Timeline of World War II in the Pacific
The following timeline will give you a historical perspective of World War II in the Pacific Islands bordering Japan. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. This initiated the United States role in entering World War II, by declaring war on Japan and the Axis Powers. The United States launched a campaign, known as the Pacific Theater, to directly target the islands bordering Japan. This enabled the Allies to slowy inch their way toward mainland Japan, as they took over the various islands. The following aspects of the timeline include the major focal points of the War in the Pacific.
1941
*December 7 – The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. They also attack Wake Island, Guam, The Philippines, Shanghai, Thailand, and Midway.
*December 8- The United States and Britain declare war on Japan
1942
*January 18- The German-Japanese-Italian Military agreement is signed in Berlin.
*March 18- General MacArthur is appointed commander of the Southwest Pacific Theater by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
*March 24- Admiral Chester Nimitz is appointed as Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Theater.
*March 8- Japan suffers its first defeat of the war during the Battle of the Coral Sea off the coast of New Guinea. This marked the first time in history that two opposing carriers fought using only aircrafts, without the opposing ships ever sighting each other.
*June 4- The turning point in the war occurs with a victory for the United States against Japan at the Battle of Midway.
*September 9- A United States forest in the state of Oregon was the site of the only bombing of the continental United States during the war. A Japanese plane dropped two incendiary bombs, which cause extreme destruction by fire. This information was with held from the citizens of the United States as well as the media.
1943
*January through April- Allied troops begin regaining control of the Pacific Islands.
*October 24- Japanese Emperor Hirohito states his country’s situation is “truly grave.”
1944
*Feb 23- United States carrier-based planes attack the Mariana Islands in the South Pacific.
*June 15- United States Marines invade Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.
*June 19- The Battle for the Philipine Sea, also known as the “Marianas Turkey Shoot” occurs as the United States carrier-based fighters shoot down 220 Japanese planes, while only 20 American planes are lost. This was the largest aircraft-carrier battle in history.
*July 19- United States Marines invade Guam.
*July 24- United States Marines invade Tinian Island.
*July 27- American troops complete the liberation of Guam.
*August 8- American troops complete the total capture of the Mariana Islands.
*October 11- United States Air raids begin against Okinawa.
*October 18- Fourteen B-29 bombers based on the Marianas attack the Japanese base at Truk.
*October 25- The first suicide air attacks called Kamikaze occur against US warships in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. At the end of the war, Japan was said to have sent an estimated total of 2,257 pilots in as suicide bombers.
*November 11- Iwo Jima is bombarded by the United States Navy.
*December 17- The United States Army Air Force begins preparations for dropping the Atomic Bomb by enlisting the 509th Composite Group.
1945
*January 3- General MacArthur is placed in command of all United States ground forces and Admiral Nimitz in command of all naval forces in preparation for the planned attacks against Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan itself.
*February 19- United States Marines invade Iwo Jima.
*May 8- Victory Day is established in Europe.
*May 25- United States Joint Chiefs of Staff approve Operation Olympic, the invasion of Japan, scheduled for November 1.
*June 9- Japanese Premier Suzuki announces Japan will fight to the death rather than surrender.
*June 22- Japanese Resistance ends on Okinawa.
*June 28- General MacArthur announces the end of Japanese Resistance in the Philippines.
*July 10 - One-thousand bomber raids against Japan begin.
*July 16- The first Atomic Bomb is successfully tested in the United States.
*July 26- Components of the Atomic Bomb “Little Boy” are unloaded at Tinian Island in the South Pacific.
*August 6- The first Atomic Bomb is dropped on Nagasaki from a B-29 flown by Colonel Paul Tibbets.
*August 9- The second Atomic Bomb is dropped on Nagasaki from a B-29 flown by Major Charles Sweeney. Emperor Hirohito and Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki then decide to seek an immediate peace with the Allies.
