World War 2: War in the Pacific Quiz
What was the impact/effect of the Pearl Harbor attack on the U.S.?
A bomb smashed the deck of the USS Arizona and caused the ship to explode and sink containing more than 1,000 men that went down with it. As American sailors were caught off guard the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor damaged nearly 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes. 2,500 men were killed, and another 1,000 were wounded during the battle. The Japanese had failed to destroy the Pacific fleet entirely. Most of the aircraft carriers were away from the base, and most of the ship yards and submarines docks were left intact. This attack led the U.S into WW2.
What did Americans build on Saipan after they captured it?
After the Americans finally captured Saipan, they built barracks to accomodate 50,000 troops on Tinian. In addition, an airstrip was constructed on Tinian which hosted one of the most famous war sorties ever flown.
Who signed it after the Americans?
After the Americans, the next country to sign it was China.
How soon after the Trinity test was nuclear weapons actually used in war?
After the Trinity test, it was only about 1 month and 20 days until nuclear weapons began to be used in the war.
How did it change Japanese strategy in the Pacific?
Afterwards, the Japanese began to become nervous because they thought that the U.S had established secret air-bases on the Pacific Islands. Eventually, they agreed to Yamamoto's strategy of moving at once to crush the U.S Navy, which was Japan's main obstacle to dominating the Pacific.
Between mid-April and mid-July of 1945, what was unusual about the number of American casualties in the Pacific theater compared to the first three years of the war? What did this demonstrate about Japan?
Between mid-April and mid-July of 1945, what was unusual about the number of American casualties in the Pacific theater compared to the first three years of the war was that Japanese forces inflicted Allied casualties totaling nearly half of those who suffered in three full years of war in the Pacific, proving that Japan had become even more deadly when faced with defeat.
How many Japanese civilians were casualties of the 9 months of aerial bombing raids against Japan at the end of the war? Of these, how many Japanese civilians were killed?
For Japan, it was a grisly beginning to the war's end. According to a postwar US estimate, total civilian casualties in Japan as a result of nine months of air attack were about 806,000, including 330,000 deaths.
What did General MacArthur say when he was driven out of the Philippines during the initial Japanese invasion? Did he make good on this statement?
General MacArthur said, "I shall return." which I believe was a good statement because it was a promise he made to the Filipinos back in 1942, which he fulfilled.
What did MacArthur mean when he said this at the ceremony?: "It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past."
He meant that he hoped for a better future based on all that had happened throughout the brutal, and most devastating battle for everyone in the entire world.
What do you think Truman means by "the battle of the laboratories?"
I think what Truman means by "the battle of the laboratories" is the main battle against Tokyo, Japan, stating how strong and powerful the US armed forces already is, that it won't even be necessary to do another ground invasion of Japan to just lose even more men.
Why did Imperial Japan use Kamikazes?
Imperial Japan used Kamikazes for blowing up American carriers before they can fight back and destroy the Japanese fleet.
What happened in April of 1945 to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt? Who replaced him?
In April of 1945, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. FDR's successor, Harry S. Truman, faced a monumental decision to take his place for the remainder of his term.
What did the bombers drop on Tokyo? What kind of damage did it do?
In the space of a few hours, they dropped 1,667 tons of napalm-filled incendiary bombs on the Japanese capital, killing more than 100,000 people in a single strike, and injuring several times that number. It was the highest death toll of any air raid during the war, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
How many more people died in the years that followed? What did they die of?
In the years that followed, perhaps 200,000 or more fatalities occurred as a result of the bombing. Overall, the city of Hiroshima has estimated that about 237,000 people were killed directly or indirectly by the bomb's effects, including burns, radiation sickness, and cancer.
How many people lost their lives during the re-taking of the Philippines?
In total, nearly 200,000 lives were lost during the campaign for the Philippines, including more than 100,000 civilians.
WHY WAS THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL A CRITICAL TURNING POINT IN THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC?
It allowed the US to have the ability to capture many more islands afterwards. With each island taken from the Japanese, the US would move closer and closer to Japan. Growing superiority at sea and in the air, as well as in the number of fighting men, gave the US increasing advantages later on in the war.
Why is the Battle of Midway considered the turning Point in the war in the Pacific?
It proved how much the U.S was actually capable of accomplishing, and how fierce its air force was to never give up fighting during the battle.
What was the importance of Henderson field and the air war over Guadalcanal?
It was from November 12th-15th where Japan attempted their last effort to knock it down from the sea at heavy cost. Although in the frantic Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, American sailors and airmen were able to block their efforts until the Japanese finally gave up and decided to withdraw their men from fighting any more.
