National Museum of the U.S. Navy

The Pacific Theater

A radio broadcasting President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to the nation declaring war on Japan begins the Pacific Theater portion of "In Harm's Way" on the east side of the museum.   This exhibit displays in a chronological manner the technology and tactics used across the Pacific while Americans battled Japanese forces with naval battles and air attacks and land campaigns.  Submarine warfare is covered in detail, while a video presentation takes visitors inside a World War II submarine to explore its living conditions.  Photographic displays depict battles for islands in the Pacific and the war in the Aleutians.  A twin 5-inch 38 caliber gun turret sits on the museum floor for visitors to climb on and look inside.   Video presentations portay elements of the war in the Pacific.  Also displayed is a replica of an atomic bomb casing identical to "Little Boy" dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.    Hanging above the exhibit are examples of aircraft used by both American and Japanese forces. 

Interesting artifacts from the Pacific Section of the World War II exhibit "In Harm's Way" include:

• Enlargement of aerial photograph taken by a Japanese aircraft flying over Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
• Audio presentation of original announcement by President Franklin D. Roosevelt declaring war on Japan.
• Ship's Bell from USS Hoga (YT-146).   
• Various photo-montages of naval surface battles and air and campaigns depicting influential military campaigns in the Pacific.
• Sheet music for the loss of USS Lexington (CV-2) by Everett D. Richard.
• Builder's and Memorial Plaques for USS Enterprise (CV-6). 
• Twin Mount 5-inch 38-caliber gun turret from USS Reno (CL-96).  Side view.  Rear View.
• Japanese 7.7 mm Machine Gun.
• 1,000 lb Demolition Bomb, Mk-11, Mod-2.
• Mark 12, Model 0, Magnetic-Influence Mine.
• The Mark 13, 22.5 inch torpedo.
• The Mark 14 torpedo; the flawed predcessor of the first electric torpedo, the Mark 18
• Video presentations "Submarine Life" and "Carrier Aviation".
• Post Office Sign to U.S. Naval Air Station, Attu, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. 
• Ship's Bell from USS Balao (SS-285).  
• Japanese Zero Wing Tip.
• Japanese Zero Manifold Pressure and Airspeed Pressure instruments.
• Recreated bridge from USS Fletcher (DD-445), a navy destroyer which was the lead-ship of her class.  
• 5-inch, 25-caliber Submarine Deck Gun.   Another view.
• 3-inch, 50-caliber (Mark 22) Dual Purpose Gun.  Another view.
• 20mm anti-aircraft gun.
• SQ Radar.
• Quad 40mm anti-aircraft gun mounts of the type used on U.S. Navy carriers and battleship.  To view ammunition for the gun, please click here.
• Insignia from Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons.   View some squadrons here:  4, 25, and 33.
• Japanese Tanker's Helmet.
• Hedgehog Projectile.
• Ship model of USS Leyte (CV-32), an Essex-class carrier named to commemorate the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Phillippines.
• Japanese Mess Kit.
• Hospital Corpsman's Knife.
• Interactive exhibit on the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle ever fought. 
  
• Ship model of USS Missouri (BB-63), the site of the Japanese surrender to the United States, officially ending World War II.
  
• Ship model of USS LSM-201 (landing ship, medium).
• Japanese Ohka or Baka bomb, suspended above exhibit.  To view the artifact, click here and here.
• Japanese Army Issue Samurai Sword/Infantry Helmet/Cartridge Box/Type 92 Portable Field Telephone
• Japanese 7.7 mm short rifle and 7.7 mm light machine gun
• American .30 caliber M-1 carbine rifle; .45 Model 1911A pistol; .45 calber M-3 machine gun
• FG-1D Corsair fighter plane, suspended above exhibit.  More views, click here, and here. 
• Seabee's Knife.
• Tiny Tim Missile.
• Bat Missile.   Another view. 
• Japanese Kamikaze Plane Wing.
• Japanese Kamikaze bomb fragment from USS Sterett (DD-407).
• Japanese Kamikaze engine fragment from USS Harding (DMS-28).
• "Little Boy" replica of the Atomic Bomb dropped at Hiroshima, Japan.  To view images of the replica, click here and here. 
• Mark 25, Model 0, Magnetic Bomb. 
• Muzzle on USS Indiana (BB-58).
  

Models of Foreign Navies and Civilian Ships