An oblique aerial photograph from a Japanese aircraft shows Ford Island, moored U.S. ships, aircraft, and a torpedo strike plume during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

December 7, 1941 · Aerial photograph

Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941

Imperial Japanese Navy, photographer unknown

Why it matters

The view documents a specific military attack while also showing how an image made by the attacker could be captured, recatalogued, and folded into the enemy’s national memory.

Publication
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph
Holding institution
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
Shelfmark
Photograph NH 50930
Rights
Public Domain in Japan and the United States; Japanese photograph published before 1958 and not restored in the United States

Citation

Imperial Japanese Navy, photographer unknown. Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941. Aerial photograph. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, NH 50930.