7 December 1941 Contributed by Joseph Czarnecki, Richard Worth, Matthias C. Noch, Mark E. Horan and Tony DiGiulian
Japanese Forces
Imperial Japanese Navy
Admiral Nagano Osami
Position: Chief of the Naval General Staff
Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku
Position: Commander of the Combined Fleet
First Air Fleet
First Carrier Division
Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi
CV Akagi
Commanding officer: Captain Hasegawa Kiichi
CV Kaga
Commanding officer: Captain Okada Jisaku
Air group aboard Akagi
Commander Masuda Shogo
Position: Air Officer
Torpedo bombers
Commander Fuchida Mitsuo
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: CDR Fuchida
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
Torpedo
LCDR Murata
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LCDR Murata Shigeharu
Notes: Three B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Three B5N2 "Kate"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Three B5N2 "Kate"
4th Squadron
Notes: Three B5N2 "Kate"
Bombers
LT Chihaya
21st Squadron
Commanding officer: LT Chihaya
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
22nd Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
23rd Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
25th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
26th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
27th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
Fighters
LCDR Itaya
1st FCU Wave 1
Commanding officer: LCDR Itaya Shigeru
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
1st FCU Wave 2
Commanding officer: LT Shindo
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
CAP
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
Air group aboard Kaga
Commander Sata Naohito
Position: Air Officer
Torpedo bombers
LCDR Hashiguchi
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LCDR Hashiguchi
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
Torpedo
LT Kitajima
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LT Kitajima
Notes: Three B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Three B5N2 "Kate"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Three B5N2 "Kate"
4th Squadron
Notes: Three B5N2 "Kate"
Bombers
LT Makino
21st Squadron
Commanding officer: LT Makino
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
22nd Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
23rd Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
25th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
26th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
27th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
28th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
29th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
Fighters
LT Shiga
2nd FCU Wave 1
Commanding officer: LT Shiga
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
2nd FCU Wave 2
Commanding officer: LT Nikaido
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
CAP
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
Destroyer Division 7
Midway Attack Unit
DD Ushio
Notes: Fubuki class.
DD Sazanami
Notes: Fubuki class.
Second Carrier Division
Rear Admiral Yamaguchi Tamon
CV Soryu
Commanding officer: Captain Yanagimoto Ryusaku
CV Hiryu
Commanding officer: Captain Kaku Tomeo
Air group aboard Soryu
Commander Kusumoto Ikuto
Position: Air Officer
Torpedo bombers
LT Abe
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LT Abe
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
Torpedo
LT Nagai
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LT Nagai
Notes: Two B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Two B5N2 "Kate"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Two B5N2 "Kate"
4th Squadron
Notes: Two B5N2 "Kate"
Bombers
LCDR Egusa
21st Squadron
Commanding officer: LCDR Egusa Takeshige
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
22nd Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
23rd Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
25th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
26th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
Fighters
LT Suganami
3rd FCU Wave 1
Commanding officer: LT Suganami
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
3rd FCU Wave 2
Commanding officer: LT Iida
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
CAP
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
Air group aboard Hiryu
Commander Amagai Takahisa
Position: Air Officer
Torpedo bombers
LCDR Kosumi
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LCDR Kosumi
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Five B5N2 "Kate"
Torpedo
LT Matsumura
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LT Matsumura
Notes: Two B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Two B5N2 "Kate"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Two B5N2 "Kate"
4th Squadron
Notes: Two B5N2 "Kate"
Bombers
LT Kobayashi
21st Squadron
Commanding officer: LT Kobayashi
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
22nd Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
23rd Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
25th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
26th Squadron
Notes: Three D3A1 "Val"
Fighters
LT Okajima
4th FCU Wave 1
Commanding officer: LT Okajima
Notes: Six A6M2 "Zeke"
4th FCU Wave 2
Commanding officer: LT Nono
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
CAP
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
Fifth Carrier Division
Rear Admiral Hara Chuichi
CV Shokaku
Commanding officer: Captain Jojima Takatsugu
Notes: Shokaku class.
CV Zuikaku
Commanding officer: Captain Yokokawa Ichibei
Notes: Shokaku class.
DD Akigumo
Notes: Yugumo class.
