Pearl Harbor (World War II)

Pearl Harbor as seen from the air in 2000.

Pearl Harbor, located in Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of O'ahu, is a U.S. naval base that, during World War II, was the target of a devastating surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941. This attack galvanized the American public, which until then had resisted entry into World War II, to intervene in defense of the Allies.

The Pearl Harbor commanders, Admiral Husband Kimmel (Navy) and Lieutenant General Walter Short (Army), had no warning of the attack, during which 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 wounded. Eighteen U.S. ships were lost, including five battleships. By contrast, only 55 Japanese airmen and 9 submariners were killed (with 1 captured), with just 29 of the 350 Japanese planes that took part in the raid lost.