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