941 09:00 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”.
Dec 07, 1941 09:15 – In a note delivered to Secretary Hull at 2:15 PM (EST) in Washington, the Japanese said, “Obviously it is the intention of the American Government to conspire with Great Britain and other countries to obstruct Japan’s efforts toward the establishment of peace through the creation of a new order in East Asia, and especially to preserve Anglo-American rights and interests by keeping Japan and China at war.” This declaration of war notice was delivered over an hour after the attack had begun.
Dec 07, 1941 09:30 Tremendous explosions rocks destroyer SHAW sending debris everywhere. bomb falls near Governor’s home.
Dec 07, 1941 10:00 First wave arrives back on carriers, 190 miles north of Oahu.
Dec 07, 1941 10:05 Governor Poindexter calls local papers announcing state of emergency for entire territory of Hawaii
Dec 07, 1941 10:30 Mayor’s Major Disaster Council meets at city hall. Reports from local hospitals pour in listing civilian casualties.
Dec 07, 1941 11:00 Commander Fuchida circles over Pearl Harbor. assesses damage then returns to carrier task force. All schools on Oahu ordered to close.
Dec 07, 1941 11:15 State of emergency announced over radio by Governor Poindexter.
Dec 07, 1941 11:42 As per orders by Army local stations go off the air. General short confers with Governor regarding martial law.
Dec 07, 1941 11:46 First report of many false sightings of enemy troops landing on Oahu.
Dec 07, 1941 12:10 American planes fly north in search for enemy with negative results.
Dec 07, 1941 12:30 Honolulu police raid Japanese embassy. find them burning documents. Blackout to begin at night ordered by Army.
Dec 07, 1941 12:40 Governor confers with President Roosevelt regarding martial law. both agree it necessary that the military take over the civilian government.
Dec 07, 1941 13:00 Commander Fuchida lands on board carrier AKAGI. discussion follows with Admiral Nagumo and staff concerning feasibility of launching 3rd wave.
Dec 07, 1941 13:30 Signal flags on carrier AKAGI orders Japanese task force to withdraw. Territorial director of civil defense orders blackout every night until further notice.
Dec 07, 1941 14:58 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”.
Dec 07, 1941 16:25 Governor signs Proclamation. martial law put into effect.
Dec 07, 1941 Air raids on Singapore, Guam, Wake, Philippines
Dec 07, 1941 Costa Rica declared war on Japan.
Dec 07, 1941 Hitler issues an order known as the “Night and Fog Decree” directing German authorities in western European occupation areas to eliminate those individuals “endangering German security.” They were to be disposed of in a discreet manner, to “disappear” into the night and fog so that even their relatives would never know what happened to them.
Dec 07, 1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbor
Dec 07, 1941 Japanese invasion of Malaya.
Dec 07, 1941 Just before 8 a.m., Honolulu time, 360 Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor, the U.S. military base on the Hawiian island of Oahu. The attack cripples the U.S. Pacific fleet, and kills more than 2,300 American soldiers, sailors, and civilians. The attack precedes Japan’s formal declaration of war, which is delivered by the Japanese foreign minister to the U.S. embassy in Tokyo more than seven hours later.
Dec 07, 1941 Two Japanese destroyers shell Midway.