Frame Size (H x L): 23” x 20.5”   
Banner Size (H x L): 11.5” x 9”   

Offered is a patriotic banner, dating to between 1941 and 1945.  It is attached to its original staff and hanging string.  Its top features the following red verbiage: REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR.  Its middle features an eagle and a plurality of US planes.  And its bottom features the Pacific Ocean and three ships, one of which is set in the foreground and the other two of which are set in the background.     

This banner would have been displayed in a home, much like a service flag would have been displayed.  The combination of the verbiage, the images, and the colors is striking.  Without question, of the many World War II banners that we have encountered over the past decade, we can say that this is one of the best ever made.      

PEARL HARBOR AND THE TENSION
On December 7th, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked the US Armed Forces at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.  It was a preemptive, unannounced attack.  Prior thereto, the US was a neutral country.  But just one day thereafter, the US formally entered World War II.

Even though the attack on Pearl Harbor was itself a surprise, tension between Japan and the US had been building to a crescendo for years.  Japan, in an effort to solve its economic and demographic problems, wanted to expand into China, and in this vein, in 1937, Japan declared war thereon.  In response, the US responded with sanctions and embargoes, the basis being that Japan would likely retreat from expansionism in an absence of money and goods, particularly in an absence of oil.  Japan did not retreat.  Rather, Japan became aggressive and emboldened, and negotiations between Tokyo and Washington D.C. hit an impasse, leaving the relationship therebetween in tatters.

JAPAN’S OBJECTIVES
Japan had three primary objectives related to its attack on Pearl Harbor.  First, Japan wanted to destroy the US Pacific Fleet.  If destroyed, Japan thought it could proceed with planned military actions in the South Pacific with little to no US interference.  Second, Japan wanted extra time to consolidate its forces and increase is naval strength.  Absent an attack, Japan thought that the US Pacific Fleet would soon grow too large, too fast, and become too powerful—a prospect that meant certain doom to Japan’s aspirations.  The basis for Japan’s concern was the passage, in 1940, of the Two-Ocean Navy Act in the US.  It was the largest naval procurement bill in US history, and it aimed to nearly double the size of the US Navy.  Third, Japan hoped to undermine morale in the US.  If successful, Japan thought that the US would drop its unfavorable sanctions and embargoes and seek peace therewith.    

THE APPROACH
On November 26th, 1941, Japan departed from Hittokapu Bay on Kasatka Island and sailed to a position northwest of Pearl Harbor.  Six aircraft carriers took the trip: Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, and Zuikaku.  The carriers transported 408 planes, 360 of which would participate in two attack waves, and 48 of which would be on defensive combat air patrol.  Prior to the departure, Japan spent several months planning and practicing the attack.    

Pearl Harbor is approximately 2,000 miles from the contiguous US and approximately 4,000 miles from Japan.  Because of the distance between Pearl Harbor and Japan, intelligence officials were confident that Japan would initiate an attack somewhere in the South Pacific, such as in the East Indies, Singapore, or Indochina.  Thus, Pearl Harbor was not expecting an attack.  It was left generally unguarded, its ships were moored around Ford Island, and 100s of planes were shoehorned into adjacent airfields—both the ships and planes being ripe for devastation.     

THE ATTACKS
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in two separate waves.

In the first wave, Japan launched 183 planes (though 6 failed to takeoff).  The planes were split into three distinct groups, and they carried mainly Type 91 aerial torpedoes, a kind of torpedo ideal for operating in shallow waters and attacking ships.  The first group of planes attacked battleships and aircraft carriers, and absent such options, they attacked cruisers and destroyers.  The second group attacked ground targets.  And the third group attacked parked planes in Hickam Field and Wheeler Field.  Despite these different groups and distinct missions, the primary purpose of the entire effort was to destroy the battleships.        

In the second wave, Japan launched 171 planes (though 4 failed to takeoff).  Again, the planes were split into three distinct groups.  The first group attacked Kane’ohe, and the second and third groups attacked the remaining portions of Pearl Harbor.  The groups arrived and attacked simultaneously.

