The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Pearl Harbor - Dec. 7, 2002

Naval Historial Center ^

[SAMWolf]

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

'Unless we fail in our objective -- this thread is designed to stir your emotions and memories and to bring out the patriotism in you.'

-- SAMWolf, US Army Veteran

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We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

Air Raid, Pearl Harbor --
"This is no drill!"

Attacks on Airfields and Aerial Combat

Military and Naval aircraft at Oahu's airfields were second only to battleships among the Japanese target priorities, though the reason was different. While Pearl Harbor's battleships represented American strategic "reach", and had to be eliminated to safeguard Japan's offensive into Southeast Asia and the East Indies, Oahu's aircraft had to be taken out for a more immediate reason: to protect the Pearl Harbor attack force. U.S. fighter planes, if they could get into the air in any numbers, would be a serious threat to Japanese bombers. U.S. Army bombers and Navy patrol planes potentially imperiled the Striking Force's invaluable aircraft carriers.

Naval Air Station, Ford Island



Less than one hour after the attack on Pearl Harbor, USAAF 2nd Lt.’s Ken Taylor and George Welch make an aggressive strike back against the enemy. Taylor, flying his P-40 Tomahawk, is seen bringing down his second enemy aircraft, an Aichi D-31A dive-bomber, on the morning of December 7, 1941. Welch is in close as they chase Japanese planes heading for the open sea. In the background, palls of smoke rise from Hangar 6 housing the naval float-planes, the battleship Nevada, beached off Hospital Point, and the up-turned battleship Oklahoma.

The Japanese first attack wave therefore assigned many fighters and bombers to airbase supression, the fighters to set planes afire with machine gun and cannon fire and the bombers to wreck them with high explosives. The second attack wave also had airfield strikes among its tasks. Wheeler Army Airfield, in central Oahu, was Hawaii's main fighter base. It was heavily attacked. Of some 140 planes on the ground there, mainly P-40 and P-36 pursuits, nearly two-thirds were destroyed or put out of action. A similar proportion of the B-17, B-18 and A-20 bombers at Hickam Army Airfield, adjacent to the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, was also wrecked or damaged enough to keep them grounded. Many men were killed at Hickam when the Japanese bombed their barracks. Smaller Bellows Field in eastern Oahu was also hit, destroying several P-40s, including two whose pilots courageously attempted to take off in the teeth of the enemy onslaught.

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps air stations on Pearl Harbor's Ford Island, at Ewa to the west of Pearl and at Kanoehe Bay near Bellows Field, also received concentrated attention from the raiders. Ewa's aircraft complement, mainly carrier-type bombers and fighters, was reduced from nearly fifty operational planes to less than twenty. Ford Island and Kanoehe, home to several squadrons of long-range PBY patrol seaplanes, were massively attacked, with Ford Island losing about half its planes and Kaneohe all but a few.

These very successful Japanese strikes thus prevented any significant aerial opposition, though the few Army fighters that got airborne gave a good account of themselves. Later on December Seventh, surviving bombers and patrol planes were sent out to search for the Japanese carriers. They found nothing and confronted considerable "friendly" anti-aircraft gunfire when they returned to their bases.

Naval Air Station, Ford Island

Ford Island Naval Air Station, in the middle of Pearl Harbor, was headquarters of Patrol Wing Two, and an important target for the Japanese first wave raiders. Reportedly, the initial bomb of the whole attack burst there, prompting the message that electrified the World: "Air Raid, Pearl Harbor--this is no drill.". Several PBY patrol seaplanes and other aircraft were destroyed on Ford Island, and one big hangar was gutted. In all, 33 planes were put out of commission there.

Several planes from the aircraft carrier Enterprise, which was approaching Hawaii after a mission to Wake Island, arrived in the midst of the attack. A few were shot down by the Japanese and more by understandably jittery American anti-aircraft gunners. However, several of these planes, and others from Ford Island's own complement, were airborne again within a few hours, sent out to search for the enemy. Some, at the end of a very long day, were shot down by their fellow-countrymen as they returned from these unfruitful searches.

Naval Air Station, Kanoehe Bay

Kanoehe Bay, on the east coast of Oahu, was the site of a major Navy patrol seaplane base. A new facility, with some of its buildings still under construction, this Naval Air Station was home to three Patrol Squadrons. It had 33 PBYs on the ground or floating just offshore when the Japanese arrived. Of those planes, all but six were destroyed, and the survivors were damaged. Only the three Kaneohe Bay PBYs then out on patrol were fit for service at the end of the raid.

Combat in the Air during the Pearl Harbor Raid



A tribute to the Americans who got airborne on the "date which will live in infamy". A thrilling image of a lone P-40B and Japanese Val
Despite the effective Japanese counter-air effort, a few Army P-40 and P-36 pursuit ships got airborne, including some from the small, and untargeted, airfield at Haleiwa on Oahu's north coast. These shot down perhaps as many as eleven enemy planes of the second attack wave, losing four of their number in return, two while taking off and one to American anti-aircraft fire while returning to base.

In the midst of the raid, twelve unarmed B-17C and B-17E four-engine bombers arrived over Oahu after a long flight from California. Unaware of the events then unfolding at their destination, several of these were attacked. Though unable to fire back, only two B-17s were destroyed, both after landing, an early indication of the toughness of the "Flying Fortress" in combat.

