The Story of the Doolittle Raid: America Avenges Pearl Harbor

Day of Infamy: December 7, 1941

The Imperial Japanese Navy's surprise attack on Hawaii that Sunday morning shocked and angered America. Between 7:55 and 10:00 local time, six aircraft carriers launched 350 fighters and bombers in two waves against the US naval station at Pearl Harbor, home of the Pacific Fleet, as well as Marine Corps and Army air and ground bases on Oahu. Five enemy midget submarines also participated.

The raid without warning killed 2340 US military personnel, about half of whom died on battleship Arizona, and 48 to 68 civilians; 1143 servicemen and at least 35 civilians were wounded. Twelve ships were sunk or beached and nine damaged; all but three battleships were eventually salvaged. Japanese planes demolished 164 American aircraft and damaged 159.

The approximately 2400 lives lost that morning in 1941 number fewer than those murdered by terrorists on September 11, 2001 in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, but in the next six months Americans' spirits would be more sorely tested.