Pearl Harbor 61 years ago today

[August]

Time of this posting 05:25 Hawaiian time.

The first wave of Japanese aircraft have been brought up on the deck and crews are beginning to warm up their engines. It consists of 83 fighters, bombers, and torpedo planes. Comdr. Mitsuo Fuchida, leader of the flight, has just taken off and will watch as the carriers begin turning into the wind.

Launch is just 35 minutes away.

Destroyer USS Ward is still searching for the submarine reported by the minesweeper USS Condor at 03:42 local time

[Takeda Shingen]

A date that will live in infamy. May we never forget.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

A date that will live in infamy. May we never forget.

~SALUTE~

Also the memory of my late father.

[mookiemookie]

At the time of this posting, it's 6:45 AM Hawaii time.

The WARD opens fire at 100 yards. Her first round - the first shot fired in WWII by American Forces - misses. She closes to point blank range (50 yards) and fires a 4-inch shell hitting the midget submarine's conning tower. WARD overruns her target and the midget submarine wallows in her wake. Outerbridge orders four depth charges dropped. At 0651, he signals 14th Naval District Headquarters:

"WE HAVE ATTACKED FIRED UPON AND DROPPED DEPTH CHARGES
UPON SUBMARINE OPERATING IN DEFENSIVE SEA AREA."

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by August

Pearl Harbor 61 years ago today

Um, actually it was 71 years ago today.

Time to watch Tora! Tora! Tora! again.

[AVGWarhawk]

A day that spurned the world into war. A beginning of what we call "The Greatest Generation."

I salute my following family members who served in WW2:

Jean Schultheis: Navy WAVE PTO. Died Feb 2006
Charles Schultheis: B-17 pilot. Died June 13th 1943 over Kiel Germany going after the sub pens.
Edward Schultheis: torpedo/aircraft mechanic PTO. Died this year Oct 2012

Three kids that fought a war.

[August]

At the time of this posting it is 07:02 Hawaii time:

The Army’s Opana Mobile Radar Station is one of six radar stations on Oahu. Radar is a new defense tool in Hawaii; the system has been in operation for less than a month.

"One of the two privates on duty looks at the radar oscilloscope and can’t believe his eyes. He asks his buddy to take a look—and he confirms the sighting: 50 or more aircraft on a bearing for Oahu. The privates call the Fort Shafter information center, the hub of the radar network."

[August]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Um, actually it was 71 years ago today.

You're right. Fix it moderator boy!

[Sailor Steve]

I can't, or I would have. Neon is the only moderator here. He or Neal can make repairs, and no one else.

[August]

Well doesn't matter. We have no time!

At the time of this posting it is 07:49 Hawaii time:

Air-attack commander Mitsuo Fuchida, looking down on Pearl Harbor, sees no aircraft carriers, which the Japanese hoped to destroy and thus thwart U.S. retaliation. He orders his telegraph operator to tap out to, to, to: attack. Then other taps: to ra, to ra, to ra: attack, surprise achieved.

Though not meant to have a double meaning, to ra is read by some Japanese pilots as tora—tiger. And according to a Japanese saying, “A tiger goes out 1,000 ri [2,000 miles/3,218 kilometers] and returns without fail.”

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Three kids that fought a war.

One of my uncles was at Pearl Harbor. He survived the war, but not a heart attack at age 40. Two other uncles also fought in the war. I have no records, so I don't know what branches they served in or where.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

One of my uncles was at Pearl Harbor. He survived the war, but not a heart attack at age 40. Two other uncles also fought in the war. I have no records, so I don't know what branches they served in or where.

These were my uncles and aunt. Jean became may aunt through marriage to Edward Schultheis. Married right after the war. Wedding photo of them in their dress uniforms. Great photo!

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by August

Well doesn't matter. We have no time!

At the time of this posting it is 07:49 Hawaii time:

Air-attack commander Mitsuo Fuchida, looking down on Pearl Harbor, sees no aircraft carriers, which the Japanese hoped to destroy and thus thwart U.S. retaliation. He orders his telegraph operator to tap out to, to, to: attack. Then other taps: to ra, to ra, to ra: attack, surprise achieved.

Though not meant to have a double meaning, to ra is read by some Japanese pilots as tora—tiger. And according to a Japanese saying, “A tiger goes out 1,000 ri [2,000 miles/3,218 kilometers] and returns without fail.”

It's just a bunch of B-17s from the mainland.

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Time to watch Tora! Tora! Tora! again.

Good idea! *puts his copy on*

[Bilge_Rat]

My wife's uncle died two days ago, aged 88. He served in the Canadian Army in WW2. Landed in Normandy on D+9 and served on the continent for the rest of the war. Last WW2 vet in either our families. Pretty soon, there wont be any of them left.

My own great-uncle served as a navigator in the RAF during WW2. His bomber was shot down over Burma, but he managed to walk back to the allied lines in a few weeks.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

At the time of this posting, it's 6:45 AM Hawaii time.

The WARD opens fire at 100 yards. Her first round - the first shot fired in WWII by American Forces - misses. She closes to point blank range (50 yards) and fires a 4-inch shell hitting the midget submarine's conning tower. WARD overruns her target and the midget submarine wallows in her wake. Outerbridge orders four depth charges dropped. At 0651, he signals 14th Naval District Headquarters:

"WE HAVE ATTACKED FIRED UPON AND DROPPED DEPTH CHARGES
UPON SUBMARINE OPERATING IN DEFENSIVE SEA AREA."

Hurray for the USNR.