Air group aboard Shokaku
Commander Wada Tetsujiro
Position: Air Officer
Torpedo bombers
LCDR Shimazaki
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LCDR Shimazaki Shigekazu
Notes: Nine B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Nine B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Nine B5N2 "Kate"
Bombers
LCDR Takahashi
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LCDR Takahashi Kakuichi
Notes: Nine D3A1 "Val"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Nine D3A1 "Val"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Nine D3A1 "Val"
Fighters
LT Kaneko
5th FCU Wave
Commanding officer: LT Kaneko
Notes: Six A6M2 "Zeke"
CAP
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
Air group aboard Zuikaku
Commander Shimoda Hisao
Position: Air Officer
Torpedo bombers
LT Ichihara
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LT Ichihara
Notes: Nine B5N2 "Kate"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Nine B5N2 "Kate"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Nine B5N2 "Kate"
Bombers
LCDR Sakamoto
1st Squadron
Commanding officer: LCDR Sakamoto Akira
Notes: Nine D3A1 "Val"
2nd Squadron
Notes: Nine D3A1 "Val"
3rd Squadron
Notes: Nine D3A1 "Val"
Fighters
LT Sato
6th FCU Wave 1
Commanding officer: LT Sato
Notes: Six A6M2 "Zeke"
CAP
Notes: Nine A6M2 "Zeke"
Battleship Division 3
Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
Cruiser Division 8
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
Destroyer Squadron 1
Rear Admiral Omori Sentaro
CL Abukuma
Notes: Nagara class.
Destroyer Division 17
DD Urakaze
Notes: Kagero class.
DD Isokaze
Notes: Kagero class.
DD Tanikaze
Notes: Kagero class.
DD Hamakaze
Notes: Kagero class.
Destroyer Division 18
Detached from Destroyer Division 2
DD Kagero
Notes: Kagero class.
DD Shiranuhi
Notes: Kagero class.
DD Arare
Notes: Asashio class.
DD Kasumi
Notes: Asashio class.
Midway Destruction Unit
Captain Ohishi Kaname
DD Akebono
Notes: Fubuki class.
DD Ushio
Notes: Fubuki class.
Submarine Division 2
Captain Imaizumi Kijiro
SS I-19
Notes: I-15 Class/Type B1.
SS I-21
Notes: I-15 Class/Type B1.
SS I-23
Notes: I-15 Class/Type B1.
1st Supply Train
AO Kyokuto Maru
Notes: Merchant conversion.
AO Kenyo Maru
Notes: Merchant conversion.
AO Kokuyo Maru
Notes: Merchant conversion.
AO Shinkiku Maru
Notes: Merchant conversion.
AO Akebono Maru
Notes: Merchant conversion.
2nd Supply Train
AO Toho Maru
Notes: Merchant conversion.
AO Toei Maru
Notes: Merchant conversion.
AO Nippon Maru
Notes: Merchant conversion.
Sixth (Submarine) Fleet
Vice Admiral Shimizu Mitsumi
1st Submarine Squadron
Rear Admiral Sato Tsutomu
SS I-9
Notes: I-9 Class/Type A1.
SS I-15
Notes: I-15 Class/Type B1.
SS I-17
Notes: I-15 Class/Type B1.
SS I-25
Notes: I-15 Class/Type B1.
2nd Submarine Squadron
Rear Admiral Yamazaki Shigeaki
SS I-7
Notes: I-7 Class/Type J3.
SS I-1
Notes: I-1 Class/Type J1.
SS I-2
Notes: I-1 Class/Type J1.
SS I-3
Notes: I-1 Class/Type J1.
SS I-4
Notes: I-1 Class/Type J1.
SS I-5
Notes: I-5 Class/Type J1M.
SS I-6
Notes: I-6 Class/Type J2.
3rd Submarine Squadron
Rear Admiral Miwa Shigeyoski
SS I-8
Notes: I-7 Class/Type J3.
SS I-68
Notes: I-68 Class/Type KD6A.
SS I-69
Notes: I-68 Class/Type KD6A.
SS I-70
Notes: I-68 Class/Type KD6A.
SS I-71
Notes: I-68 Class/Type KD6A.
SS I-72
Notes: I-68 Class/Type KD6A.
SS I-73
Notes: I-68 Class/Type KD6A.
SS I-74
Notes: I-74 Class/Type KD6B.
SS I-75
Notes: I-74 Class/Type KD6B.
