The War at Sea

• With the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan did not destroy the heart of the Pacific fleet: Lexington, Enterprise, and Saratoga

American Response in the Pacific

• Two-pronged strategy– General Douglas MacArthur would move north

from Australia towards the Philippines– Admiral Chester Nimitz would move west from

Hawaii toward major Japanese island outposts in the Pacific

– Belief: Both would meet eventually to invade Japan

• April 1942American B-52s took off from aircraft carrier Hornet and flew 650 miles to Japan

• Lt. Colonel James Doolittle’s squadron dropped bombs on Tokyoshocked Japanese leadership and boosted Allied morale.

Battle of the Coral Sea• Japanese forces moved toward Australia• May 7-8, 1942 American navy engaged

superior Japanese fleet in the Coral Sea

Five Day Battle Resulted in a Draw

• U.S. lost the Lexington and the Yorktown was damaged

• Japan lost two aircraft carriers and most of their airplanes

• RESULT: Prevented the unstoppable Japanese navy from invading Australia

• First naval combat carried out entirely by aircraftcarriers were 70 miles apart

The Battle of Midway

• Midway was a vital island in protecting Hawaii• Began on June 4, 1942• Japanese bombers struck first, BUT American

warplanes counterattacked• Americans sank all 4 Japanese aircraft carriers• Japan lost 4 carriers, 250 planes and most of

their skilled pilotsTHE TURNING POINT IN THE PACIFIC!!

The Battle of Guadalcanal• Solomon Islands off the coast of

AustraliaJapanese air base being built to launch attack on Australia

• August 194211,000 marines landed on island– 2,200 Japanese fled into the jungle

• Lasted 6 months– Japanese abandoned the island– Americans controlled waters

• Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders began to move towards the Philippines