L21 - Winning the War in the Pacific

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the lesson on the war in the Pacific during World War II.

Island Hopping

A military strategy employed by the Allies in the Pacific War during World War II, involving bypassing heavily fortified Japanese positions and instead capturing nearby islands.

Kamikaze

Japanese suicide attacks where pilots flew their planes into enemy ships during World War II, aiming to inflict maximum damage.

Guadalcanal

The site of a major battle in the Pacific Theater, occurring from 1942 to 1943, marking the first major offensive by Allied forces against Japan.

Firebombing of Tokyo

A series of air raids carried out by the United States on Tokyo in March 1945, resulting in massive destruction and civilian casualties.

Operation Downfall

The planned Allied invasion of mainland Japan, which was intended to occur in November 1945 but was never executed.

Curtis LeMay

The General in charge of strategic bombings in the Pacific Theater, known for his controversial tactics including bombing raids on Japan.

Battle of Midway

A significant naval battle in June 1942 where the United States achieved a decisive victory against the Japanese fleet, turning the tide of the war in the Pacific.

Operation Meetinghouse

The firebombing raid on Tokyo conducted by B-29 bombers on March 9-10, 1945.

Great marianas turkey shoot

aka battle of the phillipine sea. Between US and Japan, Japan lost.

Hiroshima

First atomic bomb the US dropped. August 6, 1945. Led to Japan’s eventual surrender.

Nagasaki

August 9, 1945, the second atomic bomb that the US dropped. Also led to Japan surrendering.

Battle of bismarck

May 1941. Germany v. Britain, britain won. Sunk germany’s battleship Bismarck.