Volume 10 , Issue 49

67 Years Ago Today

67 years ago today the Oklahoma City newspaper had the following headlines in The Oklahoman, dated Dec. 7, 1941, page 85, and the headlines read: "Japanese Attack Hawaii and Manila From Air." Where were your ancestors during this 1941 strike on the Hawaiian islands 47 years ago today? See my Uncle Bob's WWII Timetable.

Washington, Dec, 7, 1941 -- Japanese air attacks on the American stronghold at Pearl harbor, Hawaii, and on defense facilities at Manila were announced Sunday by the White House.

Only this terse announcement came from President Roosevelt immediately, but with it there could be o doubt that the far eastern situation had at last exploded, that the United States was at war, and that the conflict which began in Europe was spreading over the entire world.

A brief presidential statement disclosing the attacks was dictated to news agencies and press associations by Stephen Early, WHite House secretary. I said: "The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor (in Hawaii) from the air and all naval and military activities on the island of Oahu, the principal base in the Hawaiian islands."

The White House announced at 3:35 p.m. EST, Sunday that the army had just received word that an American vessel, believed to be a cargo ship, had been sending out signals of distress approximately 700 miles west of San Francisco. Whether it had been torpedoed was immediately learned.

At least two Japanese bombers, their wings bearing the insignia of the Rising Sun, appeared over Honolulu at about 7:35 a.m. (12:o5 p.m. Oklahoma time) Sunday and dropped bombs.

Unverified reports said a foreign warship appeared off Pearl harbor and began firing at the defenses in that highly fortified post. Reports say that the Japanese bombers scored two hits, one at Hickam field, air corps post on Oahu island, and another at Pearl Harbor, setting an oil tank afire. Some aerial dogfights were in progress in the skies over Honolulu. At least two nine-plane formations of four-engined black bombers flew over Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. Each plane bore Japan's Rising Sun insignia. There was a report from persons who came past Pearl harbor that one ship there was lying on its side in the water and four others were on fire. -- 67 Years Ago Today - Headlines In The Oklahoman & Publication: The Oklahoman, dated Jan 25, 1942, Page 29, "Pearl harbor Inquiry Board Accuses Two Commanders" and "Kimmel and Short Censured For Lax Action on December 7 (1941)
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