Beyond the Movie: Pearl Harbor

1. Was the U.S. prepared for the attack on Pearl Harbor?

2. Why was the Japanese attack so successful?

3. Had there ever been an attack like Pearl Harbor?

4. Were there any warning signs?

5. Hadn’t the U.S. cracked the Japanese code?

6. Didn’t Washington send warnings to the commanders at Pearl Harbor?

7. How did the U.S. fight back at Pearl Harbor?

8. What happened in the months after Pearl Harbor?

9. What was the importance of Pearl Harbor in mobilizing the U.S. for war?

10. What effect did the attack have on the war in Europe?

3. HAD THERE EVER BEEN AN ATTACK LIKE PEARL HARBOR?

On the night of November 11, 1940, a single British aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean launched 20 Swordfish torpedo biplanes against Italian battleships anchored in the harbor of Taranto. One Italian battleship was sunk and two were damaged; their crews ran the ships aground to prevent their sinking. Although the Japanese leadership knew of the Taranto attack, it did not serve as a model for the Pearl Harbor strike.

Also, during the late 1920s and 1930s U.S. aircraft carriers regularly carried out fleet maneuvers that included making simulated attacks against Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal. During these mock attacks, the carrier planes were always able to strike their targets despite defensive aircraft and warships.