Early War
What specific event on December 7, 1941, caused the United States to officially enter WW2?
Attack on Pearl Harbor
What was the first major naval battle in history where opposing ships never directly saw or fired upon each other, relying entirely on aircraft launched from carriers?
Battle of the Coral Sea/Coral Sea
Who was the commander of the US naval forces in the Pacific, playing a major role in key victories such as Midway?
Chester Nimitz
What military strategy was used by the US in the Pacific that involved bypassing heavily defended Japanese islands to capture more strategically valuable ones?
Island hopping/leapfrogging
What was the name of the top-secret US program that developed atomic weapons during WW2?
Manhattan Project
Before Japan invaded during WW2, what country controlled the Philippines?
The United States
What battle was considered the turning point of the Pacific War?
Battle of Midway
What US general famously declared "I shall return" after leaving the Philippines, later fulfilling that promise?
General Douglas MacArthur
What term describes Japanese pilots who deliberately crashed their planes into enemy ships?
Kamikazes
What Japanese city was where the first atomic bomb was dropped?
Hiroshima
What was the main purpose of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in 1942?
To attack Japan/to retaliate/boost American morale, show Japan was vulnerable.
What battle marked the first major offensive by US forces against Japan, signaling a shift from defense to attack in the Pacific?
Battle of Guadalcanal
What American soldier and medic became famous for saving dozens of lives during the Battle of Okinawa without carrying a weapon due to his beliefs?
Desmond Doss
What traditional Japanese belief system influenced soldiers to fight to the death rather than surrender?
Bushido/Samurai code/Warrior code of honor
What Japanese city was the target of the second atomic bomb?
Nagasaki
After months of fighting in 1942, what ultimately happened to US and Filipino forces in the Philippines?
Captured by Japan/Japan took over/US surrendered Philippines
What specific location during the Battle of Iwo Jima was where the iconic American flag was raised?
Mount Suribachi
What group of Native American Marines developed a secret communication system based on their language the energy could not decipher?
Navajo Code Talkers
What two battles with intense fighting and high casualties helped convince US leaders that invading Japan's mainland would be too costly?
Iwo Jima and Okinawa
What was the name of the US bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb?
Enola Gay
What was the brutal event that occurred where thousands of Allied prisoners were forced to march under deadly conditions?
The Bataan Death March
Why was the battle of Okinawa considered critical for the final stages of the war against Japan regarding their location?
Staging bases for bombing or invasion/near Japan/close to Japan
Who was the mastermind behind the attack on Pearl Harbor, leading naval operations until 1943?
Isoroku Yamamoto
What tragic naval disaster highlighted the risks of wartime secrecy and miscommunication, with survivors facing deadly conditions afterwards?
USS Indianapolis
What was the name of the US bomber that dropped the second atomic bomb?
Bockscar