The Realpolitik of the Pearl Harbor Attack: Did American Fighters Really Shoot Down Japanese Zeros?

On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, transforming the date into a date which would live in infamy. In the cinematic portrayal, American fighter planes are often seen engaging and shooting down Japanese Zero fighter planes. So, did these events really occur as depicted in Hollywood films — or were they vastly exaggerated? Let's delve into the historical records and details of the attack to answer this question.

Records of Aircraft Engagements During the Attack on Pearl Harbor

The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a devastating surprise strike that left the U.S. military unprepared and caused significant damage. The logs from the Japanese carriers detailing the aerial battles paint a somewhat different picture, contrary to the cinematic portrayals.

Akagi - First Wave

The carrier Akagi suffered the first loss when PO1c Takashi Hirano was shot down by anti-aircraft (AA) gun fire. His plane hit the ground after taking a hit.

Kaga - First Wave

The carrier Kaga sustained losses during the first wave. PO2c Seinoshin Sano and PO2c Toru Haneda were both shot down in aerial combat.

Soryu - First and Second Waves

During the first wave, PO3c Shinichi Suzuki of the carrier Soryu shot down two U.S. fighters. Sea1c Isao Doikawa also shot down three U.S. fighters during the first wave. In the second wave, LT Fusata Iida was shot down by AA gun fire and committed suicide by ramming a U.S. ship, likely the one that hit the hangar. LTJG Iyozo Fujita and PO2c Jiro Tanaka each shot down one U.S. fighter. The same second wave also saw PO1c Takashi Atsumi and PO1c Saburo Ishii shot down by American forces.

Hiryu - Second Wave

During the second wave, PO1c Tsugio Matsuyama of the carrier Hiryu shot down two U.S. fighters. However, PO1c Shigenori Nishikaichi managed to shoot down a U.S. fighter but then safely landed on Niihau Island.

According to these records, 2 Japanese fighters were shot down by AA gun fire and 7 were shot down in aerial battles (with one safely landing and committing suicide afterward).

The Reality of P-40 and P-36 Engagements

While the accounts from Japanese carriers show some aerial engagements, the effectiveness of American fighter planes in shooting down Japanese Zero fighters was limited. The primary American fighters at Pearl Harbor were the P-40 Warhawk and the P-36 Hawk. The P-40, being the most numerous, was still a match for the Japanese Zero in terms of performance and maneuverability.

Casualties and Engagements

Estimates suggest that around 29 Japanese aircraft were shot down during the attack, but American losses were significantly higher. Over 180 U.S. aircraft were destroyed mainly due to being caught on the ground or unprepared for effective combat.

Some American pilots did manage to shoot down a few Japanese planes, however, the number was relatively small compared to the overall losses. For example, some Japanese planes were shot down by American fighters, but the majority were brought down by anti-aircraft fire.

The Role of Surprise and Unpreparedness

The attack was a complete surprise, and many American planes were caught on the ground or unprepared for aerial combat. This lack of readiness significantly contributed to the high number of American losses. A large number of American aircraft were destroyed on the ground and others were not yet in the air when the attack began.

Impact and Post-Attack Lessons

The engagement at Pearl Harbor highlighted the need for better training and tactics. Post-attack, the U.S. military recognized the need to improve its air defense strategies and pilot training. This realization would lead to improvements in U.S. air combat capabilities in subsequent battles during World War II.

In summary, while American fighters did shoot down some Japanese Zeros during the attack, the portrayal in movies is often dramatic and exaggerated. The reality was that American forces suffered significant losses, and the engagement was more characterized by surprise and unpreparedness than successful aerial combat.