The Pacific Front Class Notes

Period 6 Regan Sonny An Island Hopping Eventual goal: air, sea, and land invasion of Japan

Admiral Chester Nimitz Commander of the US Pacific Fleet In charge of island hopping, the Eisenhower of the Pacific

General Douglas MacArthur Commander of the Allied Land Forced in the Pacific The Patton of the Pacific

Hideki Tojo Minister of War Named prime minister

Isoroku Yamamoto Commander of Japanese Naval Forces

May 1942: The Battle of Coral Sea The US is successful in stopping Japanese progression to Australia Fought entirely by airplanes launched from aircraft carriers USS Lexington is sunk Both sides claim victory o Japan destroys more US ships and planes o US stops Japan from invading Australia

June 4-7, 1942: The Battle of Midway Japans first major defeat in the Pacific Fought entirely with airplanes, ships, and submarines USS Yorktown is sunk Japan suffers heavy losses, including 4 aircraft carriers

August 1942 February 1943: The Battle of Guadalcanal Japans first loss of territory Start with air attacks, ship bombardment, invasion of jungle

The Pacific Front Class Notes

Period 6 Regan Sonny An Natives there would help the Americans Conditions o Humid temperature o Giant insects and papercut plants o Diseases, esp. malaria (from mosquitos) Coastwatchers o Sir Jacob Vouza knighted by British Instrumentally helpful to Allies Gets captured, tied to tree and bayonetted by Japs Escapes, gives report to Allies before receiving surgery Gets captured again, coconut ruse, kills captor with machete US casualties: 6,000 Japan: 24,000 casualties

Battle of Solomon Islands Japanese lacked many supplies Both fought against malaria o Japanese lost 6,000 just from disease 700 Allies vs. 2,000 Japanese Fighting at close quarters o Friendly fire from artillery Bloody Ridge Americans push back Japanese

1945: The Battle for Iwo Jima (sulfur island) Island hopping is successful but costly Japanese fight from underground (2 years to prepare) o 16 miles of tunnels o 1500 rooms dug into rock Mount Suribachi of Iwo Jima o Claimed by Allies, raised a flag (iconic picture; plain video) Japan: 22,000 dead US: 6,800 dead

1945: Okinawa Last battle in island hopping strategy Atomic bomb developed, but Allies did prepare for invasion

The Pacific Front Class Notes

Period 6 Regan Sonny An August 6th and 9th, 1945: Hiroshima and Nagasaka (respectively) atom bombed Other major cities already napalmed and leveled

With Japan bombed, WWII has finally been brought to an end. 6 years of warfare; 50 million dead. What will happen to the losers of the war? Nuremberg Trials (Germans) and Tokyo Trials (Japan)

Why did they do it? I was just following orders. If it wasnt me, then itd be the next guy.