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Photo # 80-G-K-13513:  USS Arizona's forward magazines explode after she was hit by a Japanese bomb, 7 December 1941.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --

Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 --
Overview and Special Image Selection

The 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history. A single carefully-planned and well-executed stroke removed the United States Navy's battleship force as a possible threat to the Japanese Empire's southward expansion. America, unprepared and now considerably weakened, was abruptly brought into the Second World War as a full combatant.

Eighteen months earlier, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had transferred the United States Fleet to Pearl Harbor as a presumed deterrent to Japanese agression. The Japanese military, deeply engaged in the seemingly endless war it had started against China in mid-1937, badly needed oil and other raw materials. Commercial access to these was gradually curtailed as the conquests continued. In July 1941 the Western powers effectively halted trade with Japan. From then on, as the desperate Japanese schemed to seize the oil and mineral-rich East Indies and Southeast Asia, a Pacific war was virtually inevitable.

By late November 1941, with peace negotiations clearly approaching an end, informed U.S. officials (and they were well-informed, they believed, through an ability to read Japan's diplomatic codes) fully expected a Japanese attack into the Indies, Malaya and probably the Philippines. Completely unanticipated was the prospect that Japan would attack east, as well.

The U.S. Fleet's Pearl Harbor base was reachable by an aircraft carrier force, and the Japanese Navy secretly sent one across the Pacific with greater aerial striking power than had ever been seen on the World's oceans. Its planes hit just before 8AM on 7 December. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out and over 2400 Americans were dead. Soon after, Japanese planes eliminated much of the American air force in the Philippines, and a Japanese Army was ashore in Malaya.

These great Japanese successes, achieved without prior diplomatic formalities, shocked and enraged the previously divided American people into a level of purposeful unity hardly seen before or since. For the next five months, until the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May, Japan's far-reaching offensives proceeded untroubled by fruitful opposition. American and Allied morale suffered accordingly. Under normal political circumstances, an accomodation might have been considered.

However, the memory of the "sneak attack" on Pearl Harbor fueled a determination to fight on. Once the Battle of Midway in early June 1942 had eliminated much of Japan's striking power, that same memory stoked a relentless war to reverse her conquests and remove her, and her German and Italian allies, as future threats to World peace.

This page features a historical overview and special image selection on the Pearl Harbor raid, chosen from the more comprehensive coverage featured in the following pages, and those linked from them:

  • Pearl Harbor in 1940-1941;
  • Japanese Forces in the Pearl Harbor Attack;
  • Overall Views of the Pearl Harbor Attack;

  • "Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack;
  • Attacks off the West Side of Ford Island;
  • Attacks in the Navy Yard Area;
  • Attacks on Airfields and Aerial Combat;

  • Other Raid-related Events;
  • Damaged Ships after the Attack;

  • Raid Aftermath;
  • Post-Attack Ship Salvage.
  • Remembrance of a "date which will live in infamy".

    For additional information and related resources on the Pearl Harbor attack, see:

  • "Frequently Asked Questions -- The Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941"


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 50603

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    A Japanese Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Plane ("Kate") takes off from a carrier as the second wave attack is launched. Ship's crewmen are cheering "Banzai"
    This ship is either Zuikaku or Shokaku.
    Note light tripod mast at the rear of the carrier's island, with Japanese naval ensign.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50931

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Torpedo planes attack "Battleship Row" at about 0800 on 7 December, seen from a Japanese aircraft. Ships are, from lower left to right: Nevada (BB-36) with flag raised at stern; Arizona (BB-39) with Vestal (AR-4) outboard; Tennessee (BB-43) with West Virginia (BB-48) outboard; Maryland (BB-46) with Oklahoma (BB-37) outboard; Neosho (AO-23) and California (BB-44).
    West Virginia, Oklahoma and California have been torpedoed, as marked by ripples and spreading oil, and the first two are listing to port. Torpedo drop splashes and running tracks are visible at left and center.
    White smoke in the distance is from Hickam Field. Grey smoke in the center middle distance is from the torpedoed USS Helena (CL-50), at the Navy Yard's 1010 dock.
    Japanese writing in lower right states that the image was reproduced by authorization of the Navy Ministry.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 144KB; 740 x 545 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-266626

