Photos of Pearl Harbor Attack Dec.7,1941

USS Shaw explodes after being hit by bombs

The USS Shaw explodes after being hit by bombs during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in this Dec. 7, 1941 photo

Battleship USS Arizona belches

In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, the battleship USS Arizona belches smoke as it topples over into the sea during a Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

American ships burn during Japanese attack

In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, American ships burn during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Japanese bomber on run

A Japanese bomber on a run over Pearl Harbor, Hawaii is shown during the surprise attack of Dec. 7, 1941. Black smoke rises from American ships in the harbor. Below is a U.S. Army air field

Sailors stand as they watch explosion

Sailors stand among wrecked airplanes at Ford Island Naval Air Station as they watch the explosion of the USS Shaw in the background, during the Japanese surprise attack in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941.

Investigating explosion and seeing smoke pall

Officers' wives, investigating explosion and seeing smoke pall in distance on Dec. 7, 1941, heard neighbor Mary Naiden, then an Army hostess who took this picture, exclaim 'There are red circles on those planes overhead. They are Japanese!' Realizing war had come, the two women, stunned, start toward quarters.

FILE- USS California, after being struck

This Dec. 7, 1941 file photo provided by the Dept. of Defense shows the USS California, right, after being struck by two battleships and two big bombs during a Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Durrell Conner, who coded and decoded messages for the Navy, was aboard the USS California when it sank in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Conner will return with 17 family members to remember those who died in the Japanese attack 69 years ago during the Pearl Harbor Anniversary.

Smoke clouds sky as two sailors crouch

Smoke clouds the sky over Pearl Harbor as two sailors crouch with their rifles on a pier at the submarine base, trying desperately to locate an enemy to fire upon, Dec. 7, 1941. Submarines berthed nearby are USS Tautog and USS Narwhal

Students of Lunalilo High School

In this Dec. 7, 1941, file photo, students of the Lunalilo High School in the Waikiki district of Honolulu watch their school burn after the roof of the main building, at center, was hit by a bomb during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Infamous attack on Pearl Harbor

The infamous attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The USS Arizona is pictured in flames after the Japanese attack.

Photograph, from Japanese film later captured

This photograph, from a Japanese film later captured by American forces, is taken aboard the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku, just as a Nakajima 'Kate' B-5N bomber is launching off deck for the second wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

Battleship USS West Virginia begins

Torpedoed and bombed by the Japanese, the battleship USS West Virginia begins to sink after suffering heavy damage, center, while the USS Maryland, left, is still afloat in Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, in a Dec. 7, 1941 file photo.

Wing of Japanese bomber shot down on grounds

The wing of a Japanese bomber shot down on the grounds of the Naval Hospital at Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941

Stationed on Hawaiian island

Heavy damage is seen on the battleships U.S.S. Casin and the U.S.S. Downes, stationed at Pearl Harbor after the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian island, Dec. 7, 1941.

Small crowd inspects damage

A small crowd inspects the damage, both inside and outside, after a Japanese bomb hit the residence of Paul Goo during the raid on Honolulu Dec. 7, 1941.

Mass lay after city had been attacked

A mass of twisted metal wreckage lay along a Honolulu street after the city had been attacked by Japanese planes Dec. 7, 1941.

Smoke still fogged air at Pearl harbor

Smoke still fogged the air at Pearl harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 as these tractors tugged at what the Navy said was a Japanese two-man submarine, not shown, pulling it up on the beach for inspection after it was disabled in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Shattered wreckage of American planes bombed

The shattered wreckage of American planes bombed by the Japanese in their attack on Pearl Harbor is strewn on Hickam Field, Dec. 7, 1941.

Black smoke rises after they had been bombed

Black smoke rises from the burning wrecks of several U.S. Navy battleships after they had been bombed during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941

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Photos of Pearl Harbor Attack Dec.7,1941

USS Shaw explodes after being hit by bombs

The USS Shaw explodes after being hit by bombs during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in this Dec. 7, 1941 photo

Battleship USS Arizona belches

In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, the battleship USS Arizona belches smoke as it topples over into the sea during a Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

American ships burn during Japanese attack

In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, American ships burn during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Japanese bomber on run

A Japanese bomber on a run over Pearl Harbor, Hawaii is shown during the surprise attack of Dec. 7, 1941. Black smoke rises from American ships in the harbor. Below is a U.S. Army air field

Sailors stand as they watch explosion

Sailors stand among wrecked airplanes at Ford Island Naval Air Station as they watch the explosion of the USS Shaw in the background, during the Japanese surprise attack in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941.

Investigating explosion and seeing smoke pall

Officers' wives, investigating explosion and seeing smoke pall in distance on Dec. 7, 1941, heard neighbor Mary Naiden, then an Army hostess who took this picture, exclaim 'There are red circles on those planes overhead. They are Japanese!' Realizing war had come, the two women, stunned, start toward quarters.

