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Pearl Harbor
Americans thought that Japan would attack American bases in the Philipines. Instead they attacked in Oahu's Pearl Harbor. Japanese aircrafts tried to bomb and toredo as many American ships as possible, no single person was in charge of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Hundreds of fighter planes and several ships were damages, 8 battle ships suffered damage, 2,400 American lives were lost, and Japan suffered minimal damage. Entered WWII as an Allie. -
Battle of Java Sea
Japanese navies caused severe damage to Allie ships and captured British controlled Burma and other key positions in the Pacific. They gained control of several oil reserves, which were vital to their plans. They also established very strategic places for more bases. -
Loss of Philippines & Bataan Death March
Japan could take over the Philipines, but George MacArthur led a force of unequipped and untrained men, primarily Filipinos. MacArthur planned a retreat to the Bataan Pennisula after the Japanese came ashore in Dec. 1941. Once there, they had little food and machine. In March 1942 George was ordered to leave his men, but he promised his return to them. Japanese soldiers pushed American and Filipino soldiers for 5 days and nights into the Bataan Forest. Those who dropped out of line were beaten. -
Dootlittle Raid
James Doolittle led 16 Americans in a daring air raid upon several Japanese cities. The raid didnt do much damage but it gave soemthing the American people could celebrate. Japanese leaders were angry. this anger would cloud their judgements and lead to other major military mistakes in months coming. -
Island Hopping Stradegy
Guadacanal ser the pattern, Allies focused on Japanese weak spots. IN 1944 the Allies captured Gilbert, Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana. Allies took control of thew industrial power. Pacific fighting was costly, both sides lost several dozen ships and thousands of aircrafts. Japanese losses were unable to restock. Allies began to send more resources to the Pacific. Code talkers played a key role as well. -
Battle of Coral Sea
Aircraft carriers that had not been damaged at pearl harbor were used at the battle of coral sea. Japanese froces were planning on attacking british controlled Port Moseby. U.S. Admiral Chester Nimitz sent 2 planes to the attack. In the next battle, the navies suffered terribly. Americans lost an aircraft and several dozen aircrafts but they stopped japanese advance for the first time. -
Battle of Midway
japanese leaders wanted to lure americans into large sea battle they would attack midway island which was in the middle of the pacific. they wanted to pull in an american fleet and destroy it. japanese had way more carriers and ships. but the americans had naval intelligence by breaking a japanese code about the midway attack. japanese didnt think they could be beat. nimitz placed 3 aircraft carriers and his goal was to stop the japanese from landing at midway. -
Guadaleanal
americans wanted the solomon islands. these islands threatened nearby austrailia, an allie power. a key goal was to capture guadacanal. the japanese had made an airfielod there, making it very tempting. the environment was terrible fighting conditions but the americans came anyways. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Macarthur was prepared to come back to the philipines. 300 naval ships took part in the largest naval battle ever fought. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
americans needed a better base to launch raids, so they set out to capture iwo jima, 750 miles away from tokoyo. japanese refused to surrender. 7000 u.s. soldiers died, 1900 japanese bit the bullet as well out of the 20000. -
Battle of Okinawa
350 miles away from the maidland of japan okinawa was the last straw for the invasion of japan. bloodiest battle in the pacific. 12000 plus americans died. 110000 japanese lives lost. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
3 days after the first a secoind one was dropped on nagasaki killing about 40000 people. japanese emporer wanted to surrendewr but the moilitary resisted -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
american b-29 bomber dropped the worlds first atomic bomb over the japanese city of Hiroshima. the explosion wiped out 90 % of the city and killed 80000 people thousands more would later die of radiatio exposure -
VJ Day
Hirothito announced the end of the war via radio broadcast. due to the damage of the two bombs it was the japanese people had heard the emporers voice
