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)(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)(sunk)
    Commanding officer: Captain Francis W. Scanland
    Notes: Nevada class. Salvaged.
  • BB-38 Pennsylvania (damaged)(damaged)
    Commanding officer: Captain Charles M. "Saavy" Cooke, Jr.
    Notes: Pennsylvania class.
  • BB-39 Arizona (sunk)(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)(damaged)
    Notes: Tennessee class.
  • BB-44 California (sunk)(sunk)
    Commanding officer: Captain Joel W. Bunkley
    Notes: Tennessee class. Salvaged.
Battleship Division 4
  • RADM Walter S. Anderson
  • BB-46 Maryland (damaged)(damaged)
    Commanding officer: Captain D.C. Godwin
    Notes: Colorado class.
  • BB-48 West Virginia (sunk)(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)(damaged)
    Notes: Brooklyn class.
  • CL-49 St. Louis
    Commanding officer: Captain George A. Rood
    Notes: St. Louis class.
  • CL-50 Helena (damaged)(damaged)
    Notes: St. Louis class.

Destroyers, Battle Force

  • Rear Admiral Milo F. Draemel
Destroyer Flotilla 1
  • CL-7 Raleigh (damaged)(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)(seriously damaged)
    Notes: Mahan class.
  • DD-375 Downes (seriously damaged)(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)(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)(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)(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)(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".

American Air Forces

Hawaiian Air Force (Seventh Air Force)

United States Army Air Force

18th Bombardment Wing

Hickam AB

Total of 33 B-18 and 12 B-17D.

5th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
  • 23rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
  • 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
  • 72nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
11th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
  • 26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
  • 42nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
Other
  • 4th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy)
  • 50th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy)

Other units at Hickam AB

  • 58th Bombardment Squadron (Light)
    Notes: 13 A-20A.
  • 19th Transport Squadron
    Notes: 2 C-33.

14th Pursuit Wing

Wheeler AB
15th Pursuit Group
  • 45th Pursuit Squadron
    Notes: 15 P-36A, 2 B-12, 2 P-40B, 1 BT-2BI.
  • 46th Pursuit Squadron
    Notes: 21 P-36A, 5 P-40B, 1 AT-12A, 1 BT-2BI, 1 P-26A.
  • 47th Pursuit Squadron
    Notes: 11 P-40B, 2 P-26B, 2 P-36A, 2 P-40C, 1 B-12.
  • 72nd Pursuit Squadron
    Notes: No aircraft assigned.
  • Other aircraft
    Notes: 2 P-36A, 1 OA-9.
18th Pursuit Group
  • 6th Pursuit Squadron
    Notes: 16P-40B, 1P-26A, 1P-26B.
  • 19th Pursuit Squadron
    Notes: 15P-40B, 2P-40C.
  • 44th Pursuit Squadron
    Notes: 9P-40B, 7P-40C, 2P-26A, 2P-26B.
  • 73rd Pursuit Squadron
    Notes: 13P-40B, 1P-26B.
  • Other aircraft
    Notes: 2 AT-6, 2 OA-9.

Units at Bellows AF

  • 86th Observation Squadron
    Notes: 6 O-47B, 2 O-49.

Units at Haleiwa AF

Unknown.

Marine Aircraft Group 21

United States Marine Corps

Units at Ewa MCAS

  • VMF-211
    Notes: 11 F4F-3, 1 SNJ-3
  • VMSB-231
    Notes: 7 SB2U-3
  • VMSB-232
    Notes: 19 SBD-1, 3 SBD-2
  • VMJ-252
    Notes: 2 R3D-2, 2 J2F-4, 1 SBD-1, 1 JO-2, 1 JRS-1, 1 SB2U-3

Units at Midway NAS

  • VMSB-231 (Det. 1)
    Notes: 18 SB2U-3

Units at Wake NAS

  • VMF-211 (Det. 1)
    Notes: 11 F4F-3, 1 F4F-3A****

Aircraft of the United States Navy

Units at Pearl Harbor (Ford Island) NAS
  • VJ-1
    Notes: 9 J2F, 9 JRS
  • VJ-2
    Notes: 10 J2F, 2 PBY-1
Units at Puunene (Lahaina Roads) NAS
  • VJ-3
    Notes: 4 JRB, 2 BT-1, 1 JRF, 1 J2F