    USS Utah (AG-16)


    Capsizing off Ford Island, during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, after being torpedoed by Japanese aircraft .
    Photographed from USS Tangier (AV-8), which was moored astern of Utah.
    Note colors half-raised over fantail, boats nearby, and sheds covering Utah's after guns.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-13513 (Color)

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941

    The forward magazines of USS Arizona (BB-39) explode after she was hit by a Japanese bomb, 7 December 1941.
    Frame clipped from a color motion picture taken from on board USS Solace (AH-5).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

    Note:
    The motion picture from which this image is taken has been, and continues to be, shown backwards, with the fireball oriented to the left. The image is correctly oriented as shown here.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-19942

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS Arizona (BB-39) sunk and burning furiously, 7 December 1941. Her forward magazines had exploded when she was hit by a Japanese bomb.
    At left, men on the stern of USS Tennessee (BB-43) are playing fire hoses on the water to force burning oil away from their ship

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-19930

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Sailors in a motor launch rescue a survivor from the water alongside the sunken USS West Virginia (BB-48) during or shortly after the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor.
    USS Tennessee (BB-43) is inboard of the sunken battleship.
    Note extensive distortion of West Virginia's lower midships superstructure, caused by torpedoes that exploded below that location.
    Also note 5"/25 gun, still partially covered with canvas, boat crane swung outboard and empty boat cradles near the smokestacks, and base of radar antenna atop West Virginia's foremast.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-19949

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS Maryland (BB-46) alongside the capsized USS Oklahoma (BB-37).
    USS West Virginia (BB-48) is burning in the background.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 86118

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    The forward magazine of USS Shaw (DD-373) explodes during the second Japanese attack wave. To the left of the explosion, Shaw's stern is visible, at the end of floating drydock YFD-2.
    At right is the bow of USS Nevada (BB-36), with a tug alongside fighting fires.
    Photographed from Ford Island, with a dredging line in the foreground.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-19943

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    The wrecked destroyers USS Downes (DD-375) and USS Cassin (DD-372) in Drydock One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, soon after the end of the Japanese air attack. Cassin has capsized against Downes.
    USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) is astern, occupying the rest of the drydock. The torpedo-damaged cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) is in the right distance, beyond the crane. Visible in the center distance is the capsized USS Oklahoma (BB-37), with USS Maryland (BB-46) alongside. Smoke is from the sunken and burning USS Arizona (BB-39), out of view behind Pennsylvania. USS California (BB-44) is partially visible at the extreme left.
    This image has been attributed to Navy Photographer's Mate Harold Fawcett.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 158KB; 610 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32836

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    PBY patrol bomber burning at Naval Air Station Kaneohe, Oahu, during the Japanese attack.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 72273-KN (Color)

    "Remember Dec. 7th!"

    Poster designed by Allen Sandburg, issued by the Office of War Information, Washington, D.C., in 1942, in remembrance of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
    The poster also features a quotation from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: "... we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ...".

    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Center. Donation of Dr. Robert L. Scheina, 1970.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 525 x 765 pixels

     


    This page features a historical overview and special image selection on the Pearl Harbor raid, chosen from the more comprehensive coverage featured in the following pages, and those linked from them:

  • Pearl Harbor in 1940-1941;
  • Japanese Forces in the Pearl Harbor Attack;
  • Overall Views of the Pearl Harbor Attack;

  • "Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack;
  • Attacks off the West Side of Ford Island;
  • Attacks in the Navy Yard Area;
  • Attacks on Airfields and Aerial Combat;

  • Other Raid-related Events;
  • Damaged Ships after the Attack;

  • Raid Aftermath;
  • Post-Attack Ship Salvage.
  • Remembrance of a "date which will live in infamy".


    For additional information and related resources on the Pearl Harbor attack, see:

  • "Frequently Asked Questions -- The Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941"


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 7 October 2000
    Coding updated 16 April 2009