Watch Colorized Footage of the Pearl Harbor Attack and the 2,400 Deaths That Changed History

The Morning of December 7, 1941

As dawn rose over Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the naval base on Oahu appeared calm. The Pacific Fleet rested in the harbor, its sailors beginning what seemed like another quiet Sunday. Within minutes, that peace was shattered. At 7:48 a.m., Japanese aircraft swept down from the clouds in a carefully planned assault. Fighters, torpedo planes, and dive bombers struck in waves, overwhelming defenses.

The attack began with torpedoes ripping into the USS Oklahoma, followed by bombs that ignited fires across the harbor. Most devastating was the destruction of the USS Arizona. A single bomb triggered an explosion in the forward magazine, killing 1,177 crew members instantly. Colorized footage from the attack shows the once blue waters turning black with smoke and fire, while sailors scrambled to fight back and rescue the wounded.

Chaos and Resistance

American sailors, many unarmed or caught off guard, displayed acts of remarkable courage. Some leapt into burning waters to pull out comrades, while others rushed to man anti-aircraft guns against overwhelming odds. The Japanese Zero fighters proved fast and agile, weaving through defensive fire while striking ships and airfields.

By the time the attack ended around 10 a.m., the scale of devastation was clear. Twenty-one American ships were sunk or damaged, and 347 aircraft were destroyed or disabled. More than 2,400 Americans were killed, with another 1,178 wounded.

A Turning Point in History

The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress. His words echoed across the nation: “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy…” He asked for a declaration of war against Japan, ending American isolation from the conflict.

The colorized images preserve not only the destruction but also the human cost. They show ordinary people caught in a morning that reshaped history.

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