Images of the Pacific Images of the Pacific Theater of WWIITheater of WWII

Map Of Japanese Empire Map Of Japanese Empire 19421942

April 18, 1942April 18, 1942 - Surprise U.S. - Surprise U.S. 'Doolittle' B-25 air raid from the 'Doolittle' B-25 air raid from the

HORNET against Tokyo boosts Allied HORNET against Tokyo boosts Allied morale.morale.

May 7-8, 1942May 7-8, 1942 - Japan suffers its first defeat of - Japan suffers its first defeat of the war during the the war during the Battle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Coral Sea off off New Guinea - the first time in history that two New Guinea - the first time in history that two opposing carrier forces fought only using opposing carrier forces fought only using aircraft without the opposing ships ever aircraft without the opposing ships ever sighting each other. USA stops Japanese sighting each other. USA stops Japanese

expansion towards Australia.expansion towards Australia.

June 4-5, 1942June 4-5, 1942 - Turning point in the war - Turning point in the war occurs with a decisive victory for the U.S. occurs with a decisive victory for the U.S. against Japan in the against Japan in the Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway as as squadrons of U.S. torpedo planes and dive squadrons of U.S. torpedo planes and dive

bombersbombers destroy 332 Japanese planes and destroy 332 Japanese planes and all four aircraft carriers.all four aircraft carriers.

December 31, 1942December 31, 1942 - Emperor Hirohito of Japan - Emperor Hirohito of Japan gives permission to his troops to withdraw from gives permission to his troops to withdraw from GuadalcanalGuadalcanal after five months of bloody fighting after five months of bloody fighting

against U.S. Forcesagainst U.S. Forces

July 27, 1944July 27, 1944 - American - American troops complete the troops complete the liberation of liberation of GuamGuam..

August 8, 1944August 8, 1944 - American - American troops complete the capture of troops complete the capture of the the Mariana IslandsMariana Islands..

February 16, 1945February 16, 1945 - U.S. Troops - U.S. Troops recapture Bataan in the recapture Bataan in the PhilippinesPhilippines..

May 20May 20thth, 1945, 1945- - Japanese begin Japanese begin withdrawal from Chinawithdrawal from China

February 19, 1945February 19, 1945 - - U.S. Marines invade U.S. Marines invade Iwo JimaIwo Jima. .

June 22, 1945June 22, 1945 - Japanese resistance - Japanese resistance ends on ends on OkinawaOkinawa as the U.S. Tenth as the U.S. Tenth

Army completes its capture.Army completes its capture.

August 6, 1945August 6, 1945 - - First Atomic Bomb dropped on First Atomic Bomb dropped on

HiroshimaHiroshima from a B-29 flown by Col. Paul Tibbets from a B-29 flown by Col. Paul Tibbets

August 9, 1945August 9, 1945 - - Second Atomic Bomb is dropped on Second Atomic Bomb is dropped on NagasakiNagasaki from a B-29 flown by Maj. Charles Sweeney -- from a B-29 flown by Maj. Charles Sweeney -- Emperor Hirohito and Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki Emperor Hirohito and Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki then decide to seek an immediate peace with the Allies.then decide to seek an immediate peace with the Allies.

September 2, 1945September 2, 1945 - - Formal Japanese surrender Formal Japanese surrender ceremony on board the MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay as ceremony on board the MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay as 1,000 carrier-based planes fly overhead; President 1,000 carrier-based planes fly overhead; President Truman declares Truman declares VJ DayVJ Day..