UNITED STATES

New images of a U.S. Navy seaplane that sank in Hawaiian waters during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are the clearest images taken of such wreckage. (Associated Press)

Use our fantastic interactive to better understand the “date which will live in infamy.”

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit, including a link to today’s MapMaker Interactive map.

Discussion Ideas

• The surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, drew the United States into World War II. Why was Pearl Harbor such a pivotal target for the Empire of Japan? Read our short, informative article for some help.
  • Pearl Harbor was the homeport of the Pacific Fleet—U.S. Navy vessels in the Pacific Ocean. “The Japanese strategy for the attack was pretty straightforward,” says Daniel Martinez, chief historian at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Honolulu, Hawaii. “It was to immobilize the Pacific Fleet and to take the Pacific Fleet out of action from at least six months to a year. The idea of a surprise attack was key to their success.”
    • Today, the U.S. Pacific Fleet is still headquartered at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. Check out their Facebook page for great coverage of the anniversary.

• Why is the phrase “attack at Pearl Harbor” a little misleading? Take a look at today’s MapMaker Interactive map, or browse our interactive attack map for some help.
  • The naval base at Pearl Harbor was not the only target hit that Sunday.
    • Hickam Field: Hickam Field is adjacent to Pearl Harbor, and shares runways with Honolulu International Airport. The Navy constructed Hickam when the airfield at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, became too congested. On December 7, 1941, 189 people were killed at Hickam.
      • In 2010, the United States Air Force Hickam Field and the United States Navy Naval Station Pearl Harbor merged to form Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. Use their Facebook page to keep track of commemorations.
    • Kaneohe Naval Air Station: Eighteen sailors and two civilians were killed at Kaneohe Bay, on the north side of Oahu. The seaplane wreckage discussed in the AP article was stationed at Kaneohe Bay.
      • Today, the facility is the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay.
    • Bellows Field: Two pilots were killed at Bellows Air Force Station, on the northern coast of south Oahu.
      • Today, Bellows field is Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, and also serves as headquarters for a Hawaii Army National Guard unit.
    • Wheeler Field: The hundreds of planes assigned to Wheeler Army Airfield, in the interior of Oahu, were a primary target of the attacks. Thirty-three people died at Wheeler.
      • Today, Wheeler Army Airfield remains part of the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii.
    • Ewa: Marine Corps Air Station Ewa was the first target hit on December 7, 1941, and all 48 aircraft were destroyed.
      • Today, the Ewa Air Station is abandoned, its runways too short for modern jet aircraft. Recently, the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board unanimously recommended to list about 180 acres of Ewa Field on the National Register of Historic Places.

• The wreckage discussed in the AP article was of a Catalina PBY-5 seaplane. Why do you think Catalinas were important to the Pacific Fleet—and an important target for the Japanese?
  • Catalinas were workhorses—they could take off and land on sea or on a tarmac; they could carry four 500-pound bombs; and they could fly as far as 3,200 kilometers (2,000 miles) without refueling—and would have been able to follow Japanese planes back to their aircraft carriers.
    • PBYs were patrol bombers—fixed-wing aircraft that performed missions with long durations over water. (In fact, PB stands for “patrol bomber.” Y was simply the code assigned to Consolidated Aircraft, the company that made the plane.) During World War II, PBYs were used in anti-submarine warfare, convoy escorts, search-and-rescue missions, and even cargo transport.
    • PBYs continue to be workhorses today. They are often used in aerial firefighting all over the world. Take a closer look at “fire bombers” here.

• According to the AP article, the wreckage is not accessible to the public, although it lies beneath just 9 meters (30 feet) of water. Why isn’t it accessible?
  • It’s against the law. The federal Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004 prohibits unauthorized disturbance of derelict military vessels or planes in U.S. waters. Only NOAA, a federal agency, made the University of Hawaii’s exploration possible. “Partnerships like this provide a means by which forgotten history is remembered, and stories like those of the PBY fleet can be shared with new generations,” says Cynthia Hunter, director of the University of Hawaii’s marine program.

• According to the AP article, there has been “no ‘dedicated discussion’ to retrieving the plane.” Why not?
  • It would be incredibly expensive to stabilize the wreckage, bring it ashore, and house it.
  • The wreckage is a thriving artificial reef, providing a habitat for corals, fish, and other marine life. Learn more about other artificial reefs here.

TEACHERS’ TOOLKIT

USA Today: Images: Seaplane that sank in Pearl Harbor attack

Nat Geo: Remembering Pearl Harbor: An Interactive Map of the Attack on December 7, 1941

Nat Geo: What were the targets on the “date which shall live in infamy” map

Nat Geo: Date Which Will Live in Infamy article

NOAA: Rare images reveal details of U.S. Navy seaplane lost in Pearl Harbor attack 74 years ago photos and videos