Why do you think it was so important for the Americans to control the waters around the Philippines as Marines and other American forces were planning to invade the Philippines?
It was important for the Americans to control the waters around the Philippines as Marines and other American forces were planning to invade because before the Japanese occupied it, it was a commonwealth of the US; and its status was similar to what Puerto Rico's is today.
HOW DID WORLD WAR IN THE PACIFIC END?
Japan finally surrendered, giving the US their victory at winning the war, and finally defeating Japan for all that it had done that affected them throughout the entire war.
How soon after the bombing of Nagasaki did Japan surrender?
Japan surrendered when the Emperor Hirohito announced it in a radio broadcast only 6 days after the bombing of Nagasaki.
Who signed first? What did this person's aides do as he signed?
Just after 9 a.m. Tokyo time, Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed on behalf of the Japanese government. Then, General Yoshijiro Umezu signed for the Japanese armed forces, and his aides wept as he made his signature.
What were the U.S. casualties at Iwo Jima? How does that compare to other campaigns?
Many Americans were either wounded or killed over the five weeks of fighting, with some estimates suggesting more than 25,000 casualties, including nearly 7,000 deaths. These numbers are pretty low compared to other battles that occurred during the duration of WW2.
Where is Okinawa? Why was it strategically important to the Americans to capture it?
Okinawa is 340 miles south of mainland Japan. It is a narrow coral island in the Ryukyu chain. It is about 70 miles long and 18 miles across at its widest point. This island was important to the Americans because it was the home to several fine airfields and harbors.
What was the bombing of Nagasaki?
On August 9th, Major Charles Sweeney flew another B-29 bomber, named "Bockscar," from Tinian. There were too many thick clouds over the primary target, the city of Kokura, so Sweeney moved to a secondary target, Nagasaki, where the plutonium bomb "Fat Man" was dropped at 11:02 that morning. The bomb weighed nearly 10,000 pounds and was built to produce a 22-kiloton blast which was much more powerful than the one used at Hiroshima. However, the topography of Nagasaki, which was nestled in narrow valleys between mountains so Sweeney couldn't see it, reduced the bomb's effect, limiting the destruction to only about 2.6 square miles.
When did Japan first strike against the U.S. forces in the Philippines? What did they attack with?
On December 8th, 1942 at 3:30 AM was when they first attacked Pearl Harbor. They attacked with war planes that bombed the entire area.
How much of Tokyo was destroyed in this bombing raid?
On the night of the Tokyo raid, 15 square miles of one of the world's most densely populated urban centers burned to the ground.
What was Operation Olympic? What were the casualties estimated to be for this operation?
Operation Olympic was the code-name for the invasion of Japan led by General Douglas MacArthur which was set out in November of 1945. The estimated casualties for this operation would be about 1 million people.
Who funded the Manhattan project? What was their budget?
President Roosevelt FDR funded the project, and its budget was $500 million.
WHY WAS THE CAPTURE OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS SO IMPORTANT IN HELPING END THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC?
Since the US captured the Mariana Islands, it was the last island to capture before they headed towards Tokyo, Japan in order to defeat the Japanese troops and finally end the war in the Pacific.
How much resistance did Americans get during initial beach landing and the first few days of the invasion go? When did this change, and how?
The Americans got practically no resistance during the initial beach landing and the first few days of the invasion that many soldiers nicknamed the L Day (Landing Day) to "Love Day."
HOW DID AMERICANS STOP THE ADVANCES OF IMPERIAL JAPAN IN 1942, AND GAIN THE ADVANTAGE IN THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC?
The Americans stopped the advances of Imperial Japan in 1942, and gained the advantage in the war in the Pacific from the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Coral Sea, and the Battle of Midway.
How long was the Battle of Guadalcanal? When did the fighting there start?
The Battle of Guadalcanal began on August 7th, 1942-February 9th, 1943. The whole battle lasted for about 6 months.
How fiercely did Japanese forces defend Manilla? What effect did this have on this city and the people living there?
The Japanese forces didn't defend Manilla very well. They only had approximately 17,000 troops occupying it, and only about 30,000 Japanese troops guarding the outskirts of the city. Yamashita ordered his forces to leave the city. This battle affected people on the island since it cost more than 100,000 lives, and there were lots of bombardments that destroyed many of the buildings.
What were the Japanese insistent on about the Emperor's power? What was the American response to this?