*August 14- Japanese accept unconditional surrender to the Allied Nations.
*September 2- United States President, Harry Truman, declares VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day.)
*October 24- The United Nations is created.
This timeline is derived from:
Gavin, Philip. (1999). The history place: world war ii in the pacific.
1941
*December 7 – The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. They also attack Wake Island, Guam, The Philippines, Shanghai, Thailand, and Midway.
*December 8- The United States and Britain declare war on Japan
1942
*January 18- The German-Japanese-Italian Military agreement is signed in Berlin.
*March 18- General MacArthur is appointed commander of the Southwest Pacific Theater by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
*March 24- Admiral Chester Nimitz is appointed as Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Theater.
*March 8- Japan suffers its first defeat of the war during the Battle of the Coral Sea off the coast of New Guinea. This marked the first time in history that two opposing carriers fought using only aircrafts, without the opposing ships ever sighting each other.
*June 4- The turning point in the war occurs with a victory for the United States against Japan at the Battle of Midway.
*September 9- A United States forest in the state of Oregon was the site of the only bombing of the continental United States during the war. A Japanese plane dropped two incendiary bombs, which cause extreme destruction by fire. This information was with held from the citizens of the United States as well as the media.
1943
*January through April- Allied troops begin regaining control of the Pacific Islands.
*October 24- Japanese Emperor Hirohito states his country’s situation is “truly grave.”
1944
*Feb 23- United States carrier-based planes attack the Mariana Islands in the South Pacific.
*June 15- United States Marines invade Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.
*June 19- The Battle for the Philipine Sea, also known as the “Marianas Turkey Shoot” occurs as the United States carrier-based fighters shoot down 220 Japanese planes, while only 20 American planes are lost. This was the largest aircraft-carrier battle in history.
*July 19- United States Marines invade Guam.
*July 24- United States Marines invade Tinian Island.
*July 27- American troops complete the liberation of Guam.
*August 8- American troops complete the total capture of the Mariana Islands.
*October 11- United States Air raids begin against Okinawa.
*October 18- Fourteen B-29 bombers based on the Marianas attack the Japanese base at Truk.
*October 25- The first suicide air attacks called Kamikaze occur against US warships in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. At the end of the war, Japan was said to have sent an estimated total of 2,257 pilots in as suicide bombers.
*November 11- Iwo Jima is bombarded by the United States Navy.
*December 17- The United States Army Air Force begins preparations for dropping the Atomic Bomb by enlisting the 509th Composite Group.
1945
*January 3- General MacArthur is placed in command of all United States ground forces and Admiral Nimitz in command of all naval forces in preparation for the planned attacks against Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan itself.
*February 19- United States Marines invade Iwo Jima.
*May 8- Victory Day is established in Europe.
*May 25- United States Joint Chiefs of Staff approve Operation Olympic, the invasion of Japan, scheduled for November 1.
*June 9- Japanese Premier Suzuki announces Japan will fight to the death rather than surrender.
*June 22- Japanese Resistance ends on Okinawa.
*June 28- General MacArthur announces the end of Japanese Resistance in the Philippines.
*July 10 - One-thousand bomber raids against Japan begin.
*July 16- The first Atomic Bomb is successfully tested in the United States.
*July 26- Components of the Atomic Bomb “Little Boy” are unloaded at Tinian Island in the South Pacific.
*August 6- The first Atomic Bomb is dropped on Nagasaki from a B-29 flown by Colonel Paul Tibbets.
*August 9- The second Atomic Bomb is dropped on Nagasaki from a B-29 flown by Major Charles Sweeney. Emperor Hirohito and Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki then decide to seek an immediate peace with the Allies.
*August 14- Japanese accept unconditional surrender to the Allied Nations.
*September 2- United States President, Harry Truman, declares VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day.)
*October 24- The United Nations is created.
This timeline is derived from:
Gavin, Philip. (1999). The history place: world war ii in the pacific.
