BEYOND THE MOVIE: PEARL HARBOR

1. BEYOND THE MOVIE: PEARL HARBOR The goal: Cripple U.S. naval might in the Pacific, allowing Japan to seize control of the area.

2. U.S. Cuts off oil supplyJapanese only had enough oil for 18 months FACT -The embargoed U.S. goods included one Japan could not live without – oil to fuel its war machine. Japanese military leaders warned that without oil, Japan could be defeated without its enemies ever striking a blow (6 months)

3. Roosevelt has meeting with his officials (prior to Pearl Harbor) • Said that he was disappointed that Army wasn’t doing more for Allies in Europe (suggests more tanks be sent to help British and Russians) • FICTION… the meeting took place in early 1941 when Russia was in peace treaty with Nazi Germany [didn’t become Allie until January 1942] • THEORY – Roosevelt knew about impending attack but did nothing because he wanted the US to be drawn into the war

4. Japanese have council meeting - Japanese plan for 3 weeks to attack Pearl Harbor • FICTION – WAY BEFORE THAT! • 1940 – Spring – Japanese began conducting aerial torpedo exercises • Early 1941 – Yamamoto began considering a surprise carrier-launched attack on U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor

5. Japanese Offensive– Wooden fins on torpedoes FACTThe "impossible" task of an aerial torpedo attack was made possible. • Conventional aerial torpedoes plunged to more than 100 feet in depth and ran a long distance to arm. • The 45-foot average depth of Pearl Harbor and the short runs necessary to sink ships there were dealt with by adding wooden fins to the torpedoes, altering the arming devices, and by training in simulated conditions. • Pilots were combat veterans of the Japanese war in China • Carefully practiced the attack procedures and had specific targets assigned for the attack • “Better” fighters (A6M Zero) superior to Army’s P-40 Warhawk fighters

6. Pilot flying with the Royal Air Force (RAF) • FICTION - Could not happen – Before 1941, active military personnel were not allowed to serve with a belligerent (in a state of war) nation that U.S. was neutral with (Britain) • They would have lost their U.S. citizenship by accepting military commissions from a foreign government, making them ineligible to receive commissions from the U.S. • In reality - would have had to resign from U.S. Air Corp and rejoin with the RAF

7. Boxing on the Arizona • FACT - naval officers took part in writing letters, boxing and wrestling matches to pass the time in Hawaii

8. Black soldiers were discriminated against • FACT U.S. military was still heavily segregated beginning of World War II – When FDR opened Navy up to African Americans, it was only in 1 area – they were called to be mass attendants, stewards, and cooks

9. Was Cuba Gooding, Jr’s character real? Yes – Dorie Miller (ship’s cook) *was renowned as the best heavyweight boxer onboard the USS West Virginia (he was on this ship during Pearl Harbor) On the morning – he was doing laundry rounds when call to battle stations went out • Everyone (even cooks) were assigned a combat task – His was antiaircraft battery magazine • Was damaged by torpedo fire, he went above deck to help wounded • He physically picked up the captain and brought him down to first aid station • Went back and manned a .50 caliber machine gun (not trained on) He received the Navy Cross for his actions however some argued he deserved the highest honor, the Medal of Honor Some dismiss Miller’s action (while exemplary) only received attention because gov’t was looking for Pearl Harbor heroes

10. Japanese did a fly over prior to the attack • FICTION – Admiral Yamamoto failed to launch a planned aerial surveillance of Pearl Harbor, so he sailed into battle effectively blind

11. U.S. expected some sort of attack • FACT - The U.S. military had broken Japan’s secret communication codes and learned that Japan was preparing for a strike (January 1941) But was dismissed by some as wild rumor. What it didn’t know was…where the attack would come…Pearl Harbor…the Philippines?

12. Was Captain Thurman real and did he predict Pearl Harbor attack? • Captain Thurman (Dan Aykroyd) is Naval Intelligence decoder who predicts the invasion in the film, but the brass don't believe him. • This character is not real, but based on a combination of different men with similar jobs.

13. U.S. decipher Japanese Conversations • FACT -Effective cryptography and successful cryptanalysis were in their infancy at the time. • Under-funded, under-manned and under-equipped, cryptanalysts had been ordered to concentrate on Japanese diplomatic traffic, rather than naval messages. • While there were veiled warnings and isolated events of Japanese hostilities in the weeks, days and hours ahead of the attack, no one in command at Pearl Harbor or in Washington, D.C., expected a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, especially before war was formally declared.

14. Japanese sent false information to confuse U.S. • FACT - The Japanese practiced radio deception • “Every day false communications emanated from Kyushu (Intelligence and Communication center) at the same time and same wavelength…” • Day of attack - flooded the airwaves announcing a possible attack on various targets throughout the Pacific. This confused the Americans and helped the Japanese use surprise to attack Pearl Harbor.