FILE- USS California, after being struck

This Dec. 7, 1941 file photo provided by the Dept. of Defense shows the USS California, right, after being struck by two battleships and two big bombs during a Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Durrell Conner, who coded and decoded messages for the Navy, was aboard the USS California when it sank in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Conner will return with 17 family members to remember those who died in the Japanese attack 69 years ago during the Pearl Harbor Anniversary.

Smoke clouds sky as two sailors crouch

Smoke clouds the sky over Pearl Harbor as two sailors crouch with their rifles on a pier at the submarine base, trying desperately to locate an enemy to fire upon, Dec. 7, 1941. Submarines berthed nearby are USS Tautog and USS Narwhal

Students of Lunalilo High School

In this Dec. 7, 1941, file photo, students of the Lunalilo High School in the Waikiki district of Honolulu watch their school burn after the roof of the main building, at center, was hit by a bomb during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Infamous attack on Pearl Harbor

The infamous attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The USS Arizona is pictured in flames after the Japanese attack.

Photograph, from Japanese film later captured

This photograph, from a Japanese film later captured by American forces, is taken aboard the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku, just as a Nakajima 'Kate' B-5N bomber is launching off deck for the second wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

Battleship USS West Virginia begins

Torpedoed and bombed by the Japanese, the battleship USS West Virginia begins to sink after suffering heavy damage, center, while the USS Maryland, left, is still afloat in Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, in a Dec. 7, 1941 file photo.

Wing of Japanese bomber shot down on grounds

The wing of a Japanese bomber shot down on the grounds of the Naval Hospital at Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941

Stationed on Hawaiian island

Heavy damage is seen on the battleships U.S.S. Casin and the U.S.S. Downes, stationed at Pearl Harbor after the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian island, Dec. 7, 1941.

Small crowd inspects damage

A small crowd inspects the damage, both inside and outside, after a Japanese bomb hit the residence of Paul Goo during the raid on Honolulu Dec. 7, 1941.

Mass lay after city had been attacked

A mass of twisted metal wreckage lay along a Honolulu street after the city had been attacked by Japanese planes Dec. 7, 1941.

Smoke still fogged air at Pearl harbor

Smoke still fogged the air at Pearl harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 as these tractors tugged at what the Navy said was a Japanese two-man submarine, not shown, pulling it up on the beach for inspection after it was disabled in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Shattered wreckage of American planes bombed

The shattered wreckage of American planes bombed by the Japanese in their attack on Pearl Harbor is strewn on Hickam Field, Dec. 7, 1941.

Black smoke rises after they had been bombed

Black smoke rises from the burning wrecks of several U.S. Navy battleships after they had been bombed during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941

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20 Facts about Pearl Harbor

On this 69th anniversary of the attack, we revisit the sunken battleships and more.

In honor of those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor 69 years ago today, we offer 20 interesting facts about that ill-fated day in history.

Hawaii islands

Pearl Harbor, home to this fleet in 1941, is located on what Hawaiian island?

Japanese imperialism

What were the reasons behind the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor?

Attack on Pearl Harbor

What was the name of the Japanese admiral who led the attack on Pearl Harbor?


Imperial Japanese Navy

How many Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor?


Pearl Harbor timeline

What time did the attack on Pearl Harbor start?

Military attacks on American soil

How long did the attack on Pearl Harbor last?


US casualties

How many people, military and civilians, were killed or wounded at Pearl Harbor?


Hawaiian statehood

Since Hawaii wasn't a U.S. state yet, what treaty gave the United States access to Pearl Harbor?

US naval commanders

Who was the naval commander of the Pacific Fleet on the fateful day at Pearl Harbor?

Aviation technology history

What was the name of the officer who didn't act on the radar warning about Pearl Harbor?

Heroism at Pearl Harbor

What surprising battleship crewman was awarded the Navy Cross for firing at Japanese war planes with this weapon?

US Navy ships

To this day, more than 1,000 crewmen are entombed on what sunken battleship?

Pearl Harbor Battleship Row

Which battleships were in the port on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked?

US Navy fleets

What important military vessels escaped the Japanese bombers' attack on Pearl Harbor?

Wartime presidential addresses

What is the famous phrase from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to Congress the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor?

US Congress & World War II

What was the second nation on which the U.S. Congress declared war following the attack on Pearl Harbor?


Survivors of Pearl Harbor

What did the survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor say?

Aftermath of Pearl Harbor

What well-known American jurist served at Pearl Harbor during World War II?

Battle deaths in American wars

World War II remains the worst in terms of American war casualties. What military conflict takes second place?

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