What Happened on December 7

War Desk

1941 — Japanese Planes Bomb Pearl Harbor; 2,403 Dead in Surprise Raid

Japan's surprise dawn attack kills 2,403 and wounds 1,178 in two waves of 353 planes.

PEARL HARBOR, Dec. 7 — The smoke still rises over Battleship Row this evening, and the harbor's waters are slick with oil and wreckage. The Imperial Japanese Navy, in a surprise dawn attack, has struck the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the Army and Marine airfields defending it, killing 2,403 Americans and wounding 1,178 others.

The attack came in two waves, totaling 353 fighters, level and dive bombers, and torpedo bombers, launched from six aircraft carriers. They caught the fleet at anchor, sinking or damaging battleships and cruisers and destroying hundreds of aircraft on the ground.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, preparing to address Congress, called December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy." War declarations are expected within hours.

Reports reaching this office confirm that Japan has also struck the U.S. possessions of the Philippines, Guam, and Wake Island, and has attacked British Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The Pacific is aflame from Hawaii to the South China Sea.

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed. Military officials have imposed strict censorship, and casualty figures are expected to rise as rescue and salvage operations continue through the night.

In Washington, the capital is tense, with officials moving between the White House and the War and Navy Departments. The nation, which had watched the war in Europe from afar, now finds itself at the center of it.

As darkness falls over the ruined harbor, the fires still burn.

• Japan launched 353 fighters, level and dive bombers, and torpedo bombers in two waves from six aircraft carriers.
• A total of 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded in the attack.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt called December 7, 1941, 'a date which will live in infamy' before Congress.
• The US declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, with only Representative Jeannette Rankin dissenting.
• Japan also attacked the US-held Philippines, Guam, and Wake Island, and British Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Science Desk

1995 — Galileo Becomes First Craft to Orbit Outer

Probe arrives at Jupiter after six-year, 2.3-billion-mile journey.

PASADENA, Dec. 7 — A spacecraft from Earth has, for the first time, taken up residence around a planet of the outer solar system. Galileo, launched more than six years ago, fired its main engine this afternoon and slipped into orbit around Jupiter, ending a voyage of 2.3 billion miles.

The achievement makes Galileo the first artificial satellite of an outer planet. The craft, a joint project of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and West Germany's Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, carries an orbiter and an atmospheric probe that will descend into Jupiter's clouds in the coming weeks.

Galileo has a combined launch mass of 2,562 kilograms and stands 6.15 meters high. It was carried aloft on October 18, 1989, by the space shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-34.

One section of the spacecraft rotates at three revolutions per minute, holding six instruments that gather data from many directions. The orbiter will study Jupiter's atmosphere, magnetic field, and its four large moons for at least two years.

Scientists at JPL, which built and manages the spacecraft, hope the mission will unlock the secrets of the solar system's largest planet. The probe is expected to relay data until it is crushed by Jupiter's immense pressure.

The arrival marks the end of a long and troubled journey.

• Galileo became the first spacecraft to orbit an outer planet upon arrival at Jupiter on December 7, 1995.
• The spacecraft consisted of an orbiter and an atmospheric probe, with a combined launch mass of 2,562 kg and height of 6.15 m.
• Galileo was launched on October 18, 1989, by Space Shuttle Atlantis during mission STS-34.
• One section of Galileo rotated at three revolutions per minute, holding six instruments that gathered data from many directions.
• The Jet Propulsion Laboratory built the spacecraft and managed the mission for NASA, with the propulsion module supplied by West Germany's Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm.

Space Desk

2015 — Japan's Akatsuki Probe Enters Venus Orbit on Second Try

JAXA craft to study planet's thick atmosphere after five-year wait.

TOKYO, Dec. 7 — In the long, patient exploration of our sister planet, a second chance has finally arrived. Japan's Akatsuki probe, whose first attempt at Venus failed five years ago, has successfully entered orbit around the cloud-shrouded world, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said today.

The uncrewed spacecraft fired its small engine Tuesday and slipped into a highly elliptical orbit around Venus, some 36 million miles from Earth. The maneuver, executed on autopilot because of the 16-minute signal delay, went off without a hitch, JAXA officials said.