The Japanese were insistent about the Emperor's power that he was wrong by ordering the Japanese government to prepare a text accepting surrender, because they felt as if they can still fight and take over the US. Therefore, in the early hours of August 15th, a military coup was attempted by a faction led by Major Kenji Hatanaka. The rebels seized control of the imperial palace and burned Prime Minister Suzuki's residence. Although, at noon that day, Emperor Hirohito went on national radio for the first time to announce the Japanese surrender. In his unfamiliar court language, he told his subjects, "we have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable." The United States immediately accepted Japan's surrender.
What was the Potsdam Declaration? What was Japan's initial reaction to it?
The Potsdam Declaration was issued by the Allies to demand the "unconditional surrender of all the Japanese armed forces." Failure to comply would mean "the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitable the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland." Japan's initial reaction to it was that Japan's government should pay no attention to the Allied ultimatum.
What famous event happened on top of Mount Suribachi?
The U.S captured Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima's south side in just four days and famously raised an American flag at the summit.
How did the U.S. plan to protect the Philippines from a possible invasion from Japan? (who did they have there to protect it, what supplies or equipment did they send there, etc)
The U.S decided to reinforce the Philippines, and quickly create defenses to counter a Japanese attack that they thought would arise. U.S leaders appointed General Douglas MacArthur to head a new command in the region.
Why did the US decide to drop another Atomic bomb after Hiroshima?
The US decided to drop another Atomic bomb after Hiroshima because Hiroshima's devastation failed to elicit immediate Japanese surrender.
Why did the US drop leaflets?
The US dropped leaflets because they wanted to caution those on the ground of the fearful new weapon the U.S. had deployed.
HOW DID THE UNITED STATES RECAPTURE THE PHILIPPINES?
The US recaptured the Philippines during the Battle of Leyte Gulf and took control over more and more islands as they continued to push forward inland as they defeated the Japanese defense forces one by one on each of the islands.
HOW DID THE U.S. USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGAINST JAPAN? WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THESE ATTACKS?
The US used nuclear weapons against Japan by blasting atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, killing hundreds of thousands of people. The impact of these attacks were to finally end the war in the Pacific, forcing Japan to surrender so that the US wouldn't have to do a ground invasion of Japan since they believed that they would lose too many men by doing that.
What was the importance of Iwo Jima to the Americans? Why did they want to capture it?
The US wanted to capture Iwo Jiwa because it had three airfields that could serve as a staging facility for a potential invasion of mainland Japan.
What areas of Japan sustained the most damage?
The areas that sustained the most damage were Tokyo, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Kobe, and Osaka.
How much damage did it do?
The bomb destroyed five square miles of the city.
Where did the bomb explode?
The bomb exploded 2,000 feet above Hiroshima, a manufacturing center of some 350,000 people located about 500 miles from Tokyo, in a blast equal to 12-15,000 tons of TNT.
Why if the bomb used against Nagasaki was more powerful that it did less damage?
The bomb used against Nagasaki was more powerful, but did less damage because the topography of Nagasaki, which was nestled in narrow valleys between mountains so the pilot couldn't see it, reduced the bomb's effect, limiting the destruction to only about 2.6 square miles.
What were the casualties from the bombing of Hiroshima? What were the casualties from the bombing of Nagasaki?
The casualties from the bombing of Hiroshima was 90 percent of the city, and immediately killed approximately 80,000 people, even though tens of thousands more died later on because of radiation exposure. Three days later, a second B-29 dropped another Atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people.
What were conditions like for the ground forces (the soldiers fighting on land, in the jungle?) What hardships did they experience?
The conditions were horrible. The jungle had difficult terrain they had to cross, inhospitable weather, and lack of infrastructure.
What were the estimates for US forces in a ground invasion of Japan?
The estimates for US forces in a ground invasion of Japan were up to 1 million soldiers, all of which would die. Therefore, the US decided to use an atomic bomb in the hopes of bringing the war to a quick end.
What famous scientist wrote President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and urged him to start a nuclear weapons program?
The famous scientist that wrote President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and urged him to start a nuclear weapons program was Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard.
What does the flyer urge the Japanese people to do? If they do not do this, what will the Americans do?
The flyer urged the Japanese to demand a quick and peaceful end to hostilities or the U.S. would employ "this bomb and all our other superior weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war."
What were the immediate casualties of the bomb (within the first four months)?
The immediate casualties of the bomb within the first four months were between 90,000 and 166,000 people.
How does the leaflet describe what the Americans now have in their possession?
The leaflet describes that the Americans now have, "the most destructive explosive ever devised by man."
What does the leaflet tell people who doubt the Americans' claim to do?
The leaflet tells people who doubt the Americans' claim to, "make inquiry as to what happened to Hiroshima when just one atomic bomb fell on that city."
What was the military situation in the War in the Pacific in the summer of 1945?
