6 Dec 1941

Japanese liner/transport Tatsuta Maru was in the Pacific en route to San Francisco, California, United States; her planned passenger list after arriving in the United States now included employees of the Japanese Raw Silk Intelligence Bureau, the Silk Department of Mitsui and Company, Gunze Corporation, Asahi Corporation, Japanese Cotton and Silk Trading Company, Hara and Company, Katakura and Company, Morimura and Company, Arai and Company, and Shinyai and Company.

US Navy yacht Isabel was detected by a floatplane from Japanese seaplane carrier Kamikawa Maru off Indochina; Isabel was later ordered to abort her current mission as bait for first fire and to sail for Manila, Philippine Islands. Shortly after, nearby, a Japanese Zero fighter covering the Malaya invasion force found and shot down a British PBY Catalina patrol aircraft.

The Japanese carrier fleet reached the rendezvous point at 34 degrees north, 158 degrees west, and began a high-speed approach for Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii. At the same time, the 30 Japanese submarines in the Hawaii area began to tighten the ring around the islands; I-74 spotted the USS Lexington, but no action was taken. At Pearl Harbor, Admiral Husband Kimmel told a news agency Christian Science Monitor reporter that the chance of a war in the Pacific Ocean involving the United States was slim. Nearby, Vice Admiral William Pye told Kimmel (via intelligence officer Edwin Layton) that war with Japan was inevitable, although Pearl Harbor was not a likely target, thus there was no need to send the battleships out to sea as a precaution. Finally, at Honolulu, Hawaii, Consul-General Nagao Kita sent a cable to Japan that he observed no barrage balloons over Pearl Harbor and he did not believe there were torpedo nets around the battleships.

US President Roosevelt sent a personal message to Emperor Hirohito, attempting to calm the situation in Indochina.

USS Enterprise and her task group (Enterprise, Northampton, Chester, Salt Lake City, Balch, Maury, Craven, Gridley, McCall, Dunlap, Benham, Fanning, & Ellet) encountered heavy weather which delayed the refueling operation for destroyers and delayed the group's arrival at Pearl Harbor a day.

USS Arizona began receiving maintenance work from the crew of the repair ship USS Vestal.

Battleships USS Oklahoma and USS Nevada arrived at Pearl Harbor.

Japanese Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo ordered Ambassador Hiroshi Oshima to continue to press Germany to formally agree to declare war on the United States should Japan and the US enter a state of war. Oshima was also ordered to avoid any German demands on a Japanese-Soviet war.

The US Navy leadership in Washington DC, United States was warned of the burning of papers at the nearby Japanese embassy.

 

Mandela Arrested
1956
Nelson Mandela & 156 others arrested for political activities in South Africa.


Nelson Mandela

 

1964: Rudolph lights up TV for the first time. The stop-motion animation special airs on NBC as part of General Electric's 'Fantasy Hour.' Created by Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass and filmed in Japan, the show will become a holiday classic for generations, moving to CBS in 1972.

 

On December 7, 1967, Otis Redding went into the studio to record what was supposed to be the finishing touches for '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay,' which had been recorded over the span of six sessions. Redding had labored over the tune because he said he wanted the song to "be a little different", to "change his style."

Co-written by Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper, Redding wrote the first verse of the song, under the abbreviated title 'Dock of the Bay', on a houseboat at Waldo Point in Sausalito, California a short time after his appearance at The Monterey pop festival. Redding's familiar whistling, heard before the song's fade was the singer fooling around, he had intended to return to the studio at a later date to add words in place of the whistling.

The song went on to be his biggest hit and the first single ever to reach #1 posthumously. Redding didn't live to see its release; he was killed three days later in a plane crash.

 

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, just before 8:00 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, December 7, 1941

 

December 7

1942 - The Japanese attacked Pear Harbor

1956- NBA player Larry Bird was born

1917 - The United States declared war on the
Austro-Hungarian Empire

1787 - Delaware became the first State to
ratify the United States Constitution.

 

1963: Instant replay debuts. In the Army-Navy football game, TV viewers get something they've never seen before: an instant replay of the Army quarterback's touchdown. Worried this programming innovation will confuse viewers, the announcer explains, "Ladies and gentlemen, Army has not scored again."

 

On This Day In History
December 7, 1787
Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the Constitution

In Dover, Delaware, the U.S. Constitution is unanimously ratified by all 30 delegates to the Delaware Constitutional Convention, making Delaware the first state of the modern United States.

Less than four months before, the Constitution was signed by 37 of the original 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention meeting in Philadelphia. The Constitution was sent to the states for ratification, and, by the terms of the document, the Constitution would become binding once nine of the former 13 colonies had ratified the document. Delaware led the process, and on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making federal democracy the law of the land. Government under the U.S. Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789.

