December 7-1941

10 Responses to December 7-1941

1. Ronbo says:

   December 8, 2016 at 05:38

   I visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor last February – and what impressed me the most was the fact that oil still oozes out of her tanks – so the visitors are immediately hit with the smell of petro when you step off the boat.

   The memorial complex at Pearl Harbor now includes the USS Missouri on those might deck, the war was declared over in 1945.

   Thus at one memorial complex in one glance the visitor can see where the Pacific War started in 1941 – and ended in 1945.

   The Japs were on a roll in those early days of WW II with successful surprise attacks at Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Darwin, Australia.

   The first Jap air raid on Darwin in February 1942 was Australia’s wake up call from Hell, as the sneaky Japs flew around Darwin and attacked from the south, so the gunners and air raid people thought it was the American air force come to the rescue, but no! … it was the Japs who not only sunk eight Allied ships in the harbor and wiped out the RAAF base – but gave the town of Darwin a working over as well and murdered many an innocent Aussie civilian.
   • Darin says:

     December 8, 2016 at 07:37

     Yes,and very many people don’t realize just how precarious the situation was in late 41’early 42′.
   • Gregoryno6 says:

     December 8, 2016 at 10:38

     I’ve heard it said that nobody expected Japan to adopt air attack because the shape of their eyes meant they couldn’t read a plane’s instrument panel properly.
     Which sounds bizarre, but no more so than the complacency with which the British in Singapore watched the Japanese advance down the Malay Peninsula. Most of them simply could not believe that the British Empire could be bested by Orientals.
     • Darin says:

       December 8, 2016 at 13:06

       They certainly were no dummies and the equipment they had was a fair sight better than anyone thought too.

       Combine that with the ANZAC corps mostly away in North Africa and the Med and the US military being under equipped,under manned and asleep.

       That recipe tells me some folks must have been s—ing themselves in 41 and 42′.
2. Odakyu-sen says:

   December 8, 2016 at 09:46

   The Sultan’s satire:

   http://sultanknish.blogspot.co.nz/

   “Naval Base Bombed, Shinto Worshipers Fear Backlash – New York Times – December 8 1941”
   • Brown says:

     December 8, 2016 at 10:53

     Excellent satire indeed.

     By the time the planes arrived the US Navy had already sunk a Japanese sub at the harbour entrance so at least some were awake. It was business as usual really – the men at the sharp end let down by admin who were asleep both at Pearl and, even worse, in the Philippines where they had a bit of warning and still did nothing.
     • Darin says:

       December 8, 2016 at 13:08

       I have asked myself a few times,what if?What if we had to fight two wars,on two fronts,while supplying not only ourselves with gear,but also 4 allies with gear at the same time,could we do it again?
       I really don’t think so.
3. Ronbo says:

   December 8, 2016 at 12:44

   One important reason for the Japanese blitz of the Pacific in 1941/42 was the fact that Japan had been at war with China since 1937 – and had a battle hardened army, navy and air force well trained in the offensive.

   On the other hand, the Americans had a peace time military war machine with many officers in command who had never heard a shot fired in anger; however, once the initial engagements were lost and the commanders who couldn’t stand the real deal of war were relieved of duty – and the fighting officers took over after about six months of defeat after defeat, the U.S. Navy gave the Japs a bloody nose at Midway.

   Likewise when the Aussies recovered from their massacre at Darwin they proved to awesome fighters in the Pacific and gave old Tojo many a bloody nose in the drive north thru the islands.
4. Darin says:

   December 8, 2016 at 14:48

   After 75 years a Mississippi native son comes home-

   http://www.wapt.com/article/mississippian-killed-in-pearl-harbor-attack-returns-home-after-75-years/8470262
5. Contempt says:

   December 8, 2016 at 17:33

   9/11 was exactly like Pearl Harbor. Different enemy but the same a sneak attack. Essentially there has been no total response.