Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy - Ludwig von Mises ...

360 Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy
2. Th e Army in Hawaii didn’t have enough fi ghter planes for the
necessary reconnaissance because of “the diversion of this type [of plane]
. . . to the British, the Chinese, the Dutch and the Russians.” 21
3. U.S. soldiers and sailors responded to the Japanese attack—
within four minutes of the launching of the fi rst Japanese torpedo—
and the intensity of their fi ring increased to such an extent that the
third and last wave of Japanese planes “was driven off without getting
the attack home.” Although Knox praised the valor of U.S.
personnel in fi ghting back when attacked, he didn’t mention the
promptness with which they got into action, nor the fact that the
intensity of their fi ring increased to such an extent that the third
and last wave of Japanese planes, only an hour and 20 minutes
after the fi rst one, 22 “was driven off without getting the attack
home, no eff ective hits being made in the harbor.”
4. Th e unsuitability of Pearl Harbor as a site for a large concentration
of naval vessels. In his report, Knox raised the question.
In view of the attack and the serious damage infl icted by it,
the usefulness and availability of this Naval station must be
studied. . . . Pending these studies and the addition of satisfactory
safeguards, no large concentration of Naval vessels can be
permitted at Pearl Harbor.
Knox recognized that Admiral Richardson had had reasonable
grounds for the doubts he had raised with FDR concerning
the advisability of holding the fl eet at Pearl Harbor. 23
While for security reasons some of these points could not be
revealed, it would have been possible to admit (1) surprise, (2)
inadequate equipment, (3) prompt retaliation, and (4) previous
21 Ibid., part 5, p. 2342, from Knox’s report on his trip to Hawaii.
22 Ibid., p. 2340. See also Homer N. Wallin, Pearl Harbor: Why, How, Fleet
Salvage and Final Appraisal (Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division,
1968) pp. 88, 150, 166.
23 Ibid., part 5, p. 2345, from Knox’s report on his trip to Hawaii.