 

7 Dec 1941

At about midnight, Japanese liner/transport Tatsuta Maru was ordered to reverse course.

American steam-powered schooner Cynthia Olson, under the charter of the US Army, was shelled and sunk by Japanese submarine I-26 with no survivors; two US Army personnel were on board.

Japanese troops invaded Khota Baru, Malaya, two hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor. A series of landings in nearby Thailand initially met stiff resistance, but the Thai government negotiated for an armistice within hours.

Japanese aircraft bombarded Singapore, Guam, and Wake, while two Japanese destroyers shelled Midway Atoll, causing 14 casualties and damaging much equipment.

The office of the US Navy Chief of Naval Operations ordered unrestricted air and submarine warfare against Japan.

USS Arizona received two bomb hits during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The second bomb hit led to the detonation of her forward ammunition magazine, which led to her sinking. 1,177 were killed, including Battleship Division 1 commanding officer Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd, and her commanding officer Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh. Isaac Kidd became the first US Navy flag officer to be killed in action during WW2.

Mitsuo Fuchida led the Pearl Harbor attack, remaining over the target area throughout both waves of attacks to observe the degree of damage done to the American fleet.

The commanding officer of the US Marine Corps 7th Defense Battalion at American Samoa ordered his troops to man their positions as he was informed of the attacks on American positions across the Pacific Ocean. He also called the Samoan Marine Reserve Battalion to active duty.

Two strike waves were launched against Pearl Harbor. Akagi's torpedo planes were instrumental in sinking the battleships USS Oklahoma and West Virginia. Vice Admiral Nagumo ordered a withdrawal following the recovery of the second attack wave.

In the attack, known as Operation Z, 360 Japanese carrier aircraft (104 bombers, 135 dive bombers, 40 torpedo bombers, and 81 fighters) attacked Pearl Harbor, sinking or damaging 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, 1 anti-aircraft training ship, 1 minelayer; destroying 188 aircraft; and killing 2,459 (57 of which were civilian) and wounding 1,282 (35 of which were civilian). The Japanese lost 29 aircraft and 5 midget submarines; 55 were killed and 10 were wounded.


7 Dec 1942

American forces at Guadalcanal marked the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor by shelling Japanese positions from dawn to dusk in what they term a "Hate Shoot".

 

Seamus Heaney Awarded Nobel
1995
Irish poet Seamus Heaney receives the Novel Prize for Literature at a ceremony in Stockholm.


Seamus Heaney

 

On this day in history

 

December 8 commemorates the day in 1980 when John Lennon was murdered by fucked up asshole Mark Chapman outside John and Yoko's NYC apartment building 'The Dakota.'

The lunatic had been waiting for Lennon outside the Dakota apartments since mid-morning and had asked for an autograph earlier in the day. Later, he shot Lennon five times, who was pronounced dead from a massive loss of blood at 11.30pm.

Chapman has since said he shot the former Beatle because he wanted to 'steal' his fame — stating that now he was a bigger nobody than he was before. He also revealed he planned the killing for three months and considered murdering other celebrities who he thought were 'phonies.'

In September 2022, Chapman was denied parole for the 12th time, having been in prison since he was arrested after the shooting. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June 1981 and was sentenced to 20 years to life two months later.



Throngs of grieving fans outside the Dakota complex:

 

On This Day In History
December 8, 1941
The United States declares war on Japan

On December 8, as America’s Pacific fleet lay in ruins at Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt requests, and receives, a declaration of war against Japan.

Leaning heavily on the arm of his son James, a Marine captain, FDR walked haltingly into the House of Representatives at noon to request a declaration of war from the House and address the nation via radio. “Yesterday,” the president proclaimed, “December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”

Roosevelt’s 10-minute speech, ending with an oath-“So help us God”—was greeted in the House by thunderous applause and stamping of feet. Within one hour, the president had his declaration of war, with only one dissenting vote, from a pacifist in the House. FDR signed the declaration at 4:10 p.m., wearing a black armband to symbolize mourning for those lost at Pearl Harbor.

On both coasts, civilian defense groups were mobilized. In New York, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia ordered the rounding up of Japanese nationals, who were transported to Ellis Island and held in custody indefinitely. In California, antiaircraft batteries were set up on Long Beach and the Hollywood Hills. Reports on supposed spy activity on the part of Japanese Americans began pouring into Washington, even as Japanese Americans paid for space in newspapers to declare unreservedly their loyalty to the United States. The groundwork was being laid for the tragic internment of Japanese Americans, thought a necessary caution at the time but regretted years later as an overreaction and bigoted response.

 

Medium Range Nuclear Missile Treaty
1987 US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign a treaty eliminating medium range nuclear missiles.

Ronald Reagan

Mikhail Gorbachev

 

2010 The American aerospace venture SpaceX became the first commercial company to release a spacecraft—the Dragon capsule—into orbit and successfully return it to Earth.

