On This Day

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

December 7, 1941,

At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes, descended on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.

Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded.