Pearl Harbor

Photos of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attack, the USS Arizona and the USS Maryland - Valor in the Pacific National Monument. National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior

We have gathered a collection of some of the best and most moving photos taken during the Second World War. They are from the National Archives in Washington D.C.
Please browse at your leisure. Meditate on the sacrifice given by these men and women in wartime.

This page is dedicated to photos of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. The images in this gallery capture some of the events that occurred on that fateful day.

Did you know?
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, acted as a catalyst propelling America into World War II. On December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan. In return, December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.

Did you know?
The majority of the U.S. Pacific Fleet was moved to Pearl Harbor in 1940 as peace negotiations began to falter with Japan.

Did you know?
The Japanese aerial bomb that struck the forward section of the USS Arizona ignited the forward magazine causing a catastrophic explosion that sunk the battleship in nine minutes.

Did you know?
The bond between USS Arizona shipmates went beyond being comrades; there were 37 sets of brothers assigned to the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941.

Did you know?
The majority of the USS Arizona's crew went down with the ship; however, 337 crew members survived. Today, interments for deceased USS Arizona survivors are conducted on the ship. Over 25 interments have been conducted on the USS Arizona.

The forward superstructure and Number Two 14" gun turret of the sunken USS Arizona afire after the attack. The USS Arizona after the attack.
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Fighting fires on the sunken USS West Virginia Oil gushes from a strike on the USS West Virginia as more torpedoes track toward Battleship Row
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Fire and smoke pour from the battleships Arizona (right) and West Viginia (left) USS Maryland alongside the capsized USS Oklahoma
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View of the attack on Pearl Harbor from Aiea Heights Shellfire and smoke from anti-aircraft fire fill the sky over Pearl Harbor
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Japanese Nakajima B5N2 Kate bomber launching off the deck of the carrier Zuikaku Japanese midget submarine beached at Bellows on the windward side of Oahu
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A damaged P-40 rests on the runway at Bellows Field after the attack The forward magazine of the USS Shaw explodes
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The U.S. Flag flies over Hickam Field after the attack A wrecked Army Air Corps B17C near Hangar #5 Hickam Field, that arrived from California during the attack
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Remains of tent barracks after Japanese bomber attack Soldier looks over P-40 remains at Wheeler Field. Hanger#4 in background
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The forward magazines of the USS Arizona ignite after Japanese bomber attack View down Battleship Row shows the listing USS California (left), the USS Maryland next to the capsized USS Oklahoma
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