The military situation in the War in the Pacific in the summer of 1945 was that the defeat of Japan was a foregone conclusion. The Japanese navy and air force were destroyed. The Allied naval blockade of Japan and intensive bombing of Japanese cities had left the country and its economy devastated.
What was the name of the bomb? Where did the plane leave from?
The name of the bomb was "Little Boy." The plane left from the US base on the Pacific island of Tinian.
What was the plane that delivered the bomb to Hiroshima?
The plane that delivered the bomb to Hiroshima was a modified B-29 bomber christened "Enola Gay."
What was "Henderson Field" and what was its significance?
The significance of "Henderson Field" was it was where the main forces on Guadalcanal met little resistance on their way inland to secure the airfield during the battle, (which used to be called "Lunga Point".) However, a few moments later the Japanese aircraft attacked transport and escort ships, and Japanese reinforcements also arrived in the area.
What is the significance of the Battle of Okinawa on the American war effort and strategy to try to end the war? In other words, why did the President decide to drop the atomic bomb to end the war instead of invading Japan with ground troops?
The significance of the Battle of Okinawa on the American war effort and strategy to try to end the war was that it killed so many American soldiers, that it worried Truman that they would lose many more when fighting Japan because that's the last island they have yet to defend.
Where would the smaller American fighter planes leave from on their way to Japan?
The smaller American fighter planes would leave from Iwo Jima and then go to Japan.
When and where was the surrender ceremony? What ship was chosen to be the site of the official surrender ceremony? Why do you think they choose that ship?
The surrender ceremony took place on Sunday, September 2nd, 1945, in Tokyo Bay on the battleship the USS Missouri. The US chose that ship to have the ceremony on because it had seen considerable action in the Pacific and was named after Truman's native state.
How many "sorties" were flown?
There were 14,974 sorties flown.
How did things get even worse for Japan after the bombing at Hiroshima?
Things got even worse for Japan after the bombing at Hiroshima since a faction of Japan's supreme war council favored acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration, but the majority resisted unconditional surrender. On August 8th, Japan's desperate situation took another turn for the worse when the USSR declared war against Japan. The next day, Soviet forces attacked in Manchuria, rapidly overwhelming Japanese positions there, and a second U.S. atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese coastal city of Nagasaki.
How did the outcome of the battle impact Japanese plans to invade Australia?
This impacted Japanese later plans because it reduced the Japanese forces available, and damaged many of their battleships.
How does Truman describe the size of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima?
Truman describes that the size of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was more than two thousand times larger than the blast power of the British "Grand Slam" bomb, which was the largest bomb ever to be used in the history of warfare.
How does Truman describe the atomic bomb?
Truman describes the atomic bomb as, "a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East."
What does Truman say he's prepared to do against Japan in order to end the war?
Truman says that he is prepared to, "obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city." He believes that it's the only possible way that the US armed forces can fight, and end the war to its entirety.
What does Truman say has been added to the US armed forces capacity to fight? What does he plan on doing with this new capacity to fight?
Truman says that the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima has been added, and increased to the US armed forces capacity to fight. He planned for the bomb to be very destructive, and that it would, "supplement the growing power of our armed forces."
Where would bombers leave from on their way to Japan? Where would they pass through?
US B-29 bombers left on their way to Japan from the Marianas. They would then pass through Iwo Jima and then go to Japan.
HOW DID THE WORLD WAR 2 IN THE PACIFIC START? HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS JAPAN IN THEIR BEGINNING OFFENSIVES OF THE WAR?
WW2 in the Pacific began when the Japanese invaded and seized Manchuria in September 1931. Overall, the Japanese's first offensives of expansion in the Pacific were pretty successful.
What was the Bataan Death March?
When many Americans and Filipinoes would be held in camps for long periods of time. So long that they began to starve, feel exhausted, and be sick. Around 18,000 of them died.
What was the Trinity Test? When was it, where was it and what was it?
The Trinity Test was the first atomic bomb test in the world on July 16th, 1945 at the Trinity site in the New Mexico desert. The atomic plutonium bomb blown up there called the "Gadget" exploded with approximately 20 kilotons of force and rose 8 miles high and left a crater that was 10 feet deep and over 1,000 feet wide.
Was the Trinity Test successful? If so, what did that signify?
The Trinity Test was very successful and signified that there would be more bomb tests and explosions on other islands in the future.
How was code breaking such a critical factor in the US winning the battle?
