On the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, shocking colorized photographs show the horror of the missile assault that claimed more than 2,400 lives and pulled the US into the Second World War
Imperial Japan launched surprise attack on US Navy base on Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941
In just 90 minutes, more than 2,400 American personnel were killed and 17 ships were damaged or lost
While attack proved an initial success, it brought the US into the Second World War and led to Japan’s defeat
Admiral Hara Tadaichi said: ‘We won a great tactical victory at Pearl Harbor, and thereby lost the war’
By CHRIS PLEASANCE
DAILYMAIL.COM
7 December 2017
The full horror of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour has been laid bare in newly colorized pictures released on the 76th anniversary of the assault.
In just 90 minutes, more than 2,400 US servicemen and civilians lost their lives while 17 ships were damaged or lost – dragging America into the Second World War and forever changing the course of the conflict.
The pictures here show the wrecks of the USS California, which sank after being hit by two torpedoes and two bombs, and the USS Oklahoma, which was holed by four torpedoes and capsized.
Others reveal the damage done on shore as Navy fighter planes were blown up without the chance to take off and hangars set ablaze during the surprise assault.
Of the 402 American aircraft in Hawaii, 188 were destroyed and 159 damaged. Almost none were ready to take off to defend the base when the attack started, and just eight managed to get airborne during the attack.
Of the sailors killed, almost half died when the USS Arizona exploded after its forward magazine was hit by a shell.
Despite the devastation the Japanese left behind, 14 of the 17 damaged ships returned to service later in the war. The Arizona, the Oklahoma and the USS Utah – a training ship – were the only ones to be permanently destroyed.
The attack was part of a campaign of Pacific expansion undertaken by Imperial Japan that was intent on carving out an Asian empire to rival those of Europe.
Clearing the US base on Hawaii was seen as vital to capturing the Philippines, Guam, Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong from the Americans, British and Dutch.
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