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They're Killing My Boys: The History of Hickam Field and the Attacks of 7 December 1941

They're Killing My Boys: The History of Hickam Field and the Attacks of 7 December 1941

John F. Di Virgilio
4.4/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
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 army airfields on the island of O'ahu. Since the field served as a base for bombardment aviation, the Japanese 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.

The chapters are divided into the following sections:

-Background - Early history and base construction during 1935-41

-Arrival of Major General Frederick L. Martin, and events of 1941 that shaped operations at the field

-Pre-war life at the station

-1st Wave Attacks - dive bombing/strafing attacks by dive bombers from the carrier Shōkaku, and strafing attacks by fighters from the carriers Akagi and Kaga.

-Arrival of B 17s during the attack from the West Coast

-2nd Wave Attacks - bombing attacks by horizontal bombers from the Zuikaku

-Searches for the Japanese fleet by bombardment squadrons based at Hickam Field

-Aftermath -repairs and recovery from the attack

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 ferreted 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 NARA, St. Louis, details of the military careers and personal backgrounds of American officers and men. The authors are the first historians to be allowed free and unfettered access to both open and closed service records. Conversely, the authors have 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 nature of the narratives of both sides provides a deep understanding of the events at Hickam Field that has been impossible to present heretofore.
Pages
296
Format
Hardcover
Publisher
US Naval Institute Press
Release
October 15, 2019
ISBN
1682474585
ISBN 13
9781682474587

They're Killing My Boys: The History of Hickam Field and the Attacks of 7 December 1941

John F. Di Virgilio
4.4/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
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 army airfields on the island of O'ahu. Since the field served as a base for bombardment aviation, the Japanese 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.

The chapters are divided into the following sections:

-Background - Early history and base construction during 1935-41

-Arrival of Major General Frederick L. Martin, and events of 1941 that shaped operations at the field

-Pre-war life at the station

-1st Wave Attacks - dive bombing/strafing attacks by dive bombers from the carrier Shōkaku, and strafing attacks by fighters from the carriers Akagi and Kaga.

-Arrival of B 17s during the attack from the West Coast

-2nd Wave Attacks - bombing attacks by horizontal bombers from the Zuikaku

-Searches for the Japanese fleet by bombardment squadrons based at Hickam Field

-Aftermath -repairs and recovery from the attack

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 ferreted 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 NARA, St. Louis, details of the military careers and personal backgrounds of American officers and men. The authors are the first historians to be allowed free and unfettered access to both open and closed service records. Conversely, the authors have 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 nature of the narratives of both sides provides a deep understanding of the events at Hickam Field that has been impossible to present heretofore.
Pages
296
Format
Hardcover
Publisher
US Naval Institute Press
Release
October 15, 2019
ISBN
1682474585
ISBN 13
9781682474587

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