Robert J Cressman

The Official Chronology of the U. S. Navy in World War II, published in 1999 and updated here in a new format and with a complete index of all ships mentioned in the text (absent from the 1999 edition), is the authoritative resource on the war at sea between 1939 and 1945. Author Robert Cressman provides a nearly day-by-day account of navy-related engagements, operations, and activities in all theaters of the war. Appendices list the names and dates of service of the Navy's complex command structure and explain the abbreviations used in the text. A complete index of allied, axis, and neutral vessels is provided, as well as a secondary condensed index of important allied ships.

A Pitiful, Unholy Mess is a detailed combat narrative of the 7 December 1941 Japanese attacks on O'ahu's Wheeler, Bellows, and Haleiwa Fields. Since these bases comprised O'ahu's fighter defenses, the Japanese needed to neutralize these bases (particularly Wheeler Field) to prevent U. S. aircraft from interfering with attacks on the Pacific Fleet. Although the loss of life at the three fields was less than that sustained by the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, the attacks caused destruction and mayhem that proved disastrous and wrenching. The work focuses on descriptions of actions in the air and on the ground at the deepest practical tactical level, from both the U. S. and Japanese perspectives. Such synthesis is possible only by doggedly pursuing every conceivable source of American documents, reminiscences, interviews, and photographs. Similarly, the authors sought out Japanese accounts and photography from the attacks, many appearing in print for the first time. Much information from the reports of the Japanese air groups and the aircraft carrier Shokaku has never been used. On the American side, the authors also have researched the U. S. Army Air Force Individual Flight Records at NARA, St. Louis, that provide operational details of the pilots' flights, as well of their military careers. The authors were among the first to research these microfilmed records within months after NARA, St. Louis accessioned them. The authors have delved into the background and personalities of key Japanese participants and have translated and incorporated Japanese aircrew rosters from the attacks. This accumulation of data and information makes possible an intricate and highly integrated story that is compelling and unparalleled. The interwoven nature of the narratives of both sides provides a deep understanding of the events at Wheeler, Bellows and Haleiwa Fields that has been impossible to present heretofore.

This book is about the attack on Pearl Harbor, which was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, just before 8:00 a.m., on Sunday, December 7, 1941. The United States was a neutral country at the time; the attack led to its formal entry into World War II the next day. In this book the authors have consulted primary materials in the Marine Corps Historical Center Reference Section (November/December 1941 muster rolls) and Personal Papers Section (Claude A. Larkins, Roger M. Emmons, and Wayne Jordan collections), as well as in the Naval Historical Center Operational Archives Branch (action reports and/or microfilmed deck logs for the 15 ships with embarked Marine Detachments, and those units included in the Commandant, 14th Naval District, report), in the office of the Coast Guard Historian, and in the Gordon W. Prange Papers.

They're Killing my Boys is a detailed combat narrative of the 7 December 1941 Japanese attacks on Hickam Field — then one of two major US Army airfields on the island of O'ahu. Since the field served as a base for long-range bombers, the Japanese military desired to put Hickam out of action to prevent U. S. forces from searching for and attacking their carrier force. Typically, military historians tend to focus on the destruction sustained by the U. S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. Although the loss of life at Hickam Field was less than that sustained by the Pacific Fleet, the attacks on the former location caused destruction and mayhem that was disastrous and wrenching. This work describes actions in the air and on the ground at the deepest practical personal and tactical level, from both the American and Japanese perspectives. Such a synthesis is possible only by pursuing every conceivable source of American documents, reminiscences, interviews, and photographs. This accumulation of data and information makes possible an intricate and highly-integrated story that is unparalleled. The interwoven nature of the narratives of both sides provides a deep understanding of the events at Hickam Field that has been impossible to present heretofore.

This Is No Drill is a detailed combat narrative of the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on NAS Pearl Harbor--then one of two naval air stations on the island of O'ahu. Since the station served as a base for long-range patrol aircraft, the Japanese aimed to put NAS Pearl Harbor out of action to prevent U. S. planes from searching for their carrier force. The work of these three scholars focuses on descriptions of actions in the air and on the ground at the deepest personal and tactical levels, from both the American and Japanese perspectives, with many of the photos from Japanese sources appearing in print for the first time. This accumulation of data and information makes possible an intricate story that is unparalleled in its scope. The interwoven narratives of both sides provides the sort of in-depth understanding of the events at NAS Pearl Harbor that would have been impossible to present previously.

It is Monday, 8 December 1941. On Wake Island, a tiny sprung paper-clip in the Pacific between Hawaii and Guam, Marines of the 1st Defense Battalion are starting another day of the backbreaking war preparations that have gone on for weeks. Out in the triangular lagoon formed by the islets of Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, the huge silver Pan American Airways Philippines Clipper flying boat roars off the water bound for Guam. The trans-Pacific flight will not be complete. "A Magnificent Fight: Marines in the Battle for Wake Island" recounts the marine battle in the Wake Island and references specific subjects, such as aircraft, personalities, and campaigns.

No One Avoided Danger is a detailed combat narrative of the 7 December 1941 Japanese attacks on NAS Kaneohe Bay, one of two naval air stations on the island of O'ahu. Partly because of Kaneohe's location - 15 air miles over a mountain range from the main site of that day's infamous attack on Pearl Harbor - military historians have largely ignored the station's story. Moreover, there is an understandable tendency to focus on the massive destruction sustained by the U. S. Pacific Fleet. The attacks on NAS Kaneohe Bay, however, were equally destructive and no less disastrous, notwithstanding the station's considerable distance from the harbor. The work focuses on descriptions of actions in the air and on the ground at the deepest practical, personal, and tactical level, from both the American and Japanese perspectives. Such a synthesis is possible only by pursuing every conceivable source of American documents, reminiscences, interviews, and photographs. Similarly, the authors sought out Japanese accounts and photography from the attacks, many appearing in print for the first time. Information from the Japanese air group and aircraft carrier action reports has never before been used. On the American side, the authors also have researched the Official Military Personnel Files at the National Personnel Records Center and National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri, extracting service photographs and details of the military careers of American officers and men. The authors are among the first historians to be allowed access to previously unused service records. The authors likewise delved into the background and personalities of key Japanese participants, and have translated and incorporated the Japanese aircrew rosters from the attack. This accumulation of data and information makes possible an intricate and highly integrated story that is unparalleled. The interwoven narratives of both sides provide a deeper understanding of the events near Kane'ohe Bay than any previous history.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U. S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. There were simultaneous Japanese attacks on the U. S.-held Philippines and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U. S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U. S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded. The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day, the United States declared war on Japan. There were numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan. However, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy". The authors chronicle the events at Pearl Harbor.

It is Monday, 8 December 1941. On Wake Island, a tiny sprung paper-clip in the Pacific between Hawaii and Guam, Marines of the 1st Defense Battalion are starting another day of the backbreaking war preparations that have gone on for weeks. Out in the triangular lagoon formed by the islets of Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, the huge silver Pan American Airways Philippines Clipper flying boat roars off the water bound for Guam. The trans-Pacific flight will not be complete. "A Magnificent Fight: Marines in the Battle for Wake Island" recounts the marine battle in the Wake Island and references specific subjects, such as aircraft, personalities, and campaigns.