Patrol Wings

VPW-1
Kaneohe NAS
  • VP-11
    Notes: 12 PBY-5
  • VP-12
    Notes: 12 PBY-5
  • VP-14
    Notes: 12 PBY-5
  • Other aircraft
    Notes: 1 OS2U
VPW-2
Pearl Harbor (Ford Island) NAS
  • VP-21
    Notes: 1 PBY-3
  • VP-22
    Notes: 14 PBY-3
  • VP-23
    Notes: 12 PBY-5
  • VP-24
    Notes: 6 PBY-5

Aircraft, Battle Force

CAG-2 (Det. 1)
Pearl Harbor (Ford Island) NAS
  • VB-2
    Notes: 1 SBD-2
  • VF-2
    Notes: 3 F2A-3
CAG-3 (Det. 1)
Pearl Harbor (Ford Island) NAS
  • VF-3
    Notes: 1 F4F-3
CAG-6 (Det. 1)
Pearl Harbor (Ford Island) NAS
  • VB-6
    Notes: 1 SBD-2
  • VF-6
    Notes: 4 F4F-3A
  • VS-6
    Notes: 1 SBD-2
  • AirBatFor Pool
    Notes: 4 F4F-3, 1 F4F-3A, 5 F2A-3

American Coastal Artillery

Permanent batteries around Pearl Harbor

16-inch guns

  • A-15, Fort Weaver
    Notes: Two guns.
  • C-15, Fort Barrette
    Notes: Two guns.

12-inch guns

  • B-15, Fort Closson
    Notes: Two guns.

8-inch guns

  • A-41, Brown's Camp
    Notes: Four guns.
  • B-41, Haleiwa
    Notes: Four guns.

155 mm. guns

  • A-55, Fort Kam Gun Park
    Notes: Four guns.
  • B-55, Baroes Point
    Notes: Four guns.
  • C-55, Fort Weaver
    Notes: Four guns.

3-inch AA guns

  • A-97, Ahua Point
    Notes: Four guns.
  • F-97, Battery Closson
    Notes: Four guns.
  • G-97, Fort Weaver
    Notes: Four guns.
  • H-97, Fort Barrette
    Notes: Four guns.

Japanese Losses

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.

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.

Cdr. Harry L. Thompson Recording

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.

Recording of Cdr. Harry L. Thompson memories of Pearl Harbor attack WAV file.

Cdr. Thompson was appointed as acting Captain of Nevada on 15 December 1941 and retired as a Vice Admiral after the war.

Sources

  • The Attack on Pearl Harbor, An Illustrated History, Larry Kimmett and Margaret Regis, Navigator Publishing, 1991
  • The Pearl Harbor Papers, Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine Dillon (Ed.)
  • Japanese Cruisers of World War II, Eric LaCroix and Linton Wells II, N.I.P., 1997
  • Day of Infamy, Walter Lord
  • At Dawn We Slept and Pearl Harbor: The Verdict of History, Gordon W. Prange
  • Pearl Harbor Attack, Arnold S. Lott and Robert F. Sumrall, Leeward Publications, 1977
  • Free State Battlewagon U.S.S. Maryland (BB-46), Myron J. Smith, Jr., Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1986
  • Golden State Battlewagon U.S.S. California (BB-44), Myron J. Smith, Jr., Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1984
  • Air Raid, Pearl Harbor! Recollections of a Day of Infamy, Paul Stillwell, N.I.P., 1981
  • Cruisers of the U.S. Navy: 1922-1962, Stefan Terzibaschitsch, N.I.P., 1984
  • Japanese Warships of World War II, A.J. Watts, Ian Allan LTD, 1966
  • Pearl Harbor, HP Willmott
  • AP news release of 8 December 2000
  • National Geographic Magazine, June 2001
  • IJN records, Mark E. Horan and David Aiken (translation of names)

External Resources