Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

The attack was intended

as a preventive action

in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet

from interfering with military actions

the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia

against overseas territories

of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

FBI director J. Edgar Hoover

had clear intelligence regarding Pearl Harbor.

The information was provided by a Yugoslav double agent named Dusko Popov,

who had received clear indications

of Japanese intentions while operating in Germany.

A deliberate disregard for intelligence

by U.S. and British leaders so that the attack

would likely force America's entrance into WWII.

Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk

(two of which were raised and returned to service).

There were no aircraft carriers in harbor,

(Enterprise, Lexington, and Saratoga).

2,402 Americans were killed.

Of the American fatalities,

nearly half of the total (1,177)

were due to the explosion of Arizona's forward magazine

after it was hit by a modified (16 in.) shell.

The power station, shipyard, maintenance,

and fuel and torpedo storage facilities,

as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building

(also home of the intelligence section)

were not attacked.

188 U.S. aircraft aircraft

parked wingtip to wingtip in the open were destroyed.

B17's were sent in to distract the radar warnings.

Lieutenant Kermit A. Tyler, presumed the scheduled arrival of six B-17 bombers was the source.

The direction from which the aircraft were coming was close

(only a few degrees separated the two inbound courses).

Gordon H. Sterling Jr.

was shot down and killed by friendly fire returning from the fight.

Domestic support for isolationism, which had been strong, disappeared.

Clandestine support of Britain

(for example the Neutrality Patrol)

was replaced by active alliance.

--