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Photo # 80-G-32836:  PBY patrol bomber burning at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid.

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

Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 --
Naval Air Station, Kanoehe Bay, during the Pearl Harbor Raid

Kanoehe Bay, on the east coast of Oahu, was the site of a major Navy patrol seaplane base. A new facility, with some of its buildings still under construction, this Naval Air Station was home to three Patrol Squadrons. It had 33 PBYs on the ground or floating just offshore when the Japanese arrived. Of those planes, all but six were destroyed, and the survivors were damaged. Only the three Kaneohe Bay PBYs then out on patrol were fit for service at the end of the raid.

This page features views related to 7 December 1941 Japanese air attacks on Kanoehe Bay Naval Air Station

For pictures and information on NAS Kanoehe Bay officers and men who were cited for heroism during the Pearl Harbor attack, or who were honored posthumously by having a ship named for them, see:

  • Ensign Robert W. Uhlmann, USNR; and
  • Chief Aviation Ordnanceman John William Finn, USN.

    For other views related to Japanese attacks on airfields and of aerial combat during the Pearl Harbor raid, see:

  • Attacks on Airfields and Aerial Combat.


    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 #: 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 97431

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Burning PBY at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, during or soon after the Japanese air attack.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97432

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Sailors attempt to save a burning PBY at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, during the Japanese air raid.
    This plane was set afire by strafing in the the initial phase of the attack and was sunk in a later strike.
    Note dog observing the work.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97429

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Hangar # 2 burning at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, during or soon after the Japanese air attack.
    Note disrupted pavement in the foreground, possibly the result of a bomb explosion.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 143KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97428

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Wrecked automobiles, some still burning, beside a damaged hangar at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, during or soon after the Japanese air attack.
    The coupe in center bears a lower license plane marked "NAS Kanoehe # 3 1941".

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97430

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Aircraft wreckage and a badly damaged hangar at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, shortly after the Japanese air attack.
    Plane in the foreground is a PBY of Patrol Squadron 12, marked "12-P-3".

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32943

    Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, T.H.


    Aerial view of the hangar area, 9 December 1941, two days after the Japanese air attack destroyed nearly all of the station's patrol planes.
    Note wrecked hangar in center. There are at least six PBY "Catalina" flying boats on the ramp and around the hangars.

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

    Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 97427

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Aerial view of the hangar area at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, on 9 December 1941, showing effects of the Japanese air attack two days earlier. View looks southeast.
    The most distant hangar appears to have suffered significant damage and has a pile of aircraft wreckage immediately to its left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32858

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Sailor killed by Japanese air attack at Naval Air Station Kanoehe Bay. Photographed on 7 December 1941.
    Note PBY aircraft wreckage in the right distance.

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

    Online Image: 135KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32854

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    A Marine rifle squad fires a volley over the bodies of fifteen officers and men killed at Naval Air Station Kanoehe Bay during the Pearl Harbor raid. These burial ceremonies took place on 8 December 1941, the day after the attack.
    Note sandbagged emplacement atop the small hill in the right middle distance.
    See Photo # K-13328 for another view of this location.

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

    Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-13328 (Color)

    "Farewell to Thee"

    Following Hawaiian tradition, Sailors honor men killed during the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Naval Air Station Kaneohe, Oahu. The casualties had been buried on 8 December. This ceremony took place sometime during the following months, possibly on Memorial Day, 31 May 1942.
    See Photo # 80-G-32854 for a photograph of the 8 December 1941 burial ceremonies.

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

    Online Image: 133KB; 740 x 555 pixels

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

     


    For pictures and information on NAS Kanoehe Bay officers and men who were cited for heroism during the Pearl Harbor attack, or who were honored posthumously by having a ship named for them, see:

  • Ensign Robert W. Uhlmann, USNR; and
  • Chief Aviation Ordnanceman John William Finn, USN.

    For other views related to Japanese attacks on airfields and of aerial combat during the Pearl Harbor raid, see:

  • Attacks on Airfields and Aerial Combat.


    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 12 November 2000
    Coding updated 22 April 2009