Product Review

In one of the most infamous raids of WWII, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise strike attack on the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941. Launching from six aircraft carriers in two attack waves, over four hundred strike and fighter aircraft targeted the US Pacific Fleet moored at Pearl Harbor and the airfields at Ford Island, Hickam Field, Bellows Field and Wheeler Field. Despite inflicting significant damage, America would resolve to avenge this attack and destroy the Japanese war machine. As the Japanese launched their surprise attack against US Forces at Pearl Harbor, most service personnel on the ground were oblivious to the perilous position they were in. As the first wave of Japanese fighters swept in, panic and confusion set in and most attempted to find whatever cover they could. Determined to fight back many servicemen manned their guns and did what they could to deter the attack. At Haleiwa airfield, Lt. Kenneth Taylor and Lt. George Welch climbed into the cockpits of their P-40 fighters and took off under a hail of enemy machine gunfire, before launching into a furious defense of their airfield. Claiming a number of Japanese aircraft destroyed, the pair landed at Wheeler Field and ordered ground crews to re-fuel and re-arm the aircraft. Despite being ordered to remain on the ground the pair took to the air once more, as the airfield again came under further Japanese attack, with both men again managing to shoot down enemy aircraft. Despite their heroic efforts, the Americans lost some 188 aircraft destroyed and a further 159 damaged, during the two Japanese attack waves. Japanese losses were to be just 29 aircraft destroyed during the Pearl Harbor raid, but this would only be the start of the American military response and there was much worse to come.