Ross is said to have stitched together the first American flag inside the house in May 1776. Many say it's the greatest movie ever made. Modern commercial television is born when NBC and CBS begin transmitting 15 hours per week of cartoons, sports and news from New York City. Executed without a declaration of hostilities, the devastating raid on the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii galvanizes Americans, prompting even longtime isolationists to call for retaliation. Congress declares war on Japan on Dec. 11.
Japanese leaders believe the war is all but over.
Adolf Hitler agrees and rashly declares war on the United States. His action seals his fate and ensures the defeat of the Axis powers. Victory may be certain, but it is far from immediate. He runs topside and finds a machine-gunner wounded at his gun. He takes over the gun and shoots down four of the attacking warplanes.