WAR IN THE PACIFIC

Japanese Victories Guam and Wake Island

fall to JapanThe Japanese turn attention

to the Philippines○ January 1942- Japan invades

Manilia ( Philippine capital)U.S. and Filipino take up

defensive position on Bataan Peninsula

Japanese will take PeninsulaBrutal treatment was used

against prisoners○ Bataan Death March

The Allies Strike Back

U.S. wanted revenge for Pearl HarborThe Japanese now had a string of victories

and seemed unbeatable. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel

James Doolittle, Tokyo is bombed.○ The Japanese were vulnerable after all.

Battle of the Coral Sea- will be victorious in preventing Japan’s Southward advance

What was unique about this sea battle?

Battle of Midway- setting the stage June 1942 1500 miles from Hawaii

Key American airfield Began as an attack by the Japanese to eliminate

any remaining U.S. aircraft carriers. Hoped that the attack would draw out the entire pacific

fleet. They Japanese strategy was to disperse their ships

over a wide area and have them U.S. code breakers deciphered the Japanese plans

They knew exactly when and where the attack would take place.

Battle of Midway- Go time

June 4th

American forces were hidden beyond the horizon

Allowed the Japanese to begin their attack on the island○ BAM!

Surprise attack from the Americans to catch the Japanese fleet off-guard

Japanese Ship- Mikuma

American ship- Yorktown

Battle of Midway- Outcome Allied victory! 322 Japanese planes destroyed Sunk:

4 Japanese air craft carriers- that had all been used in the Pearl Harbor attack

One Japanese Destroyer○ Huge hit to Japanese Navy

Japan withdrew from the Battle Morale high for the Allies

An Allied OffensiveGeneral Douglas MacArthur-

commander of Allied land forces Had been forced out of the

Philippines when Japan seized the islands.

Next strategy=“island hopping” to seize islands and get closer to Japan○ Jump from island to island taking

control of the ones that were not well defended

Battle of Guadalcanal

Part of the Solomon Islands Japanese were building a huge air base.

Allies wanted to attack before it was

finished. They arrived and found no Japanese

troops, only workers. Easily took over the airfieldJapan quickly sent troops and the battle

became brutal. 6 month battle- Allies win.

Victory in the Pacific The Japanese in Retreat •Allies move to retake the

Philippines in late 1944 •Battle of Leyte Gulf

leaves Japanese navy badly damaged

•Kamikazes—Japanese pilots who fly suicide missions

•In March 1945, American forces capture Iwo Jima

•U.S. takes Okinawa in June 1945; Japan suffers huge casualties