Defenses of Pearl Harbor and Oahu 1907-50

Description

At the beginning of the 20th century, the military importance of the Hawaiian Islands became clear. Oahu in particular was a key bastion in projecting America's military power in the Pacific. The island was turned into a military fortress - and yet it also became the site of one of America's greatest defensive failures, the Japanese attack of December 7, 1941. By the end of World War II, the harbor itself was the most heavily defended in the world, and the island had earned the sobriquet "Fortress Oahu". This title documents the development of the coastal, air and land defense systems that served to protect Pearl Harbor and Honolulu from 1907 to 1950, and seeks to understand why these failed at a critical point.

Terrance McGovern has been an avid student of fortifications for many years, with a particular interest in American coastal defenses in overseas territories. He has published articles in the CDSG Journal, Fort, Casemate, and several other fortification publications. A former Chairman of the Coast Defense Study Group, Terrance lives in McClean, Viriginia, with his wife and three daughters. Glen Williford is a member of the CDSG, and has also contributed numerous articles to fortification journals, notably on coastal artillery. Chris Taylor was born in Newcastle, UK, but now lives in London. After attending art college in his home town, he graduated in 1995 from Bournemouth University with a degree in computer graphics. Since then he has worked in the graphics industry and is currently a freelance illustrator for various publishing companies. He has a keen interest in filmmaking and is currently co-producing a movie.