Question: where did the planes that bombed pearl harbor take off from
Answer: On November 26 , 1941 , a Japanese task force ( the Striking Force ) of six aircraft carriers -- Akagi , Kaga , Sōryū , Hiryū , Shōkaku , and Zuikaku -- departed northern Japan en route to a position northwest of Hawaii , intending to launch its 408 aircraft to attack Pearl Harbor : 360 for the two attack waves and 48 on defensive combat air patrol ( CAP ) , including nine fighters from the first wave .