Special Attack Unit
Captain Sasaki Hanku
Position: Mother Submarines Commander
Lt. Naoji Iwasa
Position: Mini-submarines Commander
SS I-22 (flagship)
Notes: I-16 Class/Type C1.
MSS I-22A
Notes: A type mini-submarine.
SS I-16
Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. Hiroshi Hanabusa
Notes: I-16 Class/Type C1.
MSS I-16A
Commanding officer: Ensign Sakamaki Kazuo
Notes: A type mini-submarine. Sakamaki was the USA's first POW.
SS I-18
Notes: I-16 Class/Type C1.
MSS I-18A
Notes: A type mini-submarine.
SS I-20
Notes: I-16 Class/Type C1.
MMS I-20A
Notes: A type mini-submarine.
SS I-24
Notes: I-16 Class/Type C1.
MSS I-24A
Notes: A type mini-submarine.
Submarine Reconnaissance Unit
Commander Kashihara Yasuchika
SS I-10
Notes: I-9 Class/Type A1.
SS I-26
Commanding officer: Cmdr Minoru Yokota
Notes: I-26 Class/Type B1.
American Naval Forces
United States Navy
Admiral Harold R. "Betty" Stark
Position: Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Husband E. "Mustapha" Kimmel
Position: Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet
Battle Force (Task Force 1)
Vice Admiral William S. Pye
Battleships, Battle Force
RADM Walter S. Anderson
Battleship Division 1
RADM Issac C. Kidd
BB-36 Nevada (sunk)
Commanding officer: Captain Francis W. Scanland
Notes: Nevada class. Salvaged.
BB-38 Pennsylvania (damaged)
Commanding officer: Captain Charles M. "Saavy" Cooke, Jr.
Notes: Pennsylvania class.
BB-39 Arizona (sunk)
Commanding officer: Captain Franklin Van Valkenburg
Notes: Pennsylvania class. Wreck remains at Pearl Harbor; partially salvaged in 1942.
Battleship Division 2
RADM Issac C. Kidd
BB-37 Oklahoma
Commanding officer: Captain Howard D. "Ping" Bode
Notes: Nevada class. Raised in 1944, later sold for scrap, lost en route to shipbreakers on 17 May 1947.
BB-43 Tennessee (damaged)
Notes: Tennessee class.
BB-44 California (sunk)
Commanding officer: Captain Joel W. Bunkley
Notes: Tennessee class. Salvaged.
Battleship Division 4
RADM Walter S. Anderson
BB-46 Maryland (damaged)
Commanding officer: Captain D.C. Godwin
Notes: Colorado class.
BB-48 West Virginia (sunk)
Commanding officer: Captain Mervyn Bennion
Notes: Colorado class. Salvaged.
Cruisers, Battle Force
Rear Admiral H. Fairfax Leary
Cruiser Division 6
Partial
CA-32 New Orleans
Notes: New Orleans class.
CA-38 San Francisco
Notes: New Orleans class.
Cruiser Division 9
Rear Admiral H. Fairfax Leary
CL-46 Phoenix
Notes: Brooklyn class.
CL-48 Honolulu (damaged)
Notes: Brooklyn class.
CL-49 St. Louis
Commanding officer: Captain George A. Rood
Notes: St. Louis class.
CL-50 Helena (damaged)
Notes: St. Louis class.
Destroyers, Battle Force
Rear Admiral Milo F. Draemel
Destroyer Flotilla 1
CL-7 Raleigh (damaged)
Notes: Omaha class.
Destroyer Squadron One
DD-360 Phelps
Notes: Porter class.
Destroyer Squadron One
DD-349 Dewey
Notes: Farragut class.
DD-350 Hull
Notes: Farragut class.
DD-351 MacDonough
Notes: Farragut class.
DD-352 Worden
Notes: Farragut class.
Destroyer Squadron Two
DD-348 Farragut
Notes: Farragut class.
DD-353 Dale
Notes: Farragut class.
DD-354 Monaghan
Notes: Farragut class.
DD-355 Aylwin
Notes: Farragut class.
Destroyer Squadron Three
DD-357 Selfridge
Notes: Porter class.
Destroyer Squadron Five
DD-369 Reid
Notes: Mahan class.
DD-371 Conyngham
Notes: Mahan class.
DD-372 Cassin (seriously damaged)
Notes: Mahan class.
