November 26

[Pisis]

November 26

1941: "Japanese task force leaves for Pearl Harbor"


On this day in 1941, Adm. Chuichi Nagumo leads the Japanese First Air Fleet, an aircraft carrier strike force, toward Pearl Harbor, with the understanding that should "negotiations with the United States reach a successful conclusion, the task force will immediately put about and return to the homeland."

Negotiations had been ongoing for months. Japan wanted an end to U.S. economic sanctions. The Americans wanted Japan out of China and Southeast Asia-and to repudiate the Tripartite "Axis" Pact with Germany and Italy as conditions to be met before those sanctions could be lifted. Neither side was budging. President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull were anticipating a Japanese strike as retaliation-they just didn't know where. The Philippines, Wake Island, Midway-all were possibilities. American intelligence reports had sighted the Japanese fleet movement out from Formosa (Taiwan), apparently headed for Indochina. As a result of this "bad faith" action, President Roosevelt ordered that a conciliatory gesture of resuming monthly oil supplies for Japanese civilian needs canceled. Hull also rejected Tokyo's "Plan B," a temporary relaxation of the crisis, and of sanctions, but without any concessions on Japan's part. Prime Minister Tojo considered this an ultimatum, and more or less gave up on diplomatic channels as the means of resolving the impasse.

Nagumo had no experience with naval aviation, having never commanded a fleet of aircraft carriers in his life. This role was a reward for a lifetime of faithful service. Nagumo, while a man of action, did not like taking unnecessary risks-which he considered an attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor to be. But Chief of Staff Rear Adm. Isoruku Yamamoto thought differently; while also opposing war with the United States, he believed the only hope for a Japanese victory was a swift surprise attack, via carrier warfare, against the U.S. fleet. And as far as the Roosevelt War Department was concerned, if war was inevitable, it desired "that Japan commit the first overt act."

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Im gonna move this to the WW2 threads okay.

[Pisis]

fine, i was thinking it too. that or politics sectin.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

No worries, I put it in the WW2 General thread as you have probably seen. I just think it was more fitting for discussion there.

[Erich]

one of the largest aerial battles south of Hannover took place on this date in 1944, my cousin Hans Baer was killed when he was shot down in his Weiße 2 Fw 190A-9 of 5./JG 301 near Holtensen trying to attack B-24's of the US 2nd Air Division.

JG 301 put in claims for over 60 kills but were granted 21 which corresponded exactly with the 16 B-24's shot down out of the 491st bg and the 5 B-24's lost in action from the 445th bg. both attacked by JG 301's Fw 190A's

E ~

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

You were telling us about that Erich. Just to let you know, I have not stopped trying to get info on the crash site. It has just been really hectic here with work and all. I did make up to the site with my wife one weekend and we were able to find nothing, but I am sure in time, something will develop.

[Erich]

I expect snow any time Adler in the valley to your north and appreciate yours and yours efforts. go in the spring for a springbock besides

thanks man

E ~

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The snow actually melted over the last 2 days. You did ask for pics of the snow and I have some but my camara is still at work, I will post them tomorrow. They are calling for freezing rain this weekend.