Pearl Harbor Blog Page
Pearl Harbor National Memorial Blog Page
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVS-12) underway in the Pacific Ocean, circa in July 1969. Hornet, with assigned Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 59 (CVSG-59), was deployed to the Pacific Ocean as the recovery ship for the Apollo 11 Moon-landing mission from 27 June to 1 August 1969. The Apollo 11 crew was recovered on 24 July 1969. Note the shelter for the Apollo capsule on the flight deck, U.S. Navy <http://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv12-69apollo/index_001.htm> PD-USGov-Military-Navy
Wreckage of USS Hornet Located
The Wreckage of USS Hornet has been discovered, a monumental find that brings to light one of the most iconic warships of World War II. Lost during the Battle of [...]
Wreckage of USS Strong Located
The Wreckage of USS Strong has been discovered, marking another remarkable chapter in the ongoing efforts to uncover the hidden stories of World War II. On February 26, 2019, the [...]
Wreckage of USS Wasp Located
The Wreckage of USS Wasp was uncovered in mid-March 2019 by the dedicated expedition team aboard Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel, a discovery that adds to their impressive record of uncovering [...]
Fragment of an original Japanese Type 97 "Purple" cipher machine on display at the United States National Security Agency's National Cryptologic Museum located in Ft. Meade, Maryland. The plaque at the base of the machine fragment reads: " 'Purple' This is the largest of three surviving pieces of the famous Japanese diplomatic cipher machine. It was recovered from the wreckage of the Japanese embassy in Berlin, 1945, USAF, <nationalmuseum.af.mil>
Cryptologists, the Purple Machine, and Pearl Harbor
Behind the scenes of military conflicts, cryptologists have always played a pivotal role in determining enemy plans and movements. These unsung heroes work tirelessly to intercept, study, and decode complex [...]
The Scars of War
War is an unrelenting force that reshapes everything it touches, leaving behind a legacy of destruction and pain. These scars aren’t limited to the people who experience war firsthand—they extend [...]
View of a Japanese airfield on Negros island, Philippines, under attack by U.S. carrier aircraft of Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8), in mid-September 1944. CVG-8 operated from the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), U.S. Navy, <USS Bunker Hill 1943-1944 cruise book> available at <Navysite.de> PD-USGov-Military-Navy
The Other “Pearl Harbor”
The attack on Pearl Harbor marked one of the darkest days in American history, catalyzing the nation's entry into World War II. While the harbor on Oahu was still reeling [...]
Photograph taken from a Japanese plane during the torpedo attack on ships moored on both sides of Ford Island shortly after the beginning of the Pearl Harbor attack. View looks about east, with the supply depot, submarine base and fuel tank farm in the right center distance.,Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941, Official U.S. Navy photograph NH 50930 <http://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/wars-and-events/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor-raid/overall-views-of-the-pearl-harbor-attack/NH-50930.html>, PD-Japan-Oldphoto
Even More Pearl Harbor Facts
When it comes to pivotal events in history, there are always lesser-known details that intrigue even the most seasoned historians. The attack on Pearl Harbor, a harrowing moment that lasted [...]
The Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) stands seemingly undamaged (although having been directly hit several times and damaged severely) while entire area surrounding it is completely devastated. The central railway station and Hohenzollern Bridge lie damaged to the north and east of the cathedral. Germany, 24 April 1945., DoD, US Army, Office of the Chief Signal Officer, 1945, US Archives <https://www.archives.gov/research/arc/>,PD-USGov-Military-Army
World War II-Related Guinness World Records
It might seem unusual, but even war has its place in the annals of Guinness World Records. From milestones like the “First Formal Declaration of War” to the “Oldest World [...]
Poster reminding citizens of complete blackouts as a civil defense procedure, Work Projects Administration Poster Collection, 1941-1943, Library of Congress <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress>'s Prints and Photographs division <https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/>, PD-USGov-Works-Progress-Administration
Wartime Blackouts: From Drills to Reality
As tensions between the United States and Japan escalated in the early 1940s, fears of an attack on the West Coast loomed large. Japan’s aggressive expansion into China and Southeast [...]
The Secret Japanese Plan for Biological Warfare
As World War II edged toward its conclusion, Japan grew increasingly desperate to turn the tide of the conflict. Among their final, sinister strategies was Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night, [...]
The History of the Hawaii Overprint Note
The History of the Hawaii Overprint Note begins in the dark days of World War II when the United States faced a looming threat of invasion. Following the Pearl Harbor [...]
The Japanese "Type A" midget submarine HA-19 partially hauled up on and eastern Oahu beach, during salvage by U.S. forces. It had grounded on 7 December 1941, following attempts to enter Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack, and was discovered the following day., U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, 1941, National Archives and Records Administration <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/National_Archives_and_Records_Administration>, PD-USGov-Military-Navy
The Fate of the Captured Midget Submarine HA. 19
The fate of the captured midget submarine HA. 19 is one of the most intriguing stories to emerge from the attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, before the [...]