DD-375 Downes (seriously damaged)
Notes: Mahan class.
Cassin and Downes were very badly damaged and were decommissioned after the attack. However, much of their machinery and other items were determined to be salvagable and so were installed in new hulls. These ships carried the same names and hull numbers but they were essentially new construction.
Destroyer Squadron Six
DD-365 Cummings
Notes: Mahan class.
DD-370 Case
Notes: Mahan class.
DD-373 Shaw (damaged)
Notes: Mahan class.
DD-374 Tucker
Notes: Mahan class.
Destroyer Flotilla 2
CL-8 Detroit
Notes: Omaha class. Flotilla leader.
DD-386 Bagley
DD-387 Blue
DD-388 Helm
DD-389 Mugford
DD-390 Ralph Talbot
DD-391 Henley
DD-392 Patterson
DD-393 Jarvis
Other Destroyers
DD-66 Allen
DD-103 Schley
DD-106 Chew
DD-139 Ward
Notes: Patrolling Channel entrance to Pearl Harbor.
Submarines
SS-167 Narwhal
SS-169 Dolphin
SS-170 Cachalot
SS-199 Tautog
Minelayer
CM-4 Oglala (sunk)
Notes: Salvaged.
Minesweepers
AM-13 Turkey
AM-20 Bobolink
AM-26 Rail
AM-31 Tern
AM-43 Grebe
AM-52 Vireo
Coastal Minesweepers
AMC-8 Cockatoo
AMC-9 Crossbill
AMC-14 Condor
AMC-30 Reedbird
Destroyer Minelayers
DM-15 Gamble
DM-16 Ramsay
DM-17 Montgomery
DM-18 Breese
DM-19 Tracy
DM-20 Preble
DM-21 Sicard
DM-22 Pruitt
Destroyer Minesweepers
DMS-14 Zane
DMS-15 Wasmuth
DMS-16 Trever
DMS-17 Perry
Patrol Gunboat
PG-19 Sacramento
Destroyer Tenders
AD-3 Dobbin
AD-4 Whitney
Seaplane Tenders
AV-4 Curtiss (damaged)
Notes: Seaplane tender.
AV-8 Tangier
Small Seaplane Tenders
AVP-4 Avocet
AVP-7 Swan
Seaplane Tenders
Converted Destroyer
AVD-6 Hulbert
AVD-11 Thornton
Ammunition Ship
AE-1 Pyro
Oilers
AO-12 Ramapo
AO-23 Neosho
Repair Ships
AR-1 Medusa
AR-4 Vestal (damaged)
Notes: Repair ship.
AR-11 Rigel
Submarine Tender
AS-14 Pelias
Submarine Rescue Ship
ASR-1 Widgeon
Hospital Ship
AH-5 Solace
Cargo Ship
AK-17 Vega
Notes: At Honolulu.
Stores Issue Ships
AKS-1 Castor
AKS-3 Antares
Notes: Entering Pearl Harbor.
Ocean Tugs
AT-13 Ontario
AT-28 Sunnadin
AT-38 Keosanqua
Notes: Entering Pearl Harbor.
AT-64 Navajo
Notes: 12 miles outside Pearl Harbor entrance.
Miscellaneous Auxiliaries
AG-16 Utah
Notes: Target ship. Wreck remains at Pearl Harbor; partially salvaged in 1942.
AG-31 Argonne
AG-32 Sumner
CM-1 (ex C-3) Baltimore
Notes: Out of commission.
Aircraft, Battle Force (Task Force 2)
Not at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
Vice Admiral William F. "Bill" Halsey
Carrier Division 1
CV-2 Lexington
Notes: Lexington class.
CAG-2
Notes: One SBD-2
VB-2
Notes: 18 SBD-2
VF-2
Notes: 18 F2A-3
VS-2
Notes: 18 SBD-2
VT-2
Notes: 18 TBD
Carrier Division 2
CV-6 Enterprise
Notes: Yorktown class.
CAG-6
Notes: One SBD-2
VB-6
Notes: 18 SBD-2
VF-6
Notes: 13 F4F-3A, one F4F-3
VS-6
Notes: 18 SBD-2
VT-6
Notes: 18 TBD-1
Scouting Force (Task Force 3)
Not at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
Vice Admiral Wilson Brown
Cruiser Division 4
Vice Admiral Wilson Brown
CA-29 Chicago
Notes: Northampton class.
