World War IIWorld War II

Pacific TheaterPacific Theater

The Pacific Theater The Pacific Theater 19421942 Japan took Guam, Wake Japan took Guam, Wake

Island, Hong Kong, Island, Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma, Dutch Singapore, Burma, Dutch East Indies, and the East Indies, and the Philippines. Philippines.

Burma Road supply route Burma Road supply route into China from India cut. into China from India cut.

Pacific Theater: StrategyPacific Theater: Strategy

Island HoppingIsland Hopping campaign campaign begins 1943 begins 1943 – Sought to neutralize Japanese Sought to neutralize Japanese

island strongholds with air island strongholds with air and sea power and then move and sea power and then move on. on.

Japan pushed back to Japan pushed back to mainlandmainland

Turning PointsTurning Points

Battle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Coral Sea (May 1942) (May 1942) – entire battle fought with entire battle fought with

aircraft. aircraft. – Japan prevented from Japan prevented from

successfully invading New successfully invading New Guinea and Australia.Guinea and Australia.

Turning PointsTurning Points

Battle of Midway Battle of Midway (June 4-7, (June 4-7, 1942)1942)– Allies broke Japanese code. Allies broke Japanese code. – Significant damage to Japan’s Significant damage to Japan’s

fleetfleet– Significance: no longer any Significance: no longer any

hopes of attacking US mainland.hopes of attacking US mainland.

Turning PointsTurning Points

Iwo JimaIwo Jima (February, 1945) (February, 1945) – Fighter planes now close Fighter planes now close

enough to bomb Japan enough to bomb Japan (would escort B-29s coming (would escort B-29s coming from the Marianas) from the Marianas)

Turning PointsTurning Points

Okinawa (Okinawa (April 1 – June April 1 – June 19451945– 50,000 American casualties50,000 American casualties– virtually destroyed Japan’s virtually destroyed Japan’s

remaining defenses.  remaining defenses.  – Influenced use of the atomic Influenced use of the atomic

bombbomb