0618
On the morning 7 Dec. Task Force 8 (ENTERPRISE, NORTHAMPTON,
SALT LAKE CITY, CHESTER, (Crudiv 5), DUNLAP, ELIOT, FAN-
NING, BENHAM, GRIDLEY, MAURY, BALCH, (Desron 6) were re-
turning to Pearl Harbor after completing mission vicinity Wake Island.
From position approximately 215 miles West of Pearl routing scouting
flight launched. Flight had orders to search ahead sector through 045-
135 for distance 150 miles. Thence planes to proceed to Pearl. Three
planes also launched to establish inner air patrol.
0633
ANTARES Observed Navy Patrol plane circle and drop 2 smoke pots
near object.
0645
ANTARES Observed WARD commence firing for 2 minutes. Patrol plane
appeared to drop bombs or depth charged object which disappeared.
0700
VP Squadron 24 Had four of the six PBY5 planes depart Pearl Harbor for
scheduled training exercise in operating area C-5. One of the remain-
ing two planes was out of commission for structural changes; the other
in standby status for ready duty.
0700
Plane 14P-1 sank enemy sub. 1 mile off P. H. Entrance. FORCES
UNDER COMMAND OF PATWING TWO (COMTASKFOR 9) disposed
as follows:
Patron 21 Midway: Patron 11, 12, 14, Kaneohoe; Patron 21, 22, 23, 24
Pearl Harbor. WRIGHT enroute from P. H. For Midway. Condition of
readiness B-5. (50% aircraft on 4 hours notice). Specific duty assign-
ments required 6 planes from Patron 14, 24, and 12 to be ready for flight
on 30 minutes notice. Total number of planes ready for flight or in the
air in 4 hours or less: 72. At time first bomb dropped 14 patrol aircraft
were in the air (7 on search from Midway), 58 ready for flight in 4 hours
or less. Nine undergoing repairs.
0715
KEOSANQUA Began to receive tow from ANTARES.
0735
PATRON 21 Patwing 2 staff duty officer received and decoded
message 14P-1 sank enemy submarine one mile off Pearl Harbor.
0740
PATRON 21 Staff duty officer C-C informed by CPW2 of patrol plane
sinking report. Patwing 2 proceeded to draft a search plan.
0743
Local hostilities commenced with air raid on Pearl. Received message
from plane #7 of VP14 to CTF 3 that plane had sunk one enemy subma-
rine one mile off Pearl Harbor entrance.
0745
AVOCET Moored at Berth F-1A, NAS Dock, Pearl Harbor. Bomb explo-
sion and planes heard and sighted attacking Ford Island hangars.
TUCKER. Nested alongside WHITNEY. 5" gun #3 could not be fired
All other guns and .50 cal. machine guns fired at attacking planes during
all attacks. No loss of personnel or material. It is believed this vessel
shot down three or four enemy planes.
PATRON 11 Two planes in hangar 4 planes at south end of hangar
6 planes on ramp. As soon as raid started three rifles were manned
immediately. Two machine guns manned in a plane being removed from
the hangar. Machine gun position in plane abandoned and guns moved
to a safer position. Set up 2 machine gun nests near south end of
hangar. Damage received: 7 planes burned; one wrecked; and four
damaged but can be repaired. All hangar, office equipment, and stores
destroyed.
0745
PATRON 12 TWO planes moored in Kaneohe Bay, two in hangar
and 8 on parking apron. Upon being attacked manned machine guns
in planes, mounted machine guns in pits and used rifles. Observed sec-
ond wave of horizontal bombers did not release bombs. Own losses
8 PBY-5's planes completely destroyed, two severely damaged, two
moderately damaged, all hangar, office equipment and stores destroyed
0750
TRACY Moored port side to Berth 16, Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, under-
going overhaul. PREBLE and CUMMINGS moored to starboard in that
order. Ship totally disabled with main auxiliary machinery boilers
and gun batteries dismantled.
0750
TAUTOG Observed enemy three plane formation of dive bombers over
Aiea fleet landing on southwest course. Enemy character not discovered
until bombs were dropped.
0750
CALIFORNIA Sounded general quarters and set condition Zed. Lieuten-
ant Commander M. N. Little, First Lieutenant was S. O. P. on board and
made preparations for getting underway.
0750
CASSIN'S Commanding Officer observed about 100 feet away from star-
board side of dry dock #1 at altitude of 100 feet and airplane with
large red disks on bottom of wings. Sounded general quarters and made
attempts to locate ammunition: part of 5" guns under overhaul. .50
calibre machine guns were unlimbered.
0750
PATRON 21 Drafting of CPW2 search plan completed.
0750
OKLAHOMA (0750 or 0753) struck by 3 torpedoes on port side frames
25, 35-40 and 1l5. Ship heeled to port 45 meanwhile A. A. Batteries
manned and G. Q. executed. Rapid heeling of ship and oil and water
on decks rendered service to guns ineffective.
0750
CURTIS Moored in berth X-22, condition X-RAY. Number 3 boiler
steaming. Ship at G. Q. Ship strafed by fighter planes. Observed
bomb hit on VP hangar at NAS. UTAH, RALEIGH and RICHMOND
attacked by torpedoes.
0750
PYRO Secured along West Loch dock, stbd. side to. Heard noise
of low-flying aircraft and explosion in Navy Yard area. Observed two
low wing monoplanes about 100 feet above water head for PYRO's port
beam. Planes zoomed clear of ship and was observed to be Japanese.
Sounded General Quarters and prepared to get underway.
0752
AVOCET Sounded General Quarters and opened fire with 3" A. A. Bat-
tery. Hit Japanese plane which had just turned away after torpedoing
CALIFORNIA. Plane burst into flames and crashed near Naval Hospital.
Fired 144 rounds 3"/50 cal. And 1750 rounds .30 cal.
0753
PRUITT Reports 10 planes flying low, 200 feet, bombed Ford Island and
blew up hangar.
0753
TERN Notified of attack and made preparation for getting underway.
0753
TRACY Observed BBs attacked from astern by about 10 dive bombers.
Torpedo planes at about 100 feet approached from Easterly direction
attacking BBs. O. O. D. saw dive bombers attack BBs (10 planes and
Ford Is. from North). Attack followed by horizontal and dive bombers
on same objective plus ships in dry dock. 1 dive bomber passed close
enough to observe that it was a single engine by-plane probably type 94.