CA-33 Portland
Notes: Portland class.
CA-35 Indianapolis
Notes: Portland class.
Cruiser Division 5
CA-25 Salt Lake City
Notes: Pensacola class.
CA-26 Northampton
Notes: Northampton class.
CA-27 Chester
Notes: Northampton class.
Cruiser Division 6
Partial
CA-34 Astoria
Notes: New Orleans class.
CA-36 Minneapolis
Notes: New Orleans class.
Submarines, Scouting Force
Rear Admiral Thomas Withers, Jr.
SS-211 Gudgeon
Commanding officer: "Joe" Grenfell
Notes: Tambor class.
SS-200 Thresher
Commanding officer: Bill Anderson
Notes: Tambor class.
Other
AM-30 Seagull
Commanding officer: LCDR Danial B. Candler
Notes: Bird class.
Louisville Escort
Not at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
CA-28 Louisville
Commanding officer: Capt. Elliott Bodley Nixon
Notes: Northampton class.
SS President Coolidge
Notes: Army Troop Transport
USAT Hugh L. Scott (ex-President Pierce, later AP-43)
Notes: Army Troop Transport
On 7 December 1941, USS Louisville was escorting Hugh L. Scott and President Coolidge from Tarakan, East Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia) to Pearl Harbor.
Notes
Units that were beached are also marked above as "sunk".
Kido Butai lost 29 planes to all causes over Pearl Harbor. A total of 55 aviators were lost, including those in aircraft that returned to the carriers. An additional 111 planes were damaged of which twenty-six were later written off.
An additional nine men were killed and one captured from the minisubmarines.
Aircraft
Wave 1
21 aircraft lost.
Lost over Pearl Harbor
Aircraft Carrier
Aircraft
Akagi
1 A6M2
Kaga
2 A6M2, 5 B5N2
Shokaku
1 D3A
Total
9 aircraft
Recovered aircraft written off
Aircraft type
Quantity
A6M
0
B5N
11
D3A
1
Total
12
Wave 2
34 aircraft lost.
Lost over Pearl Harbor
Aircraft Carrier
Aircraft
Akagi
4 D3A1
Kaga
2 A6M2, 6 D3A1
Hiryu
1 A6M2, 2 D3A1
Soryu
3 A6M2, 2 D3A1
Total
20 aircraft
Recovered aircraft written off
Aircraft type
Quantity
A6M
0
D3A
14
Total
14
Aircrew
Killed in action by aircraft carrier
Akagi
10 aviators lost.
1st Wave
Name
Aircraft type
Takeshi Hirano
A6M
Shigeharu Sugaya
B5N
Total
2
2nd Wave
Name
Aircraft type
Hajime Goto
D3A
Kinsuke Homma
D3A
Hirokichi Kinoshita
D3A
Seiichi Ota
D3A
Toshio Oyama
D3A
Kiyoshi Sakamoto
D3A
Chuji Shimakura
D3A
Doshi Utsuki
D3A
Total
8
Hiryu
5 aviators lost.
2nd Wave
Name
Aircraft type
Isamu Kiyomura
D3A
Hajime Murao
D3A
Shigenori Nishikaichi
A6M
Yoshio Shimizu
D3A
Korevoshi Sotoyama
D3A
Total
5
Kaga
31 aviators lost.
1st Wave
Name
Aircraft type
Toru Haneda
A6M
Syuzo Kitahara
B5N
Kenichi Kumamoto
B5N
Yoshiharu Machimoto
B5N
Yoshizo Masuda
B5N
Isamu Matsuda
B5N
Tsuneki Morita
B5N
Izumi Nagai
B5N
Nafikatsu Ohashi
B5N
Toshio Onishi
B5N
Seinoshin Sano
A6M
Yoshio Shimizu
B5N
Mitsumori Suzuki
B5N
Hidemi Takeda
B5N
Tomoharu Takeda
B5N
Yonetaro Ueda
B5N
Nobuo Umezu
B5N
Total
17
2nd Wave
Name
Aircraft type
Nagaaki Asahi
D3A
Toshiaki Bando
D3A
Ippei Goto
A6M
Fumio Hirshima
D3A
Fukumitsu Imai
D3A
Tomio Inenaga
A6M
Kazuyoshi Kuwabata
D3A
Saburo Makino
D3A
Tsuneo Minamizaki
D3A
Iwao Oka
D3A
Shingenori Onikura
D3A
Noboru Sakaguchi
D3A
Sueo Sukida
D3A
Nobuo Tsuda
D3A
Total
14
Shokaku
2 aviators lost.