15. Spies in Hawaii? • FACT - Takeo Yoshikawa, a Japanese naval reserve ensign • Navy offered him a job with its general staff's intelligence division. • For the next four years, the young man studied English and pored over everything available on the U.S. Navy and its Pacific Ocean bases. • He was told late in 1940 that he was being posted to the American territory of Hawaii. • There, posing as junior diplomat, he was to keep current on the status of the U.S. fleet and its anchorages, reporting his observations to Tokyo by coded telegraph messages. • Yoshikawa had given the Japanese navy invaluable information for its upcoming surprise attack.

16. Boats and planes were bundled • FACT • Of the 100 ships in Pearl Harbor, the primary targets were the eight battleships anchored there and tied together. • Seven were moored on Battleship Row • At the airfields, planes were crowed together

17. Films about the war in Europe were released • FACT – did show newsreels prior to movies

18. Radar saw Japanese planes • FACT - a young radar operator did indeed see the massive Japanese approach, but was told not to worry about it as the officer in charge thought it was only a group of B-17 Flying Fortresses returning to Hawaii from training in California.

19. Japanese subs trying to get into Pearl Harbor? • During WWII, the Japanese Navy deployed hundreds of different sorts of submarines, but on December 7th, they debuted a particularly secret weapon—a midget sub. • Five furtively made their way toward Pearl Harbor to attack U.S. battleships. • GOAL - was to sink any American warships which escaped the Japanese carrier force. FACT- In the hours before dawn, U.S. Navy vessels spotted an unidentified submarine periscope near the entrance to Pearl Harbor. It was attacked and reported sunk by the destroyer USS Ward (DD-139) and a patrol plane.

20. Torpedoes in water • FACT - The patrol ship USS Condor spotted a sub in restricted waters just inside the harbor and contacted the USS Ward, which raced to the scene and opened fire. • A second Japanese midget sub actually penetrated Pearl Harbor's inner defenses and fired two torpedoes. • Both missed and the sub was rammed and sunk • Athird midget sub broaching the surface as it fires a torpedo towards US warships. • A fourth ran aground and it's commander was captured, the first prisoner of war taken by the US in World War 2. • Sailors really did report feeling torpedoes skim past their legs when they were in the water

21. Lost track of whole Japanese fleet • FACT - They did disappear from radars • Came in from the North and Japanese fleet had been ordered into radio silence

22. December 7 1941 -Japanese surprise attacks Pearl Harbor • FACT - The Japanese aircraft achieved complete surprise when they hit American ships and military installations on Oahu shortly before 8:00 a.m., attacking military airfields at the same time they hit the fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor. • The Navy air bases at Ford Island and Kaneohe Bay, the Marine airfield at Ewa and the Army Air Corps fields at Bellows, Wheeler and Hickam were all bombed. The purpose of the simultaneous attacks was to destroy the American planes before they could rise to intercept the Japanese as they bombed the harbor

23. Japanese carrier planes waiting to take off. Observing radio silence and taking advantage of squally (stormy) weather and coming in from the North, the Japanese fleet arrives to Hawaii undetected. Planes were heavily laden with fuel and bombs

24. Dec7 1941. Japanese bomber over Hickam field (US army air force) (Hawaii). Notice large plumes of smoke.

25. Hickam Field. An army B17 bomber lies cut in half.

26. US airfield under attack- notice all the planes lined up in neat rows. Easy targets for the Japanese fighters.

27. Japanese gunner waving the kids away • FACT - It is believed that the Japanese crewman was apparently warning civilians on the ground to take cover since they were going to attack.

28. The attack on Pearl Harbor lasts about 40 minutes. • FICTION Just under two hours • The first wave of Japanese planes flew in from the north, achieving a complete surprise attack at 7:55 a.m. . • At 8:45 a.m., a second wave continued the bombardment and the last attacker flew away at approximately 9:45 a.m.

29. Danny says "I think World War II just started” • This makes little sense for a number of reasons. • #1 - In 1941, World War I was still called The Great War (it wasn't officially called World War I until 1948, so the term 'World War II' had no meaning at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack) • #2 – Danny’s assessment that World War II began with Pearl Harbor is inaccurate. • - American involvement began with the attacks, but the European portion of the war had been going on since 1939, when Germany invaded Poland.

30. There was little resistance • FICTION - Taken by surprise, the U.S. forces immediately responded to the attack with 5 minutes. • Navy ships in the harbor opened fire with antiaircraft guns ASAP (credited with 15 planes shot down) • On shore, Army P-36 and P-40 fighters managed to take off and shot down as many as 10 Japanese planes • One Japanese plan shot down from small-arms fire over Fort Shafter

31. Admiral Kimmel – Commander of Pacific fleet was golfing on the day of the attack • FALSE • He did have a golf date with his military counterpart Lt. General Short BUT before he had time to eat breakfast and dress, he received word that a destroyer on patrol at the entrance to Pearl Harbor had sighted and sunk an enemy submarine.

