Pacific War WWII: Primary History Source Website

The Student Starter Guide provides guided navigation to four summary articles introducing the student to the most important history and take-home lessons of the war. These include the vulnerabilities that led the U.S. to war, the factors that led to Japan’s defeat, the importance of the home front, the decision to use the atom  bomb and the war lessons future generations and leaders need to follow to prevent such wars in the future.  The Starter Guide is found under the Teachers tab.

The Teacher Lesson Plans are based on multi-state history curriculum guidelines, including the History Content Standards for California Public Schools. The Plans comprise a list of study questions, assignable website articles and synopsis answers for each study question. The Lesson Plans are found under the Teachers tab.

The Key Docs tab (under The Pacific War) contains two exceptional first-hand, first person narratives of the war, from training to post-war, taking the reader “into the cockpit” to experience the war and emotion of each B-29 bombing mission over Japan. Topical excerpts from these Key Docs are included throughout the site.

2^nd Lt. Donald W. Kearney, 6BG B-29 Navigator, Tinian

Special emphasis: emotions, cockpit dialog

1^st Lt. Lawrence Stewart, 6BG B-29 Flight Engineer, Tinian

Special emphasis: B-29 technology and mission procedures

Inside story of the top secret B-29 bomb group that helped develop and delivered the world’s first atomic bombs. Located under Key Docs and Atomic Missions tabs. Topical excerpts included throughout site.

Narration by Anderson Giles, Tinian author, 6BG Associate

Secret preparation and atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Interviews with crews following bombings (34.5 min).

This Key Docs tab document contains the definitive, impartial Pacific War summary, integrating the U.S. and Japanese perspectives. The official Survey team subpoenaed Japanese records and interrogated Japanese leaders directly following the war for the report. Topical excerpts from the Survey are included throughout the site.

Tour and specs of the most advanced bomber of WWII

The Marianas air bases, crews and bombing missions that leveled 66 Japanese cities and starved Japan of the critical materials of war

1^st Lt. Edgar L. Vincent, 6BG B-29 Aircraft Commander, Tinian

Narrated 6BG documentary of the 15 hour non-stop B-29 missions over Japan from briefing to return, featuring 100 6BG archive photos (33 min).

Impact of 9 months B-29 bombing, including atomic bombs

Physical, economic, and human impact of the atomic bombs

Barbaric treatment of captured B-29 crewmen

The critical lessons of WWII to prevent future wars are a major focus of the site. The key takeaways of the war are presented in four summary articles:

The vulnerabilities that prompted the war and strengths that ended it.

Why the war was won as much on the home front as the battle front.

Critical factors learned to prevent future wars

The “greatest generation” protected our nation against German and Japanese imperialism.