Fact #58762

Over 350 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes launch a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, killing 2,402 people and wounding a further 1,282. The attack will lead directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. Numerous patriotic songs will be inspired by this attack, notably Remember Pearl Harbour, a major hit for bandleader Sammy Kaye. Country music singer and songwriter Carson Robison recorded two; Remember Pearl Harbour [a different song with the same title] and We're Gonna Have To Slap The Dirty Little Jap, while bluesman Pete 'Doctor' Clayton released Pearl Harbour Blues.