A new documentary film premiering in Hawaii on Saturday examines the brief but deadly attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, from the perspectives of both the attackers and defenders.
In just 15 minutes the first wave of planes caused the majority of damage — ships sunk, lives lost and many of Japan’s objectives achieved.
At about 8:06 a.m. a Japanese high-level bomber dropped a 1,760-pound armor-piercing bomb onto the USS Arizona, igniting fuel and munitions.
On that battleship alone, 1,177 men were killed. More than 900 crew members remain entombed in the sunken ship.
The world war that was raging elsewhere was brought to the United States’ doorstep that Sunday morning and continued for four more years.
"Pearl Harbor Declassified: 15 Minutes of Infamy," a Military Channel documentary, premieres Saturday at the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center as part of the 71st-anniversary observance.
The one-hour film conducts a "forensic dissection" of the world events that swept Hawaii and the United States into the war, including footage from the Japanese aerial squadrons that were equipped with film and still cameras to document battle damage.
Filmmakers analyze frame after frame, revealing the details of the attack as the clock ticks down to the detonation on the Arizona.
A similar examination is made of enhanced film footage of the Pearl Harbor attack taken by a Navy doctor. The film was shot in color, and only a few frames of the color original remain, according to the filmmakers.
The footage shows attacking Japanese "Kate" bombers in a tight V pattern, and images of the explosion on the Arizona from the ground and the air.
"With today’s technology the (filmmakers) were able to look at the idea of stabilizing the film and putting it in high definition, and the results are remarkable," said Daniel Martinez, chief historian at the Arizona Memorial.
Seating is available for 300 Saturday at the free 6:30 p.m. screening in the Arizona Memorial Theater. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis by calling 423-7300, ext. 7048.
The documentary will make its television debut Dec. 7 on the Military Channel (Oceanic Cable 345).
