December 7, 1941, was by an assessment a devastating day. The Hawaiian Air Force suffered a crippling blow, but the genesis of recovery and final victory over the enemy emerged in the valor of those who weathered the onslaught and fought back with everything they had. In the 50 years since then, the attack has become a faded memory for some and to many members of the younger generation just another moment in history. It deserves better understanding and commemoration, however, for this sudden, damaging strike on our forces marked the beginning of America's involvement in a terrible global war that was massive in scope and destruction. Literature on the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack that launched the United States into World War II is extensive. Japan's primary objective that day was to cripple the US Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor, and the Navy's experience during the attack has been chronicled in detail. Control of the air over the island of Oahu was essential to the success of the attack, but documentation on Army Air Forces involvement has been sparse and often fragmented. Consequently, few people understand why the Hawaiian Air Force was so unprepared to accomplish its air defense mission or realize the extent of the damage and casualties it sustained on that "Day of Infamy." This book is an attempt to remedy that situation, and the events and actions of the US Army Air Forces on 7 December are told in this publication. In this writing several important question are addressed. Why was the Imperial Japanese Navy able to devastate the Hawaiian Air Force with little or no opposition? Why was the American air arm with over 200 aircraft, including long-range bombers, six radar stations, a trained ground observer unit, and extensive antiaircraft weapons units unable to perform its primary job of protecting the fleet? Why are all available aircraft unarmed and lined up like sitting ducks on the flight line at each base? Why were the radar stations shut down at 0700 on the morning of the attack? Where was the central fighter control unit, and why was it not activated prior to the attack?

On 7 December 1941, the "Day of Infamy," the United States and its armed forces were plunged into the most costly war in history. On the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Oahu, the Air Force story of 7 December 1941 is told in its entirety for the first time. Often times the heroism and anguish of airmen at Wheeler, Hickam and Bellows have been overshadowed by the main event, the attack on Pearl Harbor itself. The Japanese attack on the airfields of Oahu was an integral part of their overall plan, and their objectives were achieved. The Hawaiian Air Force was dealt a crippling blow, despite heroic efforts to counter that attack. Today 7 December stands as an important symbol in our history.

An almost exhaustive volume of literature has described and analyzed the Japanese attack on the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Yet despite the key role played by Japanese dominance of the air space over Oahu, little has been published on the role of the Army Air Forces and its unpreparedness to accomplish it air defense mission. In addition, too few are aware of the nature and extent of the damage the Hawaiian Air Force sustained that day."7 December 1941: The Air Force Story" recounts the tale of this valiant but outgunned and outmanned unit even as it attempts to explain why all of its available aircraft were unarmed and lined up like sitting ducks on the flight line at each base, why all radar stations shut down on the morning of the attack and, above all, why the American air arm, including ground observers and antiaircraft units, proved unable to protect the fleet. The book begins with a look at the overall position of the Hawaiian Air Force before December 7 its leadership, assigned personnel and aircraft, and air defense system. Next, it examines in detail the three main air fields on Oahu Hickam, Wheeler, and Bellows and their duty, training, equipment, and morale. It then describes the actual attack from the perspective of each of the bases and concludes with a post mortem of the aftermath. Stirring personal accounts of the attack and the courageous reaction of Army Air Forces personnel in the face of overwhelming odds bring home the terrible reality of total war. In one case, a witness describes pausing to lace in the lining of his World War I-vintage helmet a stark example of how unprepared American forces were that day. In another vignette, this time of a rare victory, an antiaircraft unit shoots down two Japanese planes and almost downs an American B-17. "7 December 1941: The Air Force Story" is an indispensable account of a forgotten aspect of one of America 's greatest military defeats and a significant contribution to the continuing debate on military preparedness prior to Pearl Harbor. As such, it is a must read for scholars and World War II buffs.

Literature on the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack that launched the United States into World War I1 is extensive. Japan's primary objective that day was to cripple the US Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor, and the Navy's experience during the attack has been chronicled in detail. Control of the air over the island of Oahu was essential to the success of the attack, but documentation on Army Air Forces involvement has been sparse and often fragmented. Consequently, few people understand why the Hawaiian Air Force was so unprepared to accomplish its air defense mission or realize the extent of the damage and casualties it sustained on that "Day of Infamy." This book is an attempt to remedy that situation, and the events and actions of the US Army Air Forces on 7 December are told in the following pages. In this writing we have attempted to answer several important questions. Why was the Imperial Japanese Navy able to devastate the Hawaiian Air Force with little to no opposition? Why was the American air arm with over 200 aircraft, including long-range bombers, six radar stations, a trained ground observer unit, and extensive antiaircraft weapons units unable to perform its primary job of protecting the fleet? Why were all available aircraft unarmed and lined up like sitting ducks on the flight line at each base? Why were the radar stations shut down at 0700 on the morning of the attack? Where was the central fighter control unit, and why was it not activated prior to the attack?