Evening star., 1942-12-06
Navy's Story of Pearl Harbor
Official Report for Anniversary Details Damage
Done by los Japanese Planes

Oklahoma mad capSiZed ana tnat oIner
vessels had been damaged. Fortunately,
the salvage and repair accomplishments
at Pearl Harbor have exceeded the most
hopeful expectations.
Eighty naval aircraft Of all types were
destroyed by the enemy. In addition,
the Army lost 81 planes on Hickam and
Wheeler Fields. OF these. 23 were bomb
ers, 66 were fighters and were other
types.
The most serious American losses were
in personnel. AS result Of the raid on
December 7, 1941, 2117 officers and en-
listed men of the Navy and Marine
Corps were killed, $50 are still reported
as missing and 876 were wounded but
survived. The Army casualties were a.
follows: Two hundred and twenty-six
officers and enlisted men were killed or
later died of wounds; 1896 were wounded.
most of whom have now recovered and
have returned to duty.
At 1855 am on December 7, l941, Japa-
nese dive bombers swarmed over the
Army Air Base, Hickam Field. and the
Naval Air Station on Ford Island. A
few minutes earlier the japanese had
struck the Naval Air Station at Kaneohs
Bay. Bare seconds later enemy torpedo
planes and dive bombers swung in from
various sectors to concentrate their at
tack on the heavy ships at Pearl Harbor.
The enemy attack, aided by the element
of surprise and based on exact informa-
ton, was very successful.
Ships in Action Quickly.
Torpedo planes, assisted effectively by
dive bombers, constituted the major
threat of the first phase of the japanese
attack lasting approximately . half
hour. Twenty-one torpedo planes made
four attacks and 30 dive bombers came
in in eight waves during this period.
Fifteen horizontal bombers also partic.
ipated in this phase Of the raid.
Although the Japanese launched their
initial attack as q surprise, battleship
ready machine guns opened fire at once
and were progressively augmented by tho
remaining ant-aircraft batteries ~ al
hands promptly were called to general
quarters Machine guns brought down
two and damaged others Of the first wave
of torpedo planes. Practically all bat
tleship anti-aircraft batteries were firing
within five minutes, cruisers within an
average time of four minutes and de-
stroyers, opening up machine guns
almost Immediately, averaged seven
minutes in bringing all anti-aircraft
guns into action.
From 825 to $40 am. there was Q
comparative lull in the raid, although
air activity continued with sporadic At
tack by dive and horizontal bomberx.
This respite was terminated by the ap.
pearance of horizontal bombers which
crossed and recrossed their targets from
various directions and caused serious
damage. While the horizontal bombers
were continuing their raids, Japanese
dive bombers reappeared, probably being
the same ones that had participated In
earlier attacks; this phase, lasting about
half hour, was devoted largely to
strafing. AL enemy aircraft retired BY
9:45 am.
los Planes in Attack.
Prior to the Japanese attack, 202
United States naval aircraft Of all types
on the Island of Oahu were in flying
condition, but $50 Of these were perma.
nently or temporarily disabled by the
enemys concentrated assault, most Of
them in the first few minutes Of the raid.
OF the So remaining naval aircraft, 30
took to the air on December 7, ls4l, the
IA others being ready too late in the day
or being blocked from take-of positions.
OF necessity, therefore, the Navy was
compelled to depend on anti-aircraft IRE
for its primary defensive weapon, and
this condition exposed the fleet to con.
tinuous air attack. BY coincidence, IL
scout bombing planes from q United
States aircraft carrier en- route arrived
at Pearl Harbor during the raid. These
are included in the foregoing figures.
-Four of these scout bombers were shot
down, 13 of the remaining IA taking OF
again in search of the enemy. Seven
patrol planes were in the air when the
attack started.
1t is difficult to determine the total
number of enemy aircraft participating
in the raid, but careful analysis Of all
reports makes 1t possible to estimate tho
number as 81 torpedo planes, 4s dive
bombers and 36 horizontal bombers.
totaling los of all types. Undoubtedly
certain fighter planes also were present.
but these are not distinguished by types
and are included in the above figures.
The enemy lost % aircraft due to Navy
action. In addition, three submarines
of As tons each we're accounted for.
The damage, suffered by the United
States Pacific Fleet as result Of tha
japanese attack on December 7, ls4l,
was most serious, but the repair Job now
is nearly completed and, thanks to the
inspired and unceasing efforts Of thu
naval and civilian personnel attached "a
the various repair yards. especially at
Pearl Harbor itself, this initial haudioan
soon viii be erased forever.