2:11PM
Getting PACFLT's VIP tour of Pearl/Arizona
Friday, March 31, 2006 at 2:11PM 
Fascinating fact to me: Japanese launched 2 waves of aircraft attacks on Pearl on 7 December. Because of losses of AC in first two attacks, planned 3rd attack on oil depot and ship repair facilities is abandoned by Japanese. If it had happened, US Navy would have been far more harmed.
Result? Midway made possible in 1942.
My lesson? You're getting your ass kicked and there seems little reason to keep fighting: don't give up! That seemingly pointless resistance made a huge difference within a year.
Small brave efforts turn the tide.
Reader Comments (4)
Not to belittle the heroics of our brave men that day, but i thought Nagumo decided against a 3rd strike because he didn't know where the US Carriers were. Maybe the losses of those 1st two strikes also contributed to his decision. Particularly the 2nd strike, which accounted for 75% of the japanese planes shot down that day. But i believe not catching the CV's in the harbor, affected his decision enormously.
Either way, the japanese lost the war that day as they had 1/10 the industrial capacity of us, even if they had won the battle of Midway.
Anyways, great blog Thomas, loved your 1st book
I am jealous. I really want to visit the Pearl Harbor site. Since Japan is closer to Hawaii than the US mainland, I will hopefully be able to visit while I am here...
Tom, I hope you can arrange a talk in Japan while I am here...that would be awesome.
Nagumo, like so many leaders in military history, found way too many reasons to be cautious. His boss, Admiral Yamamoto, was reputed to have been a pretty good poker player after some extended visits to the USA in the 1920s; Nagumo was not up to the mark -- he should have been willing to go "all in" at Pearl Harbor.
Visiting historic sites should be mandatory for all parents with children who vacation in the United States. I am reminded of a question I asked of a ninth grade class about Pearl Harbor. One girl responded by asking "Who's she?" Pathetic. I have since moved on to private schools and private tutoring. (PS - Everyone in the class knew who had been the last one voted off Survivor and American Idol!)