The U.S Navy cryptanalysts had begun breaking Japanese communication codes early in 1942, and knew for weeks ahead of time that Japan was planning an attack in the Pacific at a location they called "AF." They suspected that it was Midway, so the Navy decided to send out a false message from the base claiming it was short of fresh water. Then, Japan sent out a message confirming the location of the planned attack on "AF" soon after. With Japan's fleet so widely dispersed, Yamamoto had to transmit all of his strategy over the radio, which enabled the Navy cryptanalysts, based in Hawaii, to figure out when the Japanese planned to attack and the planned order of battle of the Imperial Japanese Navy. With this information, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet could develop a plan for combat during the invasion.
How big was the US force in the Philippines on the verge of it being invaded? In addition to US soldiers, what did it include (equipment, militia, etc)
The U.S force in the Philippines overall consisted of 36,000 men who were on the verge of being invaded, including some 115,000 square miles.
What was the impact of the Battle of Midway for both the Americans and the Japanese? Why is it considered a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War 2?
The U.S troops continued to attack the Japanese over the next few days at Midway. The USS Hammann destroyer provided cover for the disabled Yorktown carrier during salvage operations. Although, on June 6th a Japanese submarine arrived and launched four torpedoes that struck both U.S ships. The USS Hammann sank in minutes while the Yorktown eventually capsized and sank the following day. The same day these boats were hit, Yamamoto ordered his ships to retreat which ended the Battle of Midway. Altogether, Japan had lost as many as 3,000 men, nearly 300 aircraft, one heavy cruiser and four aircraft carriers in the battle; while the Americans lost the Yorktown and the USS Hammann, along with around 145 aircraft and approximately 360 servicemen. This caused a turning point in the war because as a result of the U.S victory in the Battle of Midway, Japan abandoned its plan to expand its reach in the Pacific, and would remain on the defensive for the remainder of World War 2. The battle also made the U.S forces much more confident and it drained Japanese morale, turning the tide of the war in the Pacific strongly in favor of the Allies.
What did US troops do when Japanese troops entered Manilla? How did the Japanese finally defeat the US forces there?
The U.S troops couldn't do anything when the Japanese reached Manila Bay because they were trapped in the Bataan Jungle. The Japanese finally defeated the U.S by attacking and threatening the U.S until they finally surrendered.
What did the US do before the actual invasion to soften up Imperial Japan's defenses? How effective was this?
The US Marines bombarded Iwo Jima with bombs dropped from the sky and heavy gunfire from ships positioned off the coast of the island. This bombardment was pretty effective since it made them ready to repel the initial attack/mission.
What other parts of the Philippines did US forces have to fight hard to re-capture?
The US forces also fought hard to capture the island of Corregidor in the Philippines and a huge concrete blackhouse at Fort Drum. In addition, they also captured the island of Luzon, a large island to its southwest Mindoro, and Mindanao the largest island in the southern Philippines.
What was it about the construction of the buildings in Tokyo that US planners knew the fires in Tokyo would spread, and burn hot?
The US planners knew that the Japanese buildings in Tokyo would burn hot and the fire would spread much more since they were made out of wood. Therefore, Army engineers had prepared maps of Tokyo's most flammable sectors, and had observed Japanese-style houses put to the torch in a mock "Japanese village."
What did the aerial armada bound for Tokyo consist of (what kind of planes and how many)? Where did the bombers leave from?
The aerial armada bound for Tokyo consisted of 334 B-29 bombers that took off from newly established bases in the Mariana Islands.
When was Pearl Harbor? What happened? What were the US casualties?
The attack at Pearl Harbor began on December 7th, 1941. Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The U.S were upset with the way that the Japanese Empire treated China, and stopped giving the country oil. The Japanese planned to bomb the American fleet so that it couldn't fight back. Most of the battleships were docked in the harbor and sustained damage from the Japanese planes that flew across the sky.
What was the percentage of casualties at the Battle of Okinawa? What is significant about this number?
The percentage of casualties at this battle was 35 percent representing how many American soldiers died serving and fighting for their country in order to invade and capture the island.
What was the role of Kamikazes in the Battle of Okinawa?
The role of the Kamikazes in the battle were when they began their suicide flights "divine wind" on the sixth day. The planes rained down in fiery explosions on US tanks, guns, and troops below. Thousands of young men wanted to take over this position while practically any wanted it during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Several of these planes reached US aircraft carriers offshore during the Battle of Okinawa.
What was significant about the number of casualties of the Battle of Okinawa?
The significance about the number of casualties of the Battle of Okinawa was that it was the deadliest battle for American sailors in the whole war.
What is significant about the Battle of Leyte Gulf in terms of new strategies used by Imperial Japan? What did they use for the first time?