Japan considered attacking Pearl Harbor in a third wave, but for several reasons did not do so.  First, the US anti-aircraft efforts were much more effective during the second wave than the first wave.  Japan suffered twice as many losses in the second wave than in the first wave.  Japan was concerned that the US would be even more effective yet in response to a third wave.  When forced to choose, Japan traditionally favored the conservation of strength over total destruction of the enemy.  Second, Japan was concerned that the US might be capable of launching planes to attack its carriers.  Third, Japan was concerned that a third wave would require significant preparations and time, so much so that its returning planes would have to land at night, which would have been particularly dangerous given the capabilities of the pilots and the planes.  And fourth, Japan was content with the success of the first and second waves.  Because the objectives of the mission had been completed, Japan was unwilling to take the risks associated with a third wave.

THE DAMAGE
The US was devastated.  In less than 2 hours, over 2400 Americans were killed and over 1100 were injured.  The deaths and injuries were spread across sailors, soldiers, airmen, marines, and civilians.  But among these groups, the sailors alone accounted for over 2000 of the deaths.  And of these deaths, most decedents were junior level sailors—many of whom were only 17 or 18—and living on the targeted ships.  In contrast, senior level sailors lived on land and in untargeted homes.  In total, 18 ships either sunk or hit ground (including every battleship), 188 planes were destroyed, and 159 planes were damaged. 

The attack on the USS Arizona was particularly devastating, in that 1000 sailors died onboard.  After an 1800-pound bomb smashed through its deck, it exploded, sank, and trapped the sailors.  The attack on the USS Oklahoma was also particularly devastating, in that 400 sailors died onboard.  After torpedoes pierced its shell, it rolled onto its side, sank, and trapped the sailors.  Neither the USS Arizona nor the USS Oklahoma returned to service.  The damage to the USS Arizona was so extensive that it was never even raised.  In contrast, the USS Oklahoma was raised, but capsized while under tow to mainland in 1947.   

Because Japan focused on destroying planes and ships, it did not attack key base installations, including the dry dock; shipyard; maintenance, fuel, and torpedo facilities; submarine piers; and headquarters.   

Immediately following the attack, the US had two objectives: find the survivors (most importantly) and salvage the capital assets.  A combination of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, divers, and contractors patched many of the ships, pumped the water out of them, and raised them to the surface.  The efforts were extensive and extraordinary.  As one striking example, divers completed over 20,000 hours of underwater repairs.  Only six months after the attack, five battleships and two cruisers were floated and then sent to other locations—both in the water and on land—for further repairs.  Components from the most heavily damaged ships were salvaged, repaired, and moved to other ships.

In comparison to the US’s losses, Japan’s were minimal.  Japan lost only 64 servicemen, 29 planes, and 5 submarines.    

THE AFTERMATH
Later on the same day of the attack, Japan declared war on the US, and the declaration was delivered the next day.  Soon thereafter, President Roosevelt delivered a speech to a Joint Session of Congress and famously described the day of the attack as, “a date which will live in infamy.”  In response to the attack and following Roosevelt’s speech, the US declared war on Japan.  A few days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the US, and the US returned the favor.  Because Japan attacked Pearl Harbor absent a declaration of war, the Tokyo Trials deemed the attack a war crime.

Conservation Process: This banner was hand sewn to cotton fabric, and both were hand sewn to a mounting board.  To prevent the black dye in the cotton fabric from seeping into the banner, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The banner is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: This banner is in special edition Medium Frame. 

Condition Report: As shown in the images, this banner exhibits some slight fading, light toning, and few scratches.  Additionally, as shown in the images, the fringe is inconsistent in thickness, though it is unclear to us what the fringe looked like at its time of manufacture.  Despite these issues, the banner displays really well and is an outstanding display piece.  

Collectability Level: The Great – Perfect for Rising Collectors   
Date of Origin: 1941-1945