December 7th 1941

[gurutoo]

A moment of remembrance and appreciation for those who died that day (including any homosexuals who got past the recruiters....)

On this day in History the Japs were preparing to take off from their carriers somewhere in the in the Pacific...

At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.

With diplomatic negotiations with Japan breaking down, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his advisers knew that an imminent Japanese attack was probable, but nothing had been done to increase security at the important naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was Sunday morning, and many military personnel had been given passes to attend religious services off base. At 7:02 a.m., two radio operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told to sound no alarm. Thus, the Japanese air assault came as a devastating surprise to the naval base.

Much of the Pacific fleet was rendered useless: Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to repulse the attack. Japan's losses were some 30 planes, five midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men. Fortunately for the United States, all three Pacific fleet carriers were out at sea on training maneuvers. These giant aircraft carriers would have their revenge against Japan six months later at the Battle of Midway, reversing the tide against the previously invincible Japanese navy in a spectacular victory.

The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941--a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. The sole dissenter was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a devout pacifist who had also cast a dissenting vote against the U.S. entrance into World War I. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. government responded in kind.

The American contribution to the successful Allied war effort spanned four long years and cost more than 400,000 American lives.

[Gilles de Rais]

See my post on the other thread...Germany was indeed not responsible for Pearl Harbour...

So your pic is even funnier than the author expected...

[sarmajor]

Germany was indeed not responsible for Pearl Harbour

As Iraq was not responsible for 9/11.

Guru.....the more you try to show just how smart you are.....the more you reveal your ignorance of history.

If your intelligence agencies had been doing their job (and not placed more importance on their own little empires than on serving their country) Pearl Harbour would have been avoided.

Perhaps the same would apply to 9/11.

And obviously it applies even more so to Iraq.

He who does not learn from history - is doomed to repeat it.

Like the lessons that your military and politicos claimed to have learnt from Vietnam.

Pity the poor soldiers/sailors and airmen whose lives are in the hands of incompetant spooks.

[gurutoo]

Originally Posted by sarmajor

As Iraq was not responsible for 9/11.

Guru.....the more you try to show just how smart you are.....the more you reveal your ignorance of history.

If your intelligence agencies had been doing their job (and not placed more importance on their own little empires than on serving their country) Pearl Harbour would have been avoided.

Sarmajor-you're such an old windbag. Everyone knows that FDR was fully aware the Japanese would be forced to attack the US if he were to embargo Japan and that's exactly what he did.

Germany did not want the US to enter the war and had no plans to declare war on the US at the time.

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/McCollum/

[sarmajor]

Everyone knows that FDR was fully aware the Japanese would be forced to attack the US if he were to embargo Japan and that's exactly what he did.

Guru....I'll bet those 3,600 American killed and wounded at Pearl Harbour were thrilled with the genius of FDR in allowing them to be sacrificed when he knew that the Japanese fleet was on it's way to Pearl Harbour.

I also imagine that they were tickled pink in being allowed to conduct their Sunday peace time duties so that FDR was able to say nasty things about days of infamy and encourage the US to get off it's collective arse and do something to help those countries (including Australia) that had already been fighting the fascists for 2 years.

Then again it was hard to break the modus operandi of WW1 when the same thing happened.

And do not give me the shit about how you saved the world.

Even Blind Harry knew that life would have been intolerable for the US is they had held back and allowed Germany to overrun the rest of Europe.

I might be an old windbag but I lived through all that shit and probably know more about it than some - who were probably not even a twinkle in their father's eye at that time.

They say that ignorance is bliss - no wonder that you are so happy about what is going on in the middle east in your name.

[gurutoo]

Originally Posted by sarmajor

no wonder that you are so happy about what is going on in the middle east in your name.

I don't recall ever saying I was "happy" about it...

[Darwins Friend]

* Battleships ( BB ) * > Sunk or heavily disabled at Pearl Harbor:

Pennsylvania ( BB-38 ) (in dry-dock) / commissioned June 12, 1916

Arizona ( BB-39 ) / commissioned on 15 July, 1929

Nevada ( BB-36 ) / commissioned on 11 March, 1916

Oklahoma ( BB-37 ) / commissioned on 2 May, 1916

Tennessee ( BB-43 ) / commissioned on 3 June, 1920

California ( BB-44 ) / commissioned on 10, August 1921

Maryland ( BB-46 ) / commissioned on 21, July 1921

West Virginia ( BB-48 ) / commissioned on 1 December, 1923

* Heavy Cruisers (CA) *

New Orleans ( CA-32 ) / commissioned on 15 February, 1934

San Francisco ( CA-38 ) / commissioned on 10 February, 1934

* Light Cruisers (CL) *

Raleigh ( CL-7 ) / commissioned on 6 February, 1924

Detroit ( CL-8 ) / commissioned on 31 July, 1923

Phoenix ( CL-46 ) / commissioned on 3 October, 1938

Honolulu ( CL-48 ) / commissioned on 15 June, 1938

St. Louis ( CL-49 ) / commissioned on 19 May, 1939

Helena ( CL-50 ) / commissioned on 18 September, 1939

-------------------------------------------------------------

Forces in Manila Bay And Cavite Navy Yard: > Philippine Islands

Destroyer Division 59 (DESRON 29):

DD-225 Pope / commissioned on 27 October, 1920

DD-226 Peary (Repair at Cavite) / commissioned on 22 October, 1920

DD-227 Pillsbury (Repair at Cavite) / commissioned on 15 December, 1920

DD-228 John D. Ford / commissioned on 30 December, 1920

Heavy Cruiser:

CA-30 Houston, Iloilo PI / commissioned on 17 June, 1930

Light Cruiser:

CL-47 Boise, Cebu, PI / commissioned on 12 August, 1938


(please take special note of the ages of the capital ships)

[gurutoo]

Originally Posted by Darwins Friend

(please take special note of the ages of the capital ships)

Yep. FDR was quoted later saying "The Japs did us a favor"

Notice all the newer faster heavy cruisers and all important Carriers were out to sea on "Exercises" and not in port...American cryptographers had long since broken the antiquated Japanese code and knew at least 4 days prior to Dec 7th that an attack on Pearl was imminent.

[sinterest]

FWIW - My earliest recollection; I was born in January 1939 so still just 2 years old. All activities at my house stopped as Dad and Mum and two older brothers gathered around the radio.
I paused, took note, and then continued scooting around the house on a scooter my father had made.

[gurutoo]

I was born in 1952. Twenty years after Pearll Harbor on December 7th 1961 there was still much rage in America over Pearl Harbor.

I remember my family gathering around the radio to listen FDR'S "Infamy" speech being re-played in it's entirety. I was 9 years old.

[sinterest]

I don't believe FDR knew the attack was immanent any more than I believe Bush knew the Trade Towers were about to be destroyed.

“Should have known”? Perhaps.

Could have prevented? Maybe, but more likely, simply delayed the inevitable.

If the citizens of the United States ever elected persons that “totally evil”; this country replaces Germany as having participated in elevating psychopaths to the top. IMO

[gurutoo]

FDR had to allow the attack to place so Congress and the Amrican people would allow him to decalre war. No other way to save the British.

[Sir Digalot]

obviously to stop the war and as pay back for Peral harbour, we responded the only way we know how, and nuked the slanty eyed bastards back to the prehistoric era, a legacy that is still apprent today in their society...as well as ours for both 12/7 and the bombings.

it did stop the war in the pacific though

when we do something we do it proper!

[Pathetic]

Sir Digalot,

We actually saved millions of japenese and american soldiers lives by using the bomb.

More the double the people died in air raids on tokyo then in hiroshima.

[sinterest]

Originally Posted by gurutoo

FDR had to allow the attack to place so Congress and the Amrican people would allow him to decalre war. No other way to save the British.

"Group think" and stupid arguement of which I'm well aware.

We couldn't have attacked them as they approached, taken some toll on them too, saved some of our guys and still rallied US to war?

I just marvel at how easy it is for people to believe skillfully prepared bullshit.

"Uh - pretty sure I read it somewhere"

[Darwins Friend]

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina / range: 2,350 miles

Aircraft on patrol out of the Hawaiian Island group on 7 December, 1941: 0

[gurutoo]

Originally Posted by sinterest

"Group think" and stupid arguement of which I'm well aware.

We couldn't have attacked them as they approached, taken some toll on them too, saved some of our guys and still rallied US to war?

Not without alerting the Japanese that we had broken their code...

[sinterest]

Originally Posted by gurutoo

Not without alerting the Japanese that we had broken their code...

Really? We could not have pretended to discover them with a reconasense (sp) flight?

[Darwins Friend]

Kanoehe Bay, on the east coast of Oahu, was the site of a major Navy patrol seaplane base. A new facility, with some of its buildings still under construction, this Naval Air Station was home to three Patrol Squadrons.

It had 33 PBYs on the ground or floating just offshore when the Japanese arrived. Of those planes, all but six were destroyed, and the survivors were damaged.

[gurutoo]

Almost as if they had been ordered to stand down...