1st Wave
Name
Aircraft type
Kunio Iwatsuki
D3A
Tetsusaburo Kumazo
D3A
Total
2
Soryu
7 aviators lost.
2nd Wave
Name
Aircraft type
Shunichi Atsumi
A6M
Fusata Iida
A6M
Saburo Ishii
A6M
Satoru Kawasaki
D3A
Hideyasu Kuwabara
D3A
Kenji Maruyama
D3A
Ryochi Takahashi
D3A
Total
7
American Victory Claims
The United States Army Air Force credited the following pilots with a total of nine Japanese aircraft confirmed downed along with four probables and two damaged.
Pilot
Credited victories
2nd Lt. Harry W. Brown
1
2nd Lt. Phillip M. Rasmussen
1
1st Lt. Lewis M. Sanders
1
2nd Lt. Kenneth M. Taylor
2
2nd Lt. George S. Welch
4
Total
9
American Air Strength and Losses
Personnel
On the 7th of December 1941, there were 7,460 members of the Air Corps (USAAF, USN, USMC), 754 officers and 6,706 enlisted crew, located in Hawaii.
Location
Killed
Missing
Wounded
Total
Hickam Airbase
121
37
274
432
Wheeler Airfield
37
6
53
96
Bellows Airfield
5
0
9
14
Total
163
43
336
542
Aircraft
On the 7th of December 1941, there were 223 military aircraft based in Hawaii.
Airplane
Destroyed
Damaged
Combat Ready
Total
B-17D
4
4
4
12
B-18A
12
10
11
33
A-20A
2
5
5
12
P-40C
5
5
2
12
P-40B
37
25
25
87
P-36A
4
19
16
39
P-26
0
0
14
14
Total
64
82
77
223
Japanese Aerial Deployment
Aircraft
The six Japanese aircraft carriers had a total of 441 aircraft aboard of which 387 were "combat ready" along with 54 spares that were not yet useable, but would become available within a few hours. These 54 were partially disassembled for ease of storage, with each carrier having three spare aircraft of each type aboard. These would be finished shortly before the first wave launched and were used as CAP over the fleet and in the second wave as replacements for lost aircraft of the first wave.
Carrier
A6M
B5N
D3A
Total
Ready
Spares
Ready
Spares
Ready
Spares
Ready
Spares
Akagi
18
3
27
3
18
3
64
9
Kaga
18
3
27
3
27
3
72
9
Soryu
18
3
18
3
18
3
54
9
Hiryu
18
3
18
3
18
3
54
9
Shokaku
18
3
27
3
27
3
72
9
Zuikaku
18
3
27
3
27
3
72
9
Total
108
18
144
18
135
18
387
54
Plan
General Concepts
The battle-plan saw the use of 360 aircraft (81 A6M, 144 B5N and 135 D3A) in two waves (189 in the first wave and 171 in the second wave). CAP over Oahu would be provided by 39 fighters supported by nine fighters from the first wave. Two reconnaissance planes launched from cruisers were to scout over Oahu prior to the attack and report as to the status of the US Fleet. Four additional reconnaissance planes from cruisers and battleships were to patrol the area between Niihau and the fleet to protect against surprise encounters with US planes and ships. So, a total of 405 aircraft were to be involved in the attack. Of these, ten aborted for various reasons, as detailed below.
Orders and targets of the attack waves
In the memorandum No. 97 the following orders were given to the air units:
First Wave
The fighter-bombers and torpedo-bombers will attack the battleships and then the aircraft carriers. The dive-bombers should attack ground targets. The aircraft from Shokaku are to attack the airfield at Ford Island with all its installations, the other aircraft, Wheeler airfield and its installations. The fighters are to be used as CAP over the US airfields.
Second Wave
The fighter-bombers from the Shokaku are ordered to attack the airfield on Kaneohe and Ford Island. The aircraft from the Zuikaku are assigned to Hickam Field. The dive-bombers should attack the aircraft carriers, if the carriers are absent, they should attack other capital ships. The fighters are to be used as CAP over the US airfields.