 

December 8

1863 - Araham Lincoln issues his Amnesty Proclamation and his plan for Reconstruction of the South.

1941 - The United States and Britain declare war on Japan leading America into World War Ii
Also Franklin D. Roosevelt gives his "Day of Infamy" speech on the radio.

 

8 Dec 1941

I-68 traveled to the entrance of Pearl Harbor to rescue any surviving midget submarine crews.

Japanese forces invaded the British colony of Hong Kong. The British and Canadian garrison at Hong Kong was hopelessly outnumbered and beyond the reach of any Allied help. Within less than two days the defenders would be forced to retreat to Hong Kong island itself.

The Japanese invasion fleet for Wake Island departed from Kwajalein while aircraft of the Japanese Navy 24th Air Flotilla (based at Roi-Namur, Kwajalein) attacked Camp One, Camp Two, and the airstrip on Wake; Japanese aircraft destroyed seven of the Eight F4F-3 fighters as well as a 25,000-gallon capacity aviation gas tank. Meanwhile, Pan American Airways aircraft evacuated Caucasians from Wake Island, leaving airline staff of Chamorro ethnicity behind.

In the Mariana Islands, Japanese land-based aircraft from Saipan attacked Guam, damaging various facilities and sinking minesweeper USS Penguin in Apra Harbor.

Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue gave the order to the Japanese Navy Fourth Fleet at Truk, Caroline Islands to begin executing the plans to capture Wake, Guam (Mariana Islands), Makin (Gilbert Islands), Tarawa (Gilbert Islands), and other islands and atolls in the Pacific Ocean.

Japanese ambassador in Germany Hiroshi Oshima sent a note to Joachim von Ribbentrop, requesting Germany to declare war on the United States. Doing so, Adolf Hitler ordered the German Navy to begin attacking American shipping.

In China, Colonel William W. Ashurst surrendered the US Marine Corps detachments in Tianjin, Beiping, Qinhuangdao (Camp Holcomb), and the American embassy to the Japanese. In Shanghai, Japanese Special Naval Landing Force troops captured the US Navy river gunboat Wake before the gunboat's crew could scuttle her. US passenger liner President Harrison, en route to northern China to evacuate US Marines, was captured by the Japanese at Sha Wai Shan, China.

USS Helena entered Dry Dock #2 at Pearl Harbor to repair damage sustained in the Japanese attack the day before. Dry Dock #2 was still under construction but almost completed by the time of the Japanese attack and Helena was the first ship to enter it. It and much of the R &O infrastructure received only minimal damage.

Japanese Navy 11th Air Fleet land-based aircraft from Taiwan attacked US Army airfields on Luzon island, Philippine Islands as well as shipping in Manila Bay.

The United States Congress declared war on Japan after Franklin Roosevelt's "a date which will live in infamy" speech.

The United Kingdom declared war on Japan.

Pacific Carrier USS Saratoga departed San Diego, California for Pearl Harbor with its air wing.

Pacific Carrier USS Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor.

Pacific Carrier USS Lexington was ordered to cancel the aircraft ferry to Midway and search for the retreating Japanese carrier fleet.

At sea, Japanese Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto began receiving disappointing reports on the Pearl Harbor attack. Not only did the Japanese inflict the ire of the United States as a nation for doing so without a declaration of war, relatively little strategic damage was done to the Pearl Harbor installation itself. No carriers were hit, that a result of weak intelligence and the United States using the available carriers to ferry planes to forward bases in preparation for war, or bring more aircraft westward from the mainland. It is noted that he said something similar to the following “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve”.

 

On December 9, 1966, Cream released their debut studio album 'Fresh Cream' and their second single 'I Feel Free' in the UK. The power trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker had released their first single, 'Wrapping Paper' a couple of months earlier, but the song did not appear on the album.

An interesting trivia tidbit concerns the first song on side 1: Bass player Jack Bruce later said that the opening song "N.S.U." was written for the band's first rehearsal. "It was like an early punk song... the title meant 'Non-Specific Urethritis.' It didn't mean an NSU Quickly – which was one of those little 1960s mopeds. I used to say it was about a member of the band who had this venereal disease. I can't tell you which one... except he played guitar."

Cream introduced the concept of the 'Supergroup,' and went on to release three more albums:
Disraeli Gears (1967)
Wheels of Fire (1968)
Goodbye (1969)









Just throwing this in - recorded live on 'Wheels of Fire'

 

December 9

1966 - The classic A Charlie Brown Chhristmas first aired on TV

1979 - World Heath Organization decare Small Pox eradicated

1990 - Lech Wallesa becomes the irst directly elected president of Poland.

 

1868: The world's first traffic light was erected near Westminster Bridge in London; however, it was removed a month later after a gas leak caused one of the lights to explode.