Akatsuki, which means "dawn" in Japanese, is designed to study Venus's thick atmosphere, its super-rotating winds, and its mysterious lightning. The spacecraft carries five cameras and other instruments to map the planet's cloud tops and to track the movement of its weather systems.

The probe was launched in May 2010, but its first attempt to enter orbit in December of that year failed when the main engine shut down prematurely. Engineers managed to save the craft and devised a new plan, using small maneuvering thrusters to brake into orbit after a five-year circuit of the sun.

• Japan's Akatsuki probe successfully entered orbit around Venus on December 7, 2015.
• Akatsuki is an uncrewed robotic spacecraft designed to explore Venus and transmit scientific data back to Earth.
• As an orbiter, Akatsuki will conduct long-term observation of Venus from orbit.

Rome Bureau

-43 — Cicero Slain, Head and Hands Nailed in Forum

Orator proscribed by triumvirs, executed while fleeing Italy.

ROME, Dec. 7 — Marcus Tullius Cicero, the greatest orator of the age, is dead, his severed head and hands nailed to the Rostra in the Forum. He was proscribed as an enemy of the state by the Second Triumvirate and captured as he tried to flee Italy. The display serves as a grim warning for his Philippicae, the speeches that savaged Mark Antony. The proscription lists named some 2,000 men. Thus perished the voice of republican Rome.

• Cicero was proscribed and executed on December 7, 43 BC while attempting to escape Italy for safety.
• His severed hands and head were displayed on the Rostra by order of Mark Antony.
• The Second Triumvirate's proscription lists named around 2,000 individuals, including Cicero.
• Cicero's hands and head were displayed to represent repercussions for his anti-Antonian Philippicae speeches.

World Desk

1972 — Bormann Remains Found at Berlin Site

Skeleton identified as Hitler's deputy by dental records and skull photographs.

BERLIN, Dec. 7 — Construction workers have found the remains of Martin Bormann, the Nazi deputy who vanished at the end of the war, near Lehrter Station in West Berlin, ending a search that began with his conviction in absentia at Nuremberg.

Fragments of glass found in the jaws of both skeletons suggest suicide by cyanide capsules. Dental records reconstructed from memory in 1945 by Hugo Blaschke identified one skeleton as Bormann's. Composite photographs of skulls overlaid on photographs of faces were completely congruent.

The second skeleton was deemed to be that of Stumpfegger, Hitler's physician, based on similar height to his last known proportions.

• On 7 December 1972, construction workers uncovered human remains near Lehrter station in West Berlin.
• Fragments of glass were found in the jaws of both skeletons, suggesting suicide by cyanide capsules.
• Dental records reconstructed from memory in 1945 by Hugo Blaschke identified one skeleton as Bormann's.
• Composite photographs of skulls overlaid on photographs of faces were completely congruent.
• The second skeleton was deemed to be Stumpfegger's, based on similar height to his last known proportions.

Cricket

1936 — Fingleton's Fourth Century Sets Record

Australian opener first to score centuries in four successive Test innings.

SYDNEY, Dec. 7 — Jack Fingleton, the Australian opener, today became the first player to score centuries in four consecutive Test innings, reaching three figures in the First Test of the 1936–37 series against England. Brown shared the stand, his opening partner for the streak. Australia won all three prior Tests by an innings.

• Jack Fingleton scored a century in the First Test of the 1936–37 series to achieve the record.
• Fingleton opened the batting with Bill Brown during his record streak.
• Fingleton scored centuries in three consecutive innings as Australia won each of the last three Tests by an innings before the record.

Combined Operations

1942 — Canoe Raid Damages Six Ships at Bordeaux

Royal Marines in canoes damage six enemy ships in a night raid on Bordeaux.

LONDON, Dec. 7 — In the dark waters of the Gironde estuary, a handful of Royal Marines in canoes slipped past German patrols to strike at the port of Bordeaux, damaging six enemy ships in a daring raid.

• The raid was carried out by the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD), part of Combined Operations.
• The raiders were inserted by the submarine HMS Tuna, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Dick Raikes.
• Only two of the ten men who launched from the submarine survived: Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler and Bill Sparks.
• Six of the eight missing raiders were executed by the Germans, and two died from hypothermia.
• Two German vessels were sunk and four others suffered varying degrees of damage in the attack.

