* The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation) was a surprise strike by the Japanese navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
* The attack occurred on the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941.
* The attack consisted of two aerial attack waves totaling 353 aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers.
* In total, four U.S. Navy battleships sank (two of which were raised and returned to service late in the war) and damaged four more. In addition three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer sank or were damaged and 188 aircraft were destroyed. 2,402 persons were killed and 1,282 were wounded.
* Japanese losses included 29 aircraft and five small submarines, with 65 servicemen killed or wounded.
* The strike was intended to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet thereby protecting Japan's advance into Malaya and the Dutch East Indies.
* Prior to the attack, the U.S. had first halted shipments of airplanes, parts, machine tools, and aviation gasoline then all oil exports to Japan.
* The attack unintentionally occurred before a formal declaration of war which had been scheduled for delivery shortly prior to the attack beginning. While the attack ultimately took place first, Admiral Yamamoto originally stipulated the attack begin thirty minutes after Japan had informed the United States she considered the peace negotiations at an end thus allowing the Japanese to uphold the conventions of war while still holding on to an element of surprise.
* 14 officers and sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor. A special military award, the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal, was later authorized for all military veterans of the attack.
For more, see Wikipedia.
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