WWII The Pacific Theater Timeline of Major Battles

Japanese Figures Hirohito - Emperor of Japan during WWII Tojo - Minister of War Yamamoto - Naval admiral. Called for the attack on Pearl Harbor

Bombing of PEarl Harbor December 7, 1941 Admiral Yamamoto’s decision Sneak attack on US fleet docked in Hawaii Took only 2 hours Next day, FDR declared war on Japan

Doolittle Raid April 1942 Revenge for Pearl Harbor Air raid, bombing of Tokyo & other cities Provided a morale booster for US Japan could be made vulnerable

Battle of Coral Sea May 4 -8, 1942 Ships not even in sight of each other Fought entirely from aircraft Stopped Japan’s southward advance

Battle of Midway June 4 - 7, 1942 Turned the tide of war in Pacific to US advantage Caught Japanese fleet off guard. Sank many aircraft carriers before planes could take off Called, “. . . the most stunning & decisive blow in the history of naval warfare. ”

Battle of Guadalcanal Aug. 7, 1942 - Feb. 9, 1943 “Operation Watchtower” 1 st major battle of “Island Hopping” campaign Prevent Japanese building airbase in Solomon Islands

Battle of Iwo Jima Feb. 19 - March 26, 1945 “Operation Detachment” US fought for & secured 3 airfields on islands of Iwo Jima Allied victory from beginning - superior numbers, weaponry

Battle of Okinawa April - June, 1945 “Operation Iceburg” Last island on the way to Japan Bloodiest battle in the Pacific Known as “tetsu no ame” in Japanese (Rain of steel) 100, 000 Japanese casualties 50, 000 US casualties

Atomic Bomb July 16, 1945 Bomb is tested in desert of New Mexico - called “Trinity Test” “Manhattan Project” - code name for development of the bomb Chief Scientist: Oppenheimer Used Einstein’s E = MC 2

Atomic Bomb August 6, 1945 The “Enola Gay” bomber drops “Little Boy” on Hiroshima

Atomic Bomb August 9, 1945 The “Bockscar” (B-29 Bomber) dropped “Fat Man” on Nagasaki

Atomic Bomb September 2, 1945 Japan surrendered aboard the USS Missouri The war was over