Colonial Affairs

1837 — Rebellion Crushed at Montgomery's Tavern

Mackenzie's forces routed by British troops; leader flees north.

TORONTO, Dec. 7 — The Upper Canada Rebellion has been crushed. British troops swiftly defeated rebels led by William Lyon Mackenzie and Anthony Van Egmond at Montgomery's Tavern, the only major confrontation of the uprising.

Government forces fired at the rebel position, causing them to flee.

• Government forces arrived at Montgomery's Tavern and fired at the rebels' position, causing them to flee.
• Mackenzie fled north, leaving his papers and cloak behind.
• Rebel leaders chose Mackenzie as their military commander, but they were defeated by government troops.
• The rebellion was planned to begin on December 7, 1837, with Anthony Anderson and Samuel Lount leading armed rebels.

Foreign Desk

1975 — Indonesia Launches Full-Scale Invasion of East Timor

Largest military operation in Indonesian history targets Dili as UN condemns the action.

DILI, Dec. 7 — In a move that reshapes the map of Southeast Asia, Indonesia has begun a full-scale military occupation of East Timor, under the pretext of anti-colonialism. The invasion, code-named Operasi Seroja (Operation Lotus), is the largest military operation ever carried out by Indonesia.

• Operasi Seroja (Operation Lotus) was the largest military operation ever carried out by Indonesia.
• Fretilin's Falintil troops engaged Indonesian forces in the streets of Dili, reportedly killing 400 paratroopers.
• Angkasa Magazine reported 35 Indonesian troops and 122 Fretilin fighters died in the invasion.
• By the end of 1975, 10,000 Indonesian troops occupied Dili and 20,000 more were deployed across East Timor.
• The UN General Assembly and Security Council passed resolutions condemning Indonesia's invasion and calling for withdrawal.

War Correspondence

1862 — Hindman's Retreat Secures Prairie Grove for Union

Confederate thrust into northwestern Arkansas fails as Union reinforcements arrive.

PRAIRIE GROVE, Ark., Dec. 7 — Confederate commander Thomas C. Hindman has retreated, yielding a strategic victory to Union forces at Prairie Grove. The battle ended the Confederate attempt to regain control of northwestern Arkansas. Union divisions under Francis J. Herron marched 105 to 120 miles in intensely cold weather to reinforce James G. Blunt. Union forces reported 1,251 casualties, including 175 dead. Confederate forces reported 1,317 casualties, with between 164 and 204 dead. Hindman cited unavailable reinforcements for his withdrawal. Confederate morale suffered severely, with many conscripts deserting after the battle.

• Union forces reported 1,251 casualties, including 175 dead, at Prairie Grove.
• Confederate forces reported 1,317 casualties, with between 164 and 204 dead.
• Confederate commander Thomas C. Hindman retreated due to unavailable reinforcements, giving the Union a strategic victory.
• Union divisions under Francis J. Herron marched 105 to 120 miles in intensely cold weather to reinforce James G. Blunt.
• Confederate forces suffered severe demoralization, with many conscripts deserting after the battle.

International News

1988 — Armenia Quake Kills 25,000; Gorbachev Asks U.S. Aid

Spitak leveled as Soviet leader makes first such request since late 1940s.

SPITAK, Soviet Union, Dec. 7 — The earthquake that struck this Armenian town at 11:41 local time has killed at least 25,000 people, authorities said. The 6.8-magnitude tremor destroyed Spitak entirely, killing one third of its 15,000 residents and leaving the rest homeless. Between 25,000 and 50,000 people were killed and up to 130,000 were injured. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev formally asked the United States for humanitarian help within days, the first such request since the late 1940s. One hundred and thirteen countries sent substantial aid, including rescue equipment, search teams, and medical supplies.

• The earthquake struck at 11:41 local time on December 7, 1988, with a surface-wave magnitude of 6.8.
• Between 25,000 and 50,000 people were killed and up to 130,000 were injured.
• Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev formally asked the United States for humanitarian help within days, the first such request since the late 1940s.
• One hundred and thirteen countries sent substantial aid, including rescue equipment, search teams, and medical supplies.
• Spitak was entirely destroyed, with one third of its 15,000 population killed and the rest left homeless.