On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese forces attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The surprise attack destroyed much of the United States' fleet, especially the battleships. This collection of pictures captures the attack on Pearl Harbor, including pictures of planes caught on the ground, battleships burning and sinking, explosions, and bomb damage.
Planes Caught on the Ground
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Ground Forces Surprised
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Explosions and Fire on the Battleships
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
- USS Arizona burning
- USS Arizona sinking
- USS Arizona burning
- Pillars of smoke caused by oil burning on the water
- Oil burning on top of water
- USS West Virginia and USS Tennessee surrounded by smoke
- USS West Virginia, USS Tennessee, and USS Arizona on fire
- Colors flying from USS West Virginia and USS Arizona, aflame
- A boat rescuing seamen from the burning USS West Virginia
- Putting out fires on the USS West Virginia
- USS Oglala capsized and surrounded in smoke
- USS Shaw exploding
- The exact moment the USS Shaw exploded
- Explosion on the USS Shaw
- USS Shaw when the magazine exploded
- An explosion on the USS Shaw
- USS Shaw burning
- USS Shaw hit by three bombs in her forward magazine
- USS Nevada silhouetted in fire and smoke
- Burning ship
Bomb Damage in Pearl Harbor
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Sinking Ships
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
- USS Arizona sinking
- Keel of the capsized USS Oklahoma
- Keel of the capsized USS Oklahoma
- Abandoning the USS California before it sinks
- USS California sinking into the mud, men watch
- The sunken battleship USS California
- Flag still flying from the sunken battleship USS West Virginia
- USS Oglala capsized
- The capsized mine ship Oglala
Battleship Row
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Wreckage
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
- USS Cassin and USS Downes in drydock
- USS Cassin and USS Downes in drydock
- Wreckage of USS Downes and USS Cassin
- Wreckage of the USS Downes
- Damaged bridge structure of the USS Arizona
- Damage on the USS Nevada's port side
- Wreckage of the USS Shaw
- Damaged warships
- The USS Raleigh being held afloat
- USS Nevada beached at Hospital Point
Japanese Wreckage
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Captured Japanese Pictures
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Raising and Salvaging the USS Oklahoma
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
- Aerial view of the hull, ship in 90 degree position
- During pumping operations for refloating
- Aerial view after refloating
- Aerial view from overhead and forward after refloating
- The USS Oklahoma during righting, 17 degree position
- USS Oklahoma laying tilted in the water, 68 degrees
- USS Oklahoma laying tilted in the water, 90 degrees
- Men working on salvaging, showing face masks with air supply
Raising and Salvaging the USS Arizona
Picture courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
- Aerial view of port side during righting
- Foremast structure, conning tower, and top of turret #2
- View from main mast during raising
- Turrets #3 and #4
- Lifting underwater wreckage
- A man emerging from after magazines via turret #3
- A man coming out of turret #3
- A man working in partially unwatered after magazines
