War in the Pacific1942-1945

December 8, 1941

Japan invaded the Philippines

Pushed Allied forces out of Manila and

onto the Bataan Peninsula

Fearing Japan might invade Australia,

General Douglas MacArthur was

ordered to withdraw to Australia. Told

the Philippines “I shall return”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur#/media/File:MacArthur_Manila.jpg

Bataan Death March –April 1942

Approximately 76,000 American and Filipino troops surrendered to Japan on the Bataan Peninsula

Forced march to prison camp – beaten, shot, bayoneted, and sometimes beheaded

Many of those that made it to the camp later died of starvation and disease

From the march and treatment in camp, there was a 40% death rate for American soldiers

http://www.tragedyofbataan.com/march/

Battle of the Coral Sea – May 1942

Fought each other using aircraft

carriers

First time in naval history enemy ships

fought without seeing each other

Not a clear victory for either side – but

many Japanese planes destroyed

Kept Japan from invading Australia

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/events/wwii-pac/coralsea/coralsea.htm

Battle of Midway – June 1942

Japan vs. U.S. navies

The U.S. destroyed 4 Japanese carriers

and at least 250 planes

America lost 1 carrier and about 150

planes

Turning point - Japan now on the

defensive, navy nearly destroyed

https://warontherocks.com/2016/06/the-battle-of-midway-the-complete-intelligence-story/

Island Hopping

Allied strategy in Pacific of invading selected islands, usually ones less

occupied, and using them as bases to advance closer to Japan

Guadalcanal – August 1942 to

February 1943

First major land victory for the U.S.

against Japan

6 months of bitter fighting

Navajo Code Talkers played a major

role in this victory

https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Guadalcanal

Navajo Code Talkers

Code Talkers – Members of Navajo

Tribe recruited by the U.S. Marines to

create a secret code to transmit

messages.

Japan was never able to break the

code

http://navajopeople.org/navajo-code-talker.htm

Invasion of Philippines – October 1944

to March 1945

Massive three-day naval battle

Liberated Manila in March 1945

General MacArthur returned as

promised

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur

Kamikazes

Japanese increased their use of

kamikazes

Kamikaze – Japanese suicide pilot

Filled their planes with explosives and

crashed them into Allied warships

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26256048

Iwo Jima

Japan’s defenses are weakened

Allies begin bombing Japan

Need to establish bases closer to mainland

Iwo Jima one of two islands chosen

Marines invaded in February 1945

Planting flag on top of Mount Suribachi signaled victory although fighting continued for several more days

http://www.iwojima.com/

Okinawa

Other island needed by Allies to

establish a base

Invaded April 1945

Took several months to conquer

High casualties to conquer both

islands – more than 18,000 U.S. men

died. Japanese deaths exceeded

120,000

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Okinawa

Manhattan Project

Set up in 1942

Top-secret program to build an atomic bomb

Other countries, including Nazi Germany, were working on a similar

weapon

Headed by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer

3 years to develop the weapon

First successful test in New Mexico

Invade or atomic bomb?

Allies planned to invade Japan in November 1945

Fear the invasion might cost anywhere between 200,000 and 1,000,000

American casualties

Some believed that while it is a terrible weapon, the atomic bomb should

be only used on military targets. Using the bomb would force an

“unconditional surrender”

Others believe the bomb is of no military use because Japan is already

defeated and ready to surrender. If the U.S. becomes the first to use it,

then how does it make us any different then countries that have used

chemical weapons?

Options for ending WWII in the Pacific

1. Invade Japanese mainland

2. Demonstration of atomic power for Japanese officials

3. Drop atomic bombs on military/industrial sites

4. Drop “lesser” bombs and blockade Japan

5. Wait for Soviets to enter war

6. Mediate a peace compromise

Ultimatum

Truman told Japan to surrender or face destruction

Japan refused to give in

Hiroshima

August 6, 1945, the B-29 bomber Enola

Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the

industrial city of Hiroshima. Exploded

about 8:15 a.m.

Bomb codename “Little Boy”

http://hiroshima.australiandoctor.com.au/

http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/hiroshima.htm

Why Hiroshima?

The size of city – testing destructive capabilities and confirming the

destructive effects later

Concentration of military troops, installations, and factories that had not

been previously bombed

That day

About 350,000 people are thought to have been in the city

About 8,400 students (6-7th grades) in the city – younger children had

been evacuated to the countryside

At the instant of explosion, intense heat rays and radiation were released

in all directions. The pressure on the surrounding air created a blast of

unimaginable force.

Damage

About 90% of the buildings collapsed or burned

The wind blew at about 1,000 mph; thousands of people were killed or

injured when they were hurled through the air or crushed under their

collapsed houses

Due to the heat rays emitted, the wood and paper houses and anything

burnable in the downtown area burst into flame. Most combustible

material within approx. 1.2 miles of hypocenter were burned to cinders

and ash; extreme heat melted glass and metal like lava

Damage

It is assumed that at least half of the people who were in the open within

.62 miles of the hypocenter died mainly from the initial radiation

Acute radiation effects extended for 4 months after the bombing –

destruction of cells, disorders in internal organs, lowering of immune

function, and loss of hair.

Tremendous fire the burned downtown caused intense firestorms and

whirlwinds. Within 20-30 minutes, a heavy black rain began falling in areas

to the northwest. This rain contained large amounts of radioactive soot

and dust, therefore contaminating areas far from the hypocenter.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/japan-photos-devastated-cities-hiroshima-nagasaki-after-us-atomic-bombs-1562334

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/hiroshima-70th-anniversary-nuclear-bomb-should-never-be-used-again#slide10

As nuclear radiation pelts a hard surface, the surface becomes bleached -- sort

of like what happens to you when you fall asleep at the beach, but in reverse. If

any sort of sunblock -- in this case, that of the flesh-and-blood variety -- stands

in between, it leaves behind a permanent darker area.

Nagasaki

Japan still refused to surrender

August 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped a

second atomic bomb on Nagasaki

Bomb codename “Fat Man”

http://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/hiroshima-and-nagasaki-the-atom-bomb-hits/

http://thebulletin.org/harrowing-story-nagasaki-bombing-mission8592

Aftermath

V-J Day

On August 14th, Japan surrendered to

the United States

September 2, 1945, Japanese and

Allied leaders met aboard the U.S.

battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Japan signed an official letter of

surrender

http://www.rsvlts.com/2015/09/02/japanese-surrender-world-war-ii/

http://time.com/3517476/v-j-day-1945-a-nation-lets-loose/