Route of Attack
The decisive strike belonged to the first wave. The torpedo-bombers should spearhead the attack as they were the most vulnerable and so needed the moment of surprise the most. The fighters were ordered to fly CAP and destroy all enemy fighters, on the ground if possible. The fighters from the Kaga and Akagi were to patrol over Hickham Field and Barbers Point, the fighters from the Soryu and Hiryu over Wheeler and Barbers Point and those from Shokaku and Zuikaku over Kaneohe.
Attack
First Wave
The first wave had 189 aircraft assigned, but two A6Ms of the Soryu and Shokaku, one B5N of the Kaga, one D3A of the Shokaku and two D3As of the Zuikaku did not launch due to technical problems, so only 183 aircraft reached Oahu.
Fighters
Carrier
Aircraft
Commander
Akagi
9 aircraft in one group
Lt. Cdr. Shigeru Itaya
Kaga
9 aircraft in one group
Lt. Yoshio Shiga
Soryu
9 aircraft in one group
Lt. Masaji Suganami
Hiryu
6 aircraft in two groups of three
Lt. Kiyokuma Okajima
Shokaku
6 aircraft in two groups of three
Lt. Tadashi Kaneko
Zuikaku
6 aircraft in three groups of two
Lt. Masao Sato
Torpedo-bombers
Carrier
Aircraft
Commander
Akagi
12 aircraft in two groups of six
Lt. Cdr. Shigeharu Murata
Kaga
12 aircraft in two groups of six
Lt. Kauyoshi Kitajima
Soryu
8 aircraft in two groups of four
Lt. Tsuyoshi Nagai
Hiryu
8 aircraft in two groups of four
Lt. Hirata Matsumura
Fighter-bombers
Carrier
Aircraft
Commander
Akagi
15 aircraft in three groups of five
Cdr. Mitsuo Fuchida
Kaga
15 aircraft in three groups of five
Lt. Cdr. Takashi Hashiguchi
Soryu
10 aircraft in two groups of five
Lt. Heijiro Abe
Hiryu
10 aircraft in two groups of five
Lt. Cdr. Tadashi Kusumi
Dive-bombers
Carrier
Aircraft
Commander
Shokaku
27 aircraft in three groups of nine
Lt. Cdr. Kakuichi Takahashi
Zuikaku
27 aircraft in three groups of nine
Lt. Cdr. Akira Sakamoto
Second Wave
The second wave had 171 aircraft. One A6M of the Hiryu and one D3A of the Kaga didn't start due to technical problems and two further D3As failed right after launching and returned to their carriers (Hiryu and Soryu). So the second wave had only 167 aircraft when it arrived at the meeting-point near Oahu.
Fighters
Carrier
Aircraft
Commander
Akagi
9 aircraft in one group
Lt. Saburo Shindo
Kaga
9 aircraft in one group
Lt. Yasushi Nikaido
Soryu
9 aircraft in one group
Lt. Fusata Iida
Hiryu
6 aircraft in two groups of three
Lt. Sumio Nono
Fighter-bombers
Carrier
Aircraft
Commander
Shokaku
27 aircraft in three groups of nine
Lt. Tatsuo Ichihara
Zuikaku
27 aircraft in three groups of nine
Lt. Cdr. Shigekazu Shimazaki
Dive-bombers
Carrier
Aircraft
Commander
Akagi
18 aircraft in two groups of nine
Lt. Takehiko Chihaya
Kaga
26 aircraft in three groups of nine
Lt. Saburo Makino
Soryu
18 aircraft in two groups of nine
Lt. Cdr. Takashige Egusa
Hiryu
18 aircraft in two groups of nine
Lt. Shun Nakagawa
Combat Air Patrol
A total of 48 fighters provided CAP over Ohau.
Source
Fighters
Akagi
3 spares
Kaga
3 spares
Soryu
3 spares
Hiryu
3, plus 3 spares
Shokaku
12
Zuikaku
12
First wave
9
When these fighters ran short on fuel they returned to their carriers, where they were refueled and then returned to Oahu. Three D3As were later launched to provide navigational support.
Shokaku and Zuikaku used their three spare fighters to provide CAP over the Japanese Fleet.
