War in the Pacific

War in the Pacific

War in the Pacific

• Japanese simultaneously attack Hong Kong, Malaya, and the Phillippines

• Japanese destroy the American Far East Air Corp while still on the ground

• Before the end of 1941, MacArthur was in full retreat toward the Bataan peninsula

Bataan

• Feb. 22, 1942, Roosevelt orders MacArthur to abandon his force and go to Australia

• Upon leaving MacArthur’s infamous words were “I shall return”

• Johnathan Wainwright takes over command

• April 8, 1942 Wainwright orders abandonment of Bataan.

Bataan Death March

• 65 mile march to a railway junction

• Thousands died from disease, exhaustion, or Japanese brutality

• View stories and footage of Bataan Death March

U.S. Bombs Tokyo

• Colonel James H. Doolittle led the raid

• Planes took off from small carriers

• Raid was psychologically important for America

• Most important effect was that is speeded up the Japanese timetable for conquest and put them on the road to ruin.

The Battle of Midway

• Yamamoto divides fleet into large and small fleet

• Sends small fleet to Aleutian islands hoping America will take the bait and send some ships from Midway to Aleutian islands.

• Admiral Nimitz didn’t fall for it

• Had broken Japanese code

Battle of Midway

• Yamamoto attacks Midway

• Americans fight to save their installations
• Japanese have to strike again

• Americans hope to strike while Japanese are refueling, but they change their course

• Only the torpedo bombers attack and they are slaughtered

Battle of Midway

• Dive bombers find the Japanese and begin attacking

• Inflict incredible damage

• Admiral Yamamoto calls off the attack

• First naval defeat in Japanese history

The Land of the Free??

• Nisei- people of Japanese ancestry born in the U.S.

• U.S. suspended civil liberties and put many Japanese in relocation camps

Guadalcanal

• Japanese begin to build an airbase here

• U.S. try to occupy and defend other islands in the Solomon islands in preparation for further offensive action.

• General Vandergrift prepares for operation shoestring.

Guadalcanal

• Battle lasted six months

• American Marines go in and swiftly capture the unfinished airstrip and rename it Hendersen Field.

• Japanese take control of The Slot

• Corridor running between the Solomon islands
• Destroy all of the American Ships there

• Force Americans to hold on until reinforcements arrived

Guadalcanal

• First Japanese attempt was very unsuccessful

• Second Japanese attempt was to try and take Henderson Air Field.

• Third attempt- Japanese defeated

• Final victory owed a lot to a band of Marine fliers known as the Cactus Air Force

Guadalcanal-The Final Battle

• Japanese come down The Slot with a huge force

• Want to take Henderson AirField

• U.S. had only 5 cruisers and 8 destroyers

• Naval Battle of Guadalcanal was one of the most fierce surface sea fights in all of history

Map of the Pacific

• Map of the Pacific