sylvania. Oil was pouring out into the water. The oil was ignited and destroyers Cassin and Downes exploded.Hickam Field was also the site of another Japanese surprise attack. Eighteen American bombers and fighters were destroyed or damaged. A few U.S. fighters got into the air and made themselves known. Twenty-nine Japanese aircraft were shot down by American pilots and by ground fire from military installations on Oahu (Brief Overview of the Attack, 7 July 2001). By 10 a.m. the Japanese attack was over. Tank farms and shore installations were left untouched (Renzi 45). Nineteen United States naval vessels were sunk or severely damaged. 188 United States aircraft were destroyed on the ground. United States military casualties amounted to 2,280 killed and 1,109 wounded. 68 American civilians were also killed in the attack (Pearl Harbor, 2001). The Japanese lost only 29 of 351 planes launched in this attack. Some people believe that the attack on Pearl Harbor was ultimately a suicide mission for the Japanese in the long run (Renzi 45). On December 8, 1941 the United States and Great Britain declared war on Japan (Weintraub 629). Japan promptly declared war on the United States and Great Britain. Germany and Italy declared war on the United States on December 11th even though Hitler wanted to avoid a war with America. Americans were so surprised by the attack on Pearl Harbor, that they believed that there had been a serious breakdown in the United States intelligence. The United States had been watching the developments of the Japanese Fleet prior to the attack but somehow the United States lost track of them. The United States authorities had broken the Japanese diplomatic code and had learned late in the evening of December 6th that war with Japan was imminent and an attack could be on the way. A warning from Washington to Pearl Harbor was sent but because of delays in transmission, the warning arrived after the raid...
