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Photo # 80-G-32908:  Japanese bomber in action during the Pearl Harbor attack, 7 December 1941

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --

Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 --
Japanese Aircraft during and after the Raid

Japanese planes attacked in two waves. The first wave, arriving just before 8AM, began its assault with dive-bombing and straffing against Navy and Army airfields to ensure that there would be a minimum of opposition from U.S. fighter planes, and to reduce the risk of a counterattack by American bombers and patrol planes. Almost simultaneously, torpedo planes roared in low over Pearl Harbor, launching their weapons against warships moored on both sides of Ford Island and at the Navy Yard's 1010 Dock. Shortly after 8AM, high-flying horizontal bombers paraded in formation over "Battleship Row", dropping their heavy armor-piercing bombs on the ships below. Having achieved great results, the first wave departed the scene about a half hour after it appeared.

The second Japanese wave hit about fifteen minutes after the first had departed, and delivered dive bombing, horizontal bombing and fighter machine gun attacks over the next hour. It did more damage to airfields, struck targets in and around the Navy Yard, and pummeled USS Nevada, the only U.S. battleship to get underway. At about 0945 on the morning of 7 December 1941, their assigned missions successfully completed, the last Japanese planes left the area to return to their carriers.

Total Japanese aircraft losses were light, only 29 planes, nine of them in the first wave. The second attack wave, arriving over targets that were alert and intensely motivated, faced much heavier anti-aircraft fire and lost twenty of its number. Several of the downed planes fell in or near Pearl Harbor or the other targets and were recovered for technical examination, as was one "Zero" fighter that crash landed on a remote island in the Hawaiian group. These provided U.S. intelligence with its first close-up look at the new enemy's latest aerial equipment.

This page features views of Japanese carrier planes in action during the Pearl Harbor attack, and crashed Japanese planes after the raid.

For other views of Japanese forces in the Pearl Harbor Attack, see:

  • Japanese Forces in the Pearl Harbor Attack.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-32908

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Japanese Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber ("Val") in action during the attack.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32460

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Japanese Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber ("Val") drops a 250 kilogram bomb during the attack.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 45KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-19931

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Japanese Type 00 Carrier Fighter ("Zero") trailing smoke after it was hit by anti-aircraft fire during the attack.
    The masthead machinegun platform of a battleship is visible in the lower right.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 43KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-13040

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Japanese Type 00 Carrier Fighter ("Zero") that crashed at Fort Kamehameha, near Pearl Harbor, during the attack.
    This plane, which had tail code "A1-154" and a red band around its rear fuselage, came from the aircraft carrier Akagi.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 132KB; 740 x 590 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-22158

    Japanese Navy Type 00 Carrier Fighter (A6M2)


    Interior of the cockpit of a "Zero" which crashed into Building 52 at Fort Kamehameha, Oahu, during the 7 December 1941 raid on Pearl Harbor. The pilot, who was killed, was NAP1/c Takeshi Hirano. Plane's tail code was "AI-154".
    Note the U.S. manufactured Fairchild Radio Compass in the upper center (Compass Model RC-4, Serial # 484). It was tuned in on 760 KC.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-22162

    Japanese Navy Type 00 Carrier Fighter (A6M2)


    Tail of a "Zero" which crash landed on Niihau Island, Territory of Hawaii, on 7 December 1941, following the raid on Pearl Harbor. The plane's tail code was "BII-120". It came from the carrier Hiryu and landed on Niihau after running low on fuel.
    Some of the rudder's fabric covering has been cut off by souvenir hunters.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 68KB; 580 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32441

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Japanese Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber ("Val") is examined by U.S. Navy personnel following its recovery from Pearl Harbor shortly after the attack.
    This plane was relatively intact, except that its tail section was broken away. It came from the aircraft carrier Kaga.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 50940

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Wing of a Japanese Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Plane ("Kate") that crashed at the Naval Hospital, Pearl Harbor, during the attack.
    This plane came from the aircraft carrier Kaga. Its "Rising Sun" insignia has been largely cut away by souvenir hunters.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 520 pixels

     


    For other views of Japanese forces in the Pearl Harbor Attack, see:

  • Japanese Forces in the Pearl Harbor Attack.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 15 October 2000
    New images added 15 January 2001