Visions of Infamy: Remembering Pearl Harbor

An Exhibition Featuring Paintings by Artist Tom Freeman
National Museum of the U.S. Navy

"Like a thunderclap from a clear sky," Japanese Navy planes surprised the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Sunday, 7 December 1941. Attacking in two waves from six aircraft carriers, Japan compiled the most powerful striking force assembled by any navy.  Torpedo planes and bombers, supported by fighters, sank 5 of 8 battleships, a gunnery training ship, and 2 destroyers in the harbor, and damaged 13 other ships.  Attacks on nearby airfields destroyed 188 Navy, Army, and Marine Corps planes.  The loss of life also was large: Navy 2,008; Marine Corps 109; Army 218; civilian 68. Japanese losses numbered less than 100 men, 29 aircraft, and 4 midget submarines. Acts of heroism by American sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen, and civilians abounded on what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called "a date which will live in infamy." This attack united the country and brought the United States into World War II.

Below is an excerpt from an exhibition at The U.S. Navy Museum featuring paintings by artist Tom Freeman. The exhibit commemorated the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.