Sunday, December 7, 1941 : The Japanese forces deployed nearly 400 aircraft from six carriers from an undetected position 200 miles north of Oahu, attacking the U.S. Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. The attack came as a complete surprise.

TIME CAPSULE: Air raid on Pearl Harbor X This Is No Drill The first message about the attack was sent out by radio operators working for Ford Island”™s commander, Rear Admiral Patrick Bellinger. The commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) sent a similar message alerting American naval stations as far as Alaska. Bellinger”™s warning was the first news of the raid to reach Washington, just before an unsuspecting Ambassador Nomura was to meet American Secretary of State Cordell Hull to discuss Japan”™s latest diplomatic ultimatum.