The significance of the battle in terms of new strategies used by Imperial Japan was that one soldier never got the word that the war had ended. For the first time, the Imperial Japanese Army 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda had lived in the mountains of the northern Philippine island of Mindoro for three decades. His former commanding officer had to fly to the island from Japan in order to convince him that the war was over. Onoda finally surrendered in 1974.
What was significant about the Battle of Leyte Gulf in terms of the size and scale of the battle?
The significance of the battle in terms of size and scale was that the Imperial Japanese Navy had lost around up to 26 warships and four aircraft carriers, their most greatest loss of ships ever. It was also the first time the U.S Navy was struck by organized kamikazes, or suicide attacks.
How many Japanese troops were stationed throughout the Philippines? How many troops did the US land?
There were 22,000 Japanese troops that guarded the island, and 134,000 US landed there including MacArthur himself.
What were the losses for Imperial Japan? What impact did the Battle of Leyte Gulf have on Japanese naval strength for the rest of the war? Would they ever recover from these losses?
There were heavy casualties on both sides. The Japanese lost about 419,912 soldiers, including some injured. The U.S also suffered tremendous losses: 16,043 soldiers and 7,270 sailors were killed altogether. The outcome of the battle also resulted in the U.S. maintaining undisputed command of the sea and the air until the Japanese finally surrendered on September 2nd, 1945.
What new strategies or tactics did they use for this bombing mission?
They also declared that the B-29s would overfly the city's most densely populated areas at 7,000 feet instead of 30,000 feet, in a single file rather than in formation. In addition, to reduce the risk from Japanese fighters, they would raid at night. And the B-29s would be stripped of nonessentials, including guns and gunners in order to make room for more bombs.
How did American and Japanese naval forces clash during this battle? How did these battles affect the ability of either side to resupply their troops?
They clashed off the Santa Cruz islands on October 26th where Japan secured a tactical victory, sinking the carrier "Hornet", but paid a severe price in aircraft and skilled aircrew. During these battles however, it seemed as if every time the US inched closer to victory, the Japanese would resupply Guadalcanal by night and be ready to fight the next day.
Before the Manhattan Project, was anyone doing atomic research? If so, who?
Yes, many scientists were doing research such as Albert Einstein, Leo Szilard, Ernest Lawrence, Emilio Segrè, Glenn Seaborg, Enrico Fermi, Walter Zinn, and Herbert Anderson.
What was the relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines before WW2?
The Philippines used to be a U.S colony however, later on the U.S had to withdraw from the Philippines since it couldn't defend a colony 3,000 miles away from the nearest U.S base in Hawaii.
What is a Kamikaze?
A Kamikaze was a fighter plane flown by a Japanese pilot whose mission is to crash into a US carrier sacrificing themselves for their country. They wore special ceremonial clothing. They would also follow a special ritual the day they were scheduled to board the kamikazes, and die with them.
How many Kamikaze pilots died?
About 3,000 Japanese pilots died from flying Kamikazes and sacrificing their lives to blow up a US carrier, and represent Japan's bravery and to serve their country.
HOW DID THE UNITED STATES DEVELOP ATOMIC WEAPONS?
By creating the Manhattan Project which produced many atomic bombs at the time for the US and used many different scientists to research which ones would be successful or not.
What were the casualties of the Battle of Saipan, for American and Japanese soldiers, and civilians?
During the Battle of Saipan there were many casualties. For Americans, 3,100 troops were killed. For the Japanese, 29,000 of their soldiers died including many civilians too.
When was the Battle of Iwo Jima?
It began when American forces invaded the island on February 19th, 1945.
WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE AMERICAN BOMBING CAMPAIGN AGAINST JAPAN?
It caused many casualties and was the end of the Battle in the Pacific of the US vs Japan.
What territories near the Philippines did Japan seize control of?
Japan also colonized Formosa (Taiwan), Palau Caroline, Marshall Islands, Hainan, and French Indochina.
What was the strategic importance of the island of Guadalcanal? Why did both sides want to control it?
Japan wanted to use it as a defensive buffer against attack from the US and its allies, and to own it to ensure Japan mastery over East Asia and the Pacific. The US fought to halt the Japanese efforts to disrupt supply routes to Australia and New Zealand.
What were the casualties and damage for both sides?
Japanese lost approximately 31,000 men, 38 ships, and 682 aircraft. The US lost approximately 7,100 men, 29 ships, and 615 aircraft.
What initial mistakes were made by US forces?
Some initial mistakes that were made by the US forces during the battle were not having the proper resources on the beaches to move men and material inland. This gave the US their first taste of what challenges were to come throughout the Pacific War.
