Just to remind everyone...today is December 7...the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese sank five American battleships, two of them permanently, sank several other warships, destroyed many aircraft, and killed 2,000 American service members (and three civilians). Of the 80,000 American survivors of the attack, about 7,000 are left. Some of the remaining 100 in New Jersey will observe the occasion and honor their buddies today. "Always will our nation remember the character of the onslaught against us...No matter how long it may take us, the American people in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory...so help us God!"
According to web sources, the actual bombing attack on Pearl Harbor began at 0749 local time on 7 December, whereas the Japanese invasion of Malaya started just after midnight on 8 December. Mayala was 8 hours ahead of GMT and Hawaii was 10 hours behind. So, by my calculation, the Malaya invasion actually started first by nearly 2 hours. Is this right?
It is a pity that the Americans didn't believe their radar screens otherwise they could have reacted to the massive intrusion into their airspace.I think the the radar returns were dismissed as being friendly B17s flying into Wheeler Field. It was a Sunday morning and wars do not break out on Sunday mornings.It is a time when most people take the opportunity to lie in. (Have you noticed that in business and commerce most new ventures are kicked off on Monday morning?.Even D Day was destined for a Monday morning start until bad weather caused a posponement until Tuesday.) It could have been worse but luckily the carrier fleet was out in the Pacific.Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who planned the Hawaiian Operation thought that they had inflicted far greater damage to American naval power than advance estimates had anticipated.He thought that it enabled Japan naval units to strike elsewhere throughout the Pacific and Indian oceans.It certainly resulted in early successes. For Yamamoto his fate was sealed in 1943 when the Americans broke the Japanese naval code.They intercepted his aircraft and shot it down when he was proceding to one of his base inspections. Yamomoto had protested vigorously against a war with America. He had predicted accurately that if the war continued beyond 1943,Japan was doomed to defeat.Hideki Tojo would not take any advice and committed Japan to a total collapse and defeat.It was a conflict that the Japanese could never win.
Originally posted by angie999@Dec 8 2004, 01:05 PM According to web sources, the actual bombing attack on Pearl Harbor began at 0749 local time on 7 December, whereas the Japanese invasion of Malaya started just after midnight on 8 December. Mayala was 8 hours ahead of GMT and Hawaii was 10 hours behind. So, by my calculation, the Malaya invasion actually started first by nearly 2 hours. Is this right? [post=30000]Quoted post[/post] Yes, the first fighting in the Pacific War was the attack on Malaya, which began with the Japanese shooting down an RAF reconnaissance plane and mining British waters. The Japanes landings at Khota Bharu preceded the attack on Pearl Harbor by a couple of hours. The Japanese got a warm reception from the Indian troops defending the airbase.
