Seaplanes Make First Reconnaissance
On December 7, 1941, at 0500, 5 a.m. civilian time, the Japanese began their first step in the soon to occur attack on Pearl Harbor at Oahu, Hawaii. This step consisted of launching two seaplanes, one from the Chikuma, one from the Tone.
One of these seaplanes was to make a reconnaissance of Pearl Harbor where the U. S. military mostly slumbered on that balmy early Sunday, morning. The second seaplane was to observe the Lahaina anchorage. If it was empty it was to then scout the area south of Oahu. It was hoped that it would locate any American carrier ships that were cruising in the area. In spite of what they discovered, the two seaplanes would be unable to report their findings back to their respective ship, due to radio silence, until after the two planned strike formations had been dispatched.
Japanese Bombers Start Engines
After 0550, aboard the Japanese carriers, aircraft engines were started. The ship formation by now had turned east into a 30-knot wind and worked its speed up to 24 knots. This was necessary to insure that there was enough wind speed passing over the flight decks to lift the aircraft, Kates as they were called, that were heavy from the extraordinarily heavy bombs they carried.
Fifteen minutes later, as the aircraft carriers fought against some forty-foot waves with water breaking over the flight decks of the ships, the first attack formation, consisting of 185 planes, were launched.
First and Second Strike Force Launched
The first aircrafts to be launched were known as Zekes, followed by the Kates and then the Vals. After these planes were launched those for the second strike were brought up on deck. At about 0715, 7:15 a.m., the second strike force consisting of 167 bombers was launched.
At O735, the previously launched seaplanes reported in to inform the approaching Japanese carriers and the aircraft, that were quickly approaching Oahu, that in harbor of the American force there were nine battleships, one heavy and six light cruisers.
Ironically, as the planes approached Pearl Harbor the local radio station was playing a Japanese song.
Bombing Pearl Harbor: A Day of Infamy continues with Attack on Pearl Harbor Begins: American Ships Meet their Doom.
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