What were the American goals leading up to the Battle of Leyte Gulf?
The American goals were to block Japan from its Southeast Asian sources of rubber, oil, and other raw materials used for military purposes, and to retake the Philippines, which had been captured by the Japanese in 1942.
Why did the Americans want to capture Saipan and the Mariana islands?
The Americans wanted to capture Saipan and the Mariana islands because they wanted to break Japan's grip on the islands and establish the Marianas as its own launch site for aerial bombardment of the Japanese mainland. It also wanted them to be able to accommodate a new American bomber, the B-29, and its 2,800-mile flying range.
What is the significance about the outcome of the Battle of Coral on the Japanese advance in the Pacific?
The Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942 marked the first air-sea battle in history. The battle left the Japanese without enough planes to cover the ground attack of Port Moresby, resulting in a strategic Allied victory. These results left an impact upon the Battle of Midway a month later, reducing Japanese forces available at the key battle.
When was the Battle of Okinawa? How long did the battle last?
The Battle of Okinawa began on April 1st, 1945 until June 1945, a total of 3 months.
When was the Battle of Saipan?
The Battle of Saipan took place when the Americans invaded the island on June 15th, 1944.
What was the Doolittle Raid? What did it accomplish?
The Doolittle Raid was an attack on Tokyo, Japan led by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle because the U.S wanted revenge from the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. The U.S had sent long-range B-25 bombers to Tokyo, the Japanese capital, and to the nearby cities of Yokohama and Nagoya. The planes launched from an aircraft carrier called the 'Hornet'. After their strikes, the planes continued on to air bases in China. On April 2nd, 1942, the USS Hornet set sail a point in the Pacific which was 400 miles from Japan, where the planes were launched two weeks later. Another carrier, the USS Enterprise joined the 'Hornet' on April 13th. Fighter aircraft from the 'Enterprise' were assigned to fly with the 'Hornet' to fight off any enemy planes that might approach. Before dawn, the day they were scheduled to launch their planes, the Americans spotted enemy coast guard boats much farther east than they expected. Therefore on April 18th, the bombers had to take off from the 'Hornet' while they were still more than 650 miles out at sea. Coincidentally, Tokyo was holding its first air-raid drill when they approached. The Japanese citizens assumed that the U.S planes were planes that their own government had provided for the drill. Overall, the raid was not a huge success. The bombs didn't hit the important targets, and there wasn't much damage on the cities. Altogether, there were 16 planes, 15 of them were shot down or were forced to crash-land in China, and the Japanese only captured 8 men of whom 3 were later executed.
How did Filipino guerilla fighters help aid Americans?
The Filipino guerilla fighters helped aid Americans by providing them with valuable intelligence, committing acts of sabotage against the Japanese, and rescued downed US pilots. They also took over many mopping-up operations. This helped to take off much of the pressure that was on many battle-weary US units.
How well-defended was Iwo Jima? What kind of defenses were there?
The Imperial Japanese Navy had already been so beaten up from previous battles in the Pacific during WW2 that it was already unable to defend the empire's island holdings. In addition, Japan's air force had lost many of its warplanes, and those it had were unable to protect an inner line of defenses set up by the empire's military leaders. However, this island of defenses sadly included the island of Iwo Jima. Although, the Japanese had secretly embarked on a new defensive tactic, taking advantage of Iwo Jima's mountainous landscape and jungles to set up camouflaged artillery positions.
What was the Japanese strategy to defend the island? What did the Japanese commander tell his troops?
The Japanese defended their island by using kamikazes, and blasting into enemy targets on the American battleships. In addition to that, defending Okinawa also included Japan 32nd Army, consisting of 130,000 men, including about 20,000 Okinawans. Their commander was Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima. With limited numbers of troops and weapons, he concentrated his forces on the southern end of Okinawa, in the interior of the island. To save ammunition, he planned to let the Americans land before ordering his troops to fire. He told his troops to kill as many Americans as possible before they die.
What was the Japanese plan to attack Midway? What diversion did they plan to use to help them capture it?
The Japanese planned to seek Yamamoto's plan which was to seek out and crush the rest of the U.S Pacific fleet with a surprise attack and a three-pronged approach aimed at the Allied base at Midway Island. The diversion they planned to use in order to help them capture it was to use a smaller Japanese force to attack the Aleutian Islands.
What was the Japanese strategy when Americans landed? To fight them on the beaches, or let them come inland and fight them there?
The Japanese strategy when the Americans landed was to let the US forces come inland to fight them on the island as they moved closer towards each other.
What did the Japanese use Saipan for right after Pearl Harbor and the first couple of years of the war?
