2-378-255 - Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images

The wreckage-strewn Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, USA, 7 December 1941. The Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the US military facilities at Pearl Harbour on the morning of 7 December 1941 using bombers launched from aircraft carriers. The attack succeeded in sinking 4 battleships and damaging 4 others, and destroyed 188 aircraft. 2345 servicemen lost their lives along with 57 civilians. President Roosevelt denounced the attack as a day that will live in infamy and Congress declared war on Japan.