At this hour on December 5, 1941, the main body of the Japanese attack fleet (known as the Kid Butai, or First Air Fleet)
was secretly crossing the North Pacific Ocean, roughly between the Aleutian Islands and Midway, en route to its launch position north of Hawaii.
The Kido Butai fleet had departed in total radio silence from Hitokappu Bay in the remote Kurile Islands on November 26, 1941 to avoid detection. The attack plan required the fleet to maintain strict secrecy, following a northern route and avoiding regular shipping lanes.
On December 5, 1941 (Hawaii time), the fleet's location can be pinpointed by the following events:
The fleet refueled in the North Pacific, around 42 degrees north latitude and 170 degrees east longitude.
After refueling, the fleet turned south, increasing speed to approach the Hawaiian Islands.
They were still days away from their launch point.
The United States was largely unaware of the fleet's location at the time, as the Japanese used clever deception tactics, including fake radio transmissions from their home waters to fool U.S. intelligence into believing the aircraft carriers were still in Japan.
was secretly crossing the North Pacific Ocean, roughly between the Aleutian Islands and Midway, en route to its launch position north of Hawaii.
The Kido Butai fleet had departed in total radio silence from Hitokappu Bay in the remote Kurile Islands on November 26, 1941 to avoid detection. The attack plan required the fleet to maintain strict secrecy, following a northern route and avoiding regular shipping lanes.
On December 5, 1941 (Hawaii time), the fleet's location can be pinpointed by the following events:
The fleet refueled in the North Pacific, around 42 degrees north latitude and 170 degrees east longitude.
After refueling, the fleet turned south, increasing speed to approach the Hawaiian Islands.
They were still days away from their launch point.
The United States was largely unaware of the fleet's location at the time, as the Japanese used clever deception tactics, including fake radio transmissions from their home waters to fool U.S. intelligence into believing the aircraft carriers were still in Japan.
