The War in the Pacific

1. The War in the Pacific American forces led by Generals MacArthur, Nimitz and Halsey go “island hopping” towards Japan. Airfields were built on captured islands. Planes could then bomb Japanese supply lines.

3. Attack on Pearl Harbor • Japan saw the US and others as a threat to its influence in Asia and in 1940 the Japanese began developing plans to destroy the US Navy in Hawaii • On Dec 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor

4. Damage Done And Broader Results • In spite of the tactical success, the attack on Pearl Harbor was an operational and strategic failure for the Japanese • The attack failed to destroy the American aircraft carriers, fleet repair facilities, or fuel reserves • The “sneak attack” galvanized American support for entry into the war • 5 battleships sunk, 8 damaged • 3 light cruisers, 3 destroyers, 3 smaller vessels and 188 aircraft destroyed • 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians killed • 1,178 wounded

5. Was there any warning?.... • The Office of Naval Intelligence, Dec 4, "In anticipation of open conflict with this country, Japan is vigorously utilizing every available agency to secure military, naval and commercial information, paying particular attention to the West Coast, the Panama Canal and the Territory of Hawaii.” (message disregarded)

6. Project “Magic” • Secret cryptanalysis project trying to break Japanese military codes • WWI – Japanese codebook • “Red” and “Blue” • Japanese “Purple” machine (improved on “Enigma”) • U.S. cryptanalysis experts made some headway in 1939, but did not fully crack “Purple” til ‘42

7. Japanese Advance After Pearl Harbor • Hong Kong, French Indochina, Malaya, Burma, Thailand, much of China • Dutch East Indies, Guam, Wake Island…countless others including two Alaskan islands! • Landed in the Philippines in December 1941. 80,000 American and Filipino soldiers fought the Japanese for control of the islands Douglas MacArthur

8. April 1942, Battaan • Leader: Douglas MacArthur • What happened: Allies hold-out for 4 months against invading Japanese forces before abandoning the Battaan Peninsula • MacArthur vows to return

9. Bataan Death March • President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to relinquish command to Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright and MacArthur escaped to Australia • 25,000 Americans and Filipinos died on the Bataan Death March to captivity

10. Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942) • “Magic” (intercept Japanese radio traffic) – Nimitz’s 2 carriers off eastern tip of New Guinea • Both sides suffered heavy losses but the Japanese were forced to call off an amphibious attack on Port Moresby • Battle waged exclusively via air strikes • Opposing surface ships never made direct contact • Significance: first time since Pearl Harbor that a Japanese invasion had been stopped and turned back Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief Pacific and Pacific Ocean Areas

11. June 1942, Midway • Leader: Chester W. Nimitz • What happened: American troops manage a surprise attack and turn back a Japanese invasion force headed for Hawaii • This battle marks a turning point in the war

12. Midway (June 3-6, 1942) • Diversionary attack on the Aleutian Islands • Thanks to Magic intercepts, US didn’t fall for it • Americans destroyed four Japanese carriers and most of their flight crews • Japanese advance was checked and initiative in the Pacific began to turn to the Americans

13. The Navajo Codetalkers • Japanese described the sound as “strange language gurgling”. No alphabet or written symbols • Developed the Navajo language for code • 400 Codetalkers finally receive national recognition in 1969 • “Chickenhawk” – divebomber • “War chief” – commanding general

14. October 1944, Leyte Gulf • Leader: Douglas MacArthur • What happened: Japanese use Kamikaze attacks • Americans retake the Philippines with 178,000 troops and 738 ships and deal a death-blow to the Japanese navy • MacArthur: “People of the Philippines, I have returned!”

15. March 1945, Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island) • Leader: Douglas MacArthur • What happened: • In an incredibly bloody battle the Allies take the island from Japan • 6000 Marines die • Only 200 out of 20,700 Japanese survive • The U.S. now had a base to launch heavy bombers that could reach Japan itself

16. June 1945, Okinawa • Leader: Douglas MacArthur • What happened: • The Allies take the island from Japan despite 1900 kamikaze attacks • 7,600 Americans and 110,000 Japanese die • Two generals choose suicide over surrender • By August the Allies will achieve victory in the Pacific (August 2, 1945 = VJ Day) • A chilling preview of what the battle to take Japan itself might be like….

17. July 1945, Alamogordo, New Mexico • Leader: J. Robert Oppenheimer • What happened: First Atomic bomb was tested successfully completing the Manhattan Project • Japan is warned to surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction”. Refuses.

18. August 1945, Hiroshima and Nagasaki • Leader: Pres. Truman • “Little Boy” & “Fat Man” kill 200,000 people within a year • After the bombing of Nagasaki, the Japanese finally surrendered • What happened: First Atomic bombs are dropped

19. September 1945, Tokyo Bay • Leader: U.S. General Douglas MacArthur and Japanese General Hirohito • What happened: Japan formally surrenders