Two Navy SBDs flying into Oahu from the carrier Enterprise, were also downed by enemy action during the raid. One of these may have been the victim of a mid-air collision with its opponent near Ewa Field.

[MistyCA]

That's very special. I believe twins are one of God's most precious gifts!

[ntrulock]

I was in the Army Security Agency from 1970-1973. Served on the czech border at an ASA site.

[M Kehoe]

Great work. Thanks for the ping.

Never forget.

5.56mm

[buckalfa]

My 16 year child had the rare opportunity to participate
with the high school band representing WV at the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. The site and ceremonies effected her deeply. Although our youth no longer seem
to care, rest assured that the memory of that day will
live in on in future generations of Americans.

[Jen]

Hi there GatorNavy. There's a new Foxhole thread each day. Just look for your ping, or use the link or button on FR's main page.

[Vic3O3]

There's a fascinating book about the salvage work done post-raid, called Descent into Darkness. Can't recall the author, but well worth the read!

[Chemist_Geek]

Thanks for the Background on the U.S.S Arizona, aomagrat.

I believe she's still carried on the active rolls in the Navy.

She was never decomissioned, although she was stricken from the active list in 1942.

[richardtavor]

Please take me off your ping list.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the clarification.

[PsyOp]

"I can't believe the Germans tried to push Armor through there and in the middle of the winter yet."

You really can't unless you use the roads and fire-breaks. That's why the 101st holding out a Bastogne was so important, and key to stalling the German advance since it straddled a major road junction. The importance of those roads is why the Germans used commandos dressed as Army MP's to mis-direct traffic. Their job was to keep the roads clear by sending allied traffic away from the axis of advance."

The Germans thought they would breeze through all those green units that were holding the sector, which is essentially what happened till the 101 showed up (my old unit). If not for that stand at Bastogne, the offensive might well have succeeded.

[PsyOp]

"I can't picture Patton sounding as anyone but George C. Scott ever since they made that movie."

Niether can I. Funny thing is, I've heard recordings of Patton speaking, and his voice was a couple octaves higher than Scott's. It's kinda funny, but George C. Scott sounds more like what you'd imagine Patton should sound like than Patton himself.

[SAMWolf]

Yep. Patton had a "high squeeky" voice compare to Georgr C Scott.

[PsyOp]

"it is staggering to think how a fortified wall was thought to be so impregnable and impervious to a Blitzkrieg offensive."

Especially when leave the flanks wide open and count on the goodwill of the Germans not to invade your neighbors in order to get to you. The French learned nothing from WWI. The Germans followed exactly the same route into france in 1940 that they used 1914! If they were going to build a fortification it should have been on their border with Belgium - just to make sure the Germans used the front door next time around. ;-]

[SAMWolf]

Not taking anything away from the 101st, but the stand at ST.Vith put a big crimp in the German plans and the 82nd bottled up Peiper's Column pretty well to hold the North.

The story of the 101 at Bastonge is fascinating reading.

[PsyOp]

"the stand at ST.Vith put a big crimp in the German plans and the 82nd bottled up Peiper's Column pretty well to hold the North."

It's been awhile since I refreshed myself on the particulars of the German plan of attack for the Ardennes, but as I recall, they had three route through that sector (all relying on the available road networks). I believe Bastogne was in the path of the center axis of advance, which resulted in the Germans trying to divert bottle-necked troops and vehicles to the other routes while they tried to reduce bastogne and force a path around it.

I recall reading that the speed bump the 101 put in their way allowed the forces at St. Vith to organize properly to meet the attack. How important that was to the defense there I am not sure. It was more important than in the North where the 82d defended.

As the first major road-block in the German advance though, I think it safe to say that it had a ripple effect that gave other units further down the line of march to recover and re-organize in the defense (again, not as much of a factor for a veteran unit like the 82d).

It's also important to remember that in those other instances the units were not cut-off from their supply lines, and surrounded on all sides for an extended period of time.

[SAMWolf]

You're correct, the St.Vith pocket was able to pull back out of the "Fortified Goose Egg".

Bastonge was the critical round juncture in the Ardennes, major roads and rail lines went in all directions from there. The Germans also had to waste troops trying to reduce Bastonge. St. Vith was bypassed early but Bastonge was harder to bypass, it had to be taken.

The 101st get there just in the nick of time to deny it to the Germans.

[Jen]

OK, thanks for letting me know.

[PsyOp]

"The 101st get there just in the nick of time to deny it to the Germans."

When you step back from the particulars and look at the scale of the gamble the Germans took, how well planned and executed, it boggles the mind to think that one of the largest armoured assaults in the history of warfare was basically denied victory by a couple of Airborne Divisions - the 101st and the remnants of a few units that fought beside them.

By denying a timely breakthrough they won the battle.

If you want to read a good book about the european theater that takes a more strategic view, Stephan Ambrose's "The Victors" is a good read.

[Ciexyz]

I always remember my Dad on December 7th. He told the story about how he was at Penn State studying with his fellow engineering students when news of the attack came on the radio. He described how they all knew at that moment that they were going to war, that this was it. Soon after, my Dad enlisted in the Penn State ROTC and went on an accelerated academic program, and then entered into active duty. He served stateside.

[SAMWolf]

I thank your dad for his service. Doesn't matter where he served, he served and that's what counts.