32. Admiral Kimmel – Commander of Pacific fleet • He was blamed for not being ready • Relieved of his duties about a week later • Most Historians say that Kimmel received several warnings about a possible attack on Pearl Harbor, but felt they were too vague and chose to dismiss them Spent rest of his life saying he was unfairly blamed • Update: In 2007, Congress voted to exonerate him and Walter Short of dereliction of duty in connection with the attack

33. 2 Main Characters were real pilots • FICTION (and FACT) • There never were any pilots by the names of RafeMcCawley and Danny Walker. • However, these two pilots are supposed to be based on Second Lieutenants George Welch and Kenneth Taylor.

34. 2 pilots getting into planes and shooting down Japanese after initial attack FACT - Welch and Taylor did race in a Buick to an airfield during the attack - They were the first two pilots off the ground - Welch and Taylor were responsible for taking down at least 6 of the 29 Japanese aircrafts that were lost. However, the love story with the nurse that is shown in the movie never occurred with Welch and Taylor. • Additionally, Welch and Taylor did not participate in the Doolittle Raid,

35. The two real pilots (Welch and Taylor) supposedly did not appreciate how they were depicted in the film. Taylor was quoted saying that the film was "a piece of trash; over-sensationalized and completely distorted”

36. Number of Japanese planes and bombers attack Pearl Harbor • Japanese Navy Zero fighter planes (superior to U.S. fighters) • In the film they are colored a dark green, where in reality they were a light gray. • Over 420 attacked Pearl Harbor

37. A Japanese carrier torpedo bomber.When was the last time you saw more than 2 airplanes in the sky at once? Just imagine what 400 would be like…

38. Over 3000 killed • FACT - The Navy and Marine Corps suffered a total of 2,896 casualties • The Army lost 228 killed or died of wounds, • In addition, at least 57 civilians were killed and nearly as many seriously injured

39. Soldiers being burned from oil • FACT – As the attacked continued, desperate men raced for safety by leaping into the waters of a harbor that was coated with oil and beginning to burn.

40. Japanese withdrew their third wave • FACT – Third wave was planned • an attack which would target the dockyards, maintenance shops, and oil depots • But Japanese Admiral felt it was too big a risk as the Japanese had lost the element of surprise, and the US Navy and Army were beginning to mobilize.

41. Destruction of ships and planes • Within 15 minutes – main battle line was neutralized… • The battleships California, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona were sunk • Maryland, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania were damaged TOTAL OF 96 vessels at Pearl Harbor *All together the Japanese sank or severely damaged 18 ships, including the 8 battleships, 3 light cruisers, and 3 destroyers On the airfields the Japanese destroyed 161 American planes (Army 74, Navy 87) and seriously damaged 102 (Army 71, Navy 31).

42. Ships were sunk – Men stuck and drowned trapped in ship FACT • USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed • is still at the bottom of Pearl Harbor

43. Ships were sunk – Men stuck and drowned trapped in ship • USS Oklahoma, rolled over – men were trapped upside down – started banging on the bulkhead trying to get attention of passing small boats (died from suffocation) = 395 men and 20 officers

44. One ship has turned over, and fires burn unchecked everywhere.

45. US ships sinking at anchor. With the air force destroyed, the naval ships were now easy targets. Many sailors found ammunition stores locked as a peacetime security measure.

46. Nurse Betty dies in attack • FICTION - No Navy Nurses died as a result of enemy action during the entirety of World War II, including the attack on Pearl Harbor • In addition, Nurse Betty who claimed she lied was only 17 - FICTION …Navy nurses HAD to have 3 years training prior (which she would have had when she was 14)

47. Nurses marked wounded with lipstick • FACT – Nurses did mark patients that had received morphine with an "M", marking them with a "C" for critical, and "F" for fatally wounded • Also, when running out of ink from their pens, they actually did use lipstick to mark patients instead.

48. Asian Doctors and Nurses were treated harshly by some wounded • FACT - Asian nurses and doctors were often discriminated against and soldiers would refuse to be treated by them

49. Memorial service • FACT - Two services – NuuanuCemetery and Red Hill • Large trench dug • (chaplains demanded that each plot be surveyed and marked) • Firing squad and bugler lined the trenches • Three chaplains present – Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish • If faith was known, that chaplain would step forward and conducted the internment • If unknown, all three

50. Japanese Commander says that they “have just awoken a sleeping giant” • FICTION - Also said in the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! • Is yet to be verified that Yamamoto ever said this (Tora! Producer claims it was found in his diary and letter he wrote – but can’t find either) • True that Yamamoto believed that Japan could not win a protracted (long, drawn-out) war with the U.S.