Scouts
The cruisers Tone and Chikuma each launched one Type 0 float seaplane (E13A1 "Jake") at 5:30 am Hawaii time. These scouted Pearl Harbor and radioed back a report on the status of the US Fleet shortly before the attack began.
Tone and Chikuma and the battleships Hiei and Kirishima each launched one scout at 6:30 am Hawaii time. These patroled the area between Hawaii and the Japanese Fleet.
American Personnel Casualties
Total
Group
Killed, missing and died of wounds
Wounded
Total
Source
Navy
2,008
710
2,718
Navy Bureau of Medicine
Marines
109
69
178
Marine Corps Headquarters Documents
Army and Army Aircorps
218
364
582
Army Adjutant General Documents
Civilian
68
35
103
University of Hawaii War Records Depository
Total
2,403
1,178
3,581
USS Arizona BB-39
USS Arizona's total complement on 7 December 1941 appears to have been 1,512, including Adm. Kidd and those who were ashore or on other ships at the time of the attack. On-board that morning were 1,282 officers and enlisted men. Of these, 1,177 were killed, including Adm. Kidd and Capt. Van Valkenburg, leaving 337 survivors all told. A total of 229 bodies were recovered before the Navy decided it was too dangerous to continue, leaving 945 still entombed.
Burial on the Arizona
On 7 December 2000, the ashes of Lewis P. Robinson, who was waiting dockside for a Liberty Boat when the Japanese attacked, were placed inside the hull of USS Arizona. Mr. Robinson, who died in 1997, had often told his family that this was his final wish. Mr. Robinson thus became the 16th former crewman to be interred on his old ship, an option available only to former members of the Arizona's crew. As of December 2000, an estimated 50 former crewmen of USS Arizona were still alive.
An estimated 200 other survivors of the battle have had their ashes scattered into the waters of Pearl Habor and an additional unknown number have had their ashes scattered at various other military bases that were attacked on 7 December 1941. As of June 2001, of those US military personnel stationed at Oahu on 7 December 1941, an estimated 8,000 were still alive.
Chief Machinist's Mate Anthony Francis Czarnecki remains are taken aboard the USS Arizona Memorial to be entombed. U.S. Navy Photograph 040930-N-4995T-001.
Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (30 September 2004)
Chief Petty Officer's assigned to various commands in the Hawaii area, salute as the remains of Chief Machinist's Mate Anthony Francis Czarnecki are taken aboard the USS Arizona Memorial to be entombed. Czarnecki and his brother Stanley both served aboard the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39). Czarnecki and his brother were among 36 sets of brothers assigned to Arizona during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Czarnecki's brother was killed in the attack and Czarnecki's last wish was to be returned to USS Arizona to be with his brother and shipmates upon his passing.
U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Victoria A. Tullock.
USS Arizona Postscript
In December 2018, it was announced that due to poor health none of the five surviving Arizona crewmembers would be able to attend the yearly memorial service at the Arizona Memorial. This is the first time that no survivors were able to attend the service.
On 15 February 2020, Donald Stratton, USS Arizona survivor and author of "All the Gallant Men" passed away, leaving only two of his shipmates still alive.
The last survivor of USS Arizona, US Navy Lieutenant-Commander Louis Anthony Conter (Retired), passed away on 01 April 2024. AP News Obituary.
Cdr. Harry L. Thompson Recording
Cdr. Thompson and Adm. Furlong.
At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, Cdr. Harry L. Thompson was Executive Officer of USS Nevada (BB-36). The following recording of
Cdr. Thompson's memories of the attack was made after the war at a family gathering. It was originally made on a home-made wire recorder.
Sometime later, it was copied onto a reel-to-reel tape recorder and explanatory comments were added by a family member. A cassette copy of
the complete recording was given to me by a co-worker, who was Cdr. Thompson's grand-nephew. This recording is about 30 minutes long and
is a large file. Depending upon your internet access speed it may take a few minutes to download.
This recording is copyrighted by Chris Jones and NavWeaps and may not be used elsewhere without written permission.
(flagship)Notes: I-16 Class/Type C1.
(sunk)Commanding officer: Captain Francis W. ScanlandNotes: Nevada class. Salvaged.
(damaged)Commanding officer: Captain Charles M. "Saavy" Cooke, Jr.Notes: Pennsylvania class.
(seriously damaged)Notes: Mahan class.
