Yes, the white-flexed seas rolling in on the islands, and the very salt-sprayed air have
always conveyed the feel of peace and plenty and pleasure. Until a certain Sunday, Americans
will never forget. The raid lasted about two hours. The two waves were launched at 6 a.m.
and at 7. 183 aircraft in the first wave, 40 torpedo planes in that group, horizontal
bombers, dive bombers, zero fighters. Fort Island airfield was attacked, as well as several
other airfields in the area. Naval servicemen awoke to the sound of bullets rattling against
the hull and an ominous announcement over the loudspeaker. The most extensive damage
in wave one occurred at the airfields, as Japanese forces moved to ensure that no American
fighters would take to the skies. These hangars witnessed the Pearl Harbor attack. They comprised
part of what was known then as the Pearl Harbor Naval Air Station. It is here on these tar
macks and over near the seaplane ramp that the first bombs fell at Pearl Harbor. Shortly
before 7.55 that morning, a group of Japanese dive bombers came down at high speed and began
dropping their bombs all over the seaplane ramp. The only real crater left is this one.
Here at 7.55 that the bomb hurtled down and crashed right into this part of the hangar.
It blew off the hangar door from number six and collapsing down this through shrapnel
in every direction for nearly 50 feet. Today you can see all of it because the concrete
that was once poured in here to repair these scars has now broken away after years. It's
over so quickly that many men are killed trying to get into their positions. Pilots are killed
trying to get into the air. Events in the harbor were not faring any better than the
airfields. At 8.01 a.m. the USS Utah is struck by a torpedo and begins to list a port. The
Arizona lives for about 12 minutes before it goes down. At 8.10 a.m. a D3A Japanese dive
bomber piloted by a man named Tadashi Kasumi was flying low aiming for the USS Arizona.
The dive bomber released its bombs striking the Arizona's forward ammunition magazine.
The ensuing explosion ripped the vessel apart killing 1,177 crewmen. The explosion was so
intense that it put out the fire on the neighboring USS Vestal. The flames and plumes of smoke
from the Arizona rose well into the sky as Japanese planes continued to circle the harbor.
The runways suffered heavy damage and many of the aircraft on the tarmac were ripped
apart. The servicemen stationed at Pearl Harbor had only minutes before the second wave hit.
The second wave comes in about 15-20 minutes later and they're over the island again.
The USS Pennsylvania came under heavy attack during the second wave as multiple dive bombers
strafed and attempted to bomb the ship. Everett Highland was aboard the Pennsylvania as the
bombs began to fall. On the morning of the 7th battle stations was sounded I took off for our
gathering spot on the main deck. Five high altitude bombers came over, released their bombs and we
took one hit. It just so happened that the one hit we took happened to be where we were and
I didn't fare too well. The first thing I can remember is I was flat on my face I never heard
anything and my arms were extended in front of me and they were all purple and peeling and
bloody and looked down my shoes have been blown off. I had my right ankle shot open there was a
chip of bone knocked out of my right leg my right hand had been ripped open I was shot through the
right thigh. I had five pieces of shrapnel in the left leg I had a chunk blown out of my left
thigh I lost part of my left elbow part of my left bicep and then the burns. The Japanese had
conducted the most infamous surprise attack in United States history. The complexity of the
operation stunned Allied war planners. Unbelievable strategic and operational ballet unfolds within
a matter of 20 minutes air power in Hawaii. The United States had lost 188 aircraft and most of
the airfields were nearly destroyed. The Navy had suffered heavy damage with the loss of four
battleships three cruisers and one mine layer. Coming up next the aftermath of the Battle of Pearl
Harbor as a stunned American public recovers.
