December 7, 1941.

0610 - 220 miles north of Oahu Admiral Nagumo of the Japanese Imperial Navy
ordered the 1st wave of 183 aircraft to launch. The 1st wave was lead by
Lt. Commander Mitsuo Fuchida.

0749 Commander Fuchida orders attack...all pilots to begin assault on military
bases on Oahu...

0753 Fuchida radios code to entire Japanese Navy "TORA TORA TORA" indicating success...maximum strategic surprise...Pearl Harbor caught unaware...

0755 Island wide attack begins...Japanese dive bombers to strike airfields Kaneohe, Ford Island, Hickam, Bellows, Wheeler, Ewa...Aerial torpedo planes begin their run on ships in Pearl Harbor...

ATTACK ERUPTS AT PEARL HARBOR



Along Battleship Row, battlewagons feel the sting of the newly perfected torpedoes specifically designed for the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor At 1010 dock violent explosions rock light cruiser HELENA on her starboard side crippling both her and minelayer OGLALA moored beside her.. On the other side of Battleship row, Ford Island, target ship UTAH also feels the sting of the torpedoes...and like the battleship OKLAHOMA begins to capsize... Light cruiser RALEIGH moored ahead of the UTAH takes measures to prevent capsizing... Commander Logan Ramsey of Ford Island Command Center sends out message for all radiomen on duty to send out in plain English "AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR THIS IS NO DRILL"...2nd dispatch orders all patrol planes to seek out enemy... Simultaneously the call for General Quarters echos throughout Pearl Harbor...each ship and their personnel in turn swing into action against the attacking Japanese...one quarter of all guns respond to the enemy...

0800 B-17's from the mainland reach Oahu after 14 hour flight...Aircraft from carrier ENTERPRISE arrive Ford Island...both caught between enemy and friendly fire...

0802 Machine guns on battleship NEVADA open fire on torpedo planes approaching her port beam...two planes hit...however one missile tears huge hole in ship's port bow...

0805 Repair ship VESTAL moored outboard of battleship ARIZONA opens fire... Admiral Kimmel arrives CINCPAC headquarters..Battleship CALIFORNIA receives second torpedo "portside at frame 110"... prompt action directed by Ensign Edgar M. Fain prevents ship from capsizing...High level bombers begin their run "on both bows" of battleship row...

0808 KGMB radio interrupts music calling for: "All Army, Navy, and Marine personnel to report to duty"... High level bombers unleash armour piercing, delayed action bombs from altitude of 10,000 feet scoring hits on battleships...

0810 Forward magazines on battleship ARIZONA suddenly ignite resulting in a tremendous explosion and huge fireball sinking the battleship within nine minutes...concussion of explosion blows men off repair ship VESTAL...

0812 General Short advises entire Pacific Fleet and Washington, "Hostilities with Japan commenced with air raid on Pearl Harbor"

0815 KGMB interrupts music with 2nd call ordering all military personnel to report for duty...

0817 USS HELM first of several destroyers to clear Pearl Harbor spots a midget submarine struggling to enter harbor...shots fired misses target...sub frees itself from reef and submerges...

0825 Using a Browning Automatic Rifle Lt. Stephen Saltzman and Sgt. Lowell Klatt shot down enemy plane making strafing run on Schofield Barracks...

0826 Honolulu Fire Department responds to call for assistance from Hickam Field...3 firemen killed...6 wounded...

0830 3rd call out for military via local radio stations...

0835 Tanker NEOSHO half loaded with high octane aviation fuel moves clear of Battleship Row and oil tanks on Ford Island... Damage reported in city...Police warn civilians to leave streets and return to their homes...

0839 Seaplane tender CURTISS sights midget sub in harbor and commences to fire..Destroyer MONAGHAN heads for intruder at ramming speed...

0840 Submarine surfaces after sustaining damage...MONAGHAN hits sub and drops depth charges as she passes...1st explanation over local radio stations. "A sporadic air attack...rising sun sighted on wing tips"...

0850 Lt. Commander Shimazaki orders deployment of 2nd wave over military bases on Oahu...

0854 Attack run begins...54 high-level bombers hit Naval air stations, 78 dive bombers hit ships in Pearl, 36 fighters circle over harbor to maintain air control...

0900 Crew of the Dutch liner JAGERSFONTEIN opens up with her guns, the first Allies to join the fight...Radios throughout the island crack out urgent messages "Get off roads and stay off.. Don't block traffic...Stay at home...This is the real McCoy"...

0930 Tremendous explosions rocks destroyer SHAW sending debris everywhere... bomb falls near Governor's home...

1000 First wave arrives back on carriers, 190 miles north of Oahu...

1005 Governor Poindexter calls local papers announcing state of emergency for entire territory of Hawaii

1030 Mayor's Major Disaster Council meets at city hall...Reports from local hospitals pour in listing civilian casualties...

1100 Commander Fuchida circles over Pearl Harbor...assesses damage then returns to carrier task force...All schools on Oahu ordered to close...

1115 State of emergency announced over radio by Governor Poindexter...

1142 As per orders by Army local stations go off the air...General short confers with Governor regarding martial law...

1146 First report of many false sightings of enemy troops landing on Oahu...

1210 American planes fly north in search for enemy with negative results...

1230 Honolulu police raid Japanese embassy...find them burning documents...Blackout to begin at night ordered by Army...

1240 Governor confers with President Roosevelt regarding martial law...both agree it necessary that the military take over the civilian government...

1300 Commander Fuchida lands on board carrier AKAGI...discussion follows with Admiral Nagumo and staff concerning feasibility of launching 3rd wave...

1330 Signal flags on carrier AKAGI orders Japanese task force to withdraw... Territorial director of civil defense orders blackout every night until further notice...

1458 Tadao Fuchikami delivers message from Washington...message decoded and given to General Short regarding ultimatum from Japan to be given at 1300 Washington time..."Just what significance the hour set may have we do not know, but be on the alert accordingly"...

1625 Governor signs Proclamation...martial law put into effect...

Time line courtesy of Tri-City Chapter 31,
Pearl Harbor Survivors Association



Listen to the audio of FDR's speech:

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of American was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secretary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese government also launched as attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. . .

Source: Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York.