The Japanese used Saipan as a military personnel station during the invasion of Guam right after Pearl Harbor and the first couple of years of the war.
How effective were they in hitting their targets?
The Kamikazes were pretty effective, but most of them were shot down by anti aircraft guns from the American carriers before they could hit them.
What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was an atomic bomb project that was officially created on August 13th, 1942.
Where else were Manhattan Project research sites located?
The Manhattan Project's main research sites were located at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Hanford, Washington, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dayton, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada. But, there were also sites located at many other places.
Where was the Manhattan Project's weapons research laboratory?
The Manhattan Project's weapons research laboratory was located at Los Alamos, New Mexico.
What was the firebombing raid codenamed?
The March 9th raid, codenamed "Operation Meetinghouse," marked a shift in American bombing strategy.
What are the Mariana Islands? Where are the Mariana Islands?
The Mariana Islands are made up of tropical islands with a series of volcanic and uplifted coral formations in the Western Pacific Ocean. They are about 1,500 miles east of the Philippines which form a boundary between the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
What was the ultimate outcome/impact of the battle? How did it affect the course of the entire Pacific Theater of World War 2?
The battle impacted the US to have the ability to capture many more islands afterwards. With each island taken from the Japanese, the US would move closer and closer to Japan. Growing superiority at sea and in the air, as well as in the number of fighting men, gave the US increasing advantages later on in the war. Nonetheless, wherever US forces met Japanese defenders, the enemy fought long and hard before finally being defeated.
What major naval battle was won by the Americans before US forces landed on the Philippine Island of Leyte, which helped protect the US landing forces who landed there?
The major naval battle that was won by the Americans before the US forces landed on the Philippine Island of Leyte, which helped protect the US forces who landed there was the Battle Leyte Gulf.
When was the first incendiary attack/firebombing mission against Tokyo? When was the first mission with fighter escorts? From what island did those fighter escorts fly from?
The first incendiary attack/firebombing mission against Tokyo was on March 9th-10th, 1945. The first mission with fighter escorts was from Iwo Jima on April 7th, 1945.
WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA?
The impact of the Battle of Okinawa was that it was the bloodiest and most deadly battle during the Pacific Theater of WW2 altogether.
WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA? What was unique about the way it was fought, and what was the impact of this battle?
The impact of the battle was to prove that the US could actually conquer and defeat an island with a few obstacles in between. It proves how they won't go down and surrender without a fight left in them.
How successful were the initial Japanese offensives of expansion in the Pacific? What territory did they gain?
The initial Japanese offensives of expansion in the Pacific were overall pretty successful: - The Japanese invaded and seized Manchuria in September 1931. - They invaded China in August 1937. - Japan joined the Triple Axis in September 1940 and became Allies with Germany and Italy. - On December 7th 1941, Japan brutally attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. - The first planes that were used to bomb Pearl Harbor were known as the Bombers of the Rising Sun. - The U.S declared war on Japan. - The next day, Japan attacked Malaya and the Philippines. - Japan later captured Singapore on February 15th, 1942, and they pushed onward. - The British were forced to abandon Rangoon when the Japs captured their port and set it afire on March 7th, 1942. - The next day, the Dutch East Indies surrendered and were captured by Japan. - The U.S then surrendered Bataan after all their forces fell on April 9th, 1942. - Corregidor surrendered which caused a heavy blow to the Allied Forces on May 6th, 1942. This altogether was the heist of the Japanese Empire.
What was significant about the invasion fleet? How big was it?
The invasion fleet's significance was that it was the largest fleet movement in US history. "Over a half million men and 1,457 ships participated," said Marine second lieutenant Jeptha J. Carrell, who took part in the invasion. "There were 530 troopships, 25 of which carried nothing but Jeeps. The submarine fleet alone totaled over 50 vessels. Combat surface vessels included over 40 carriers, 18 battleships, scores of cruisers, and nearly 150 destroyers and destroyer escorts." Sixty thousand US troops participated in the first wave of the attack, and that was only a fraction of the men who would land on Okinawa that day.
What kind of island is Iwo Jima? What is the terrain like?
The island of Iwo Jima consisted of many mountainous landscapes and jungles where the Japanese had secretly set up camouflaged artillery positions. The island was also made up of steep dunes of soft, gray volcanic ash, which made getting sturdy footing and passage for vehicles difficult.
Where is Iwo Jima? What country or territory is it a part of?
The island of Iwo Jima is located 750 miles off the coast of Japan.
Why did the Japanese troops wait to open fire on the Marines who landed there?
The lack of immediate response was part of the Japanese plan to stall the advancing Marines and to inflict significant casualties.