Analysis of Historical Inaccuracies in the Movie "Pearl Harbor"

Historians have uncovered numerous inaccuracies in the cinematic portrayal of "Pearl Harbor." Professor Bruce Reynolds posits that the film's most profound impact lies in its ability to captivate audiences and ignite their curiosity about the underlying reasons behind these momentous events.

Enlisting in the RAF was not a simple endeavor. The RAF Eagle Squadron comprised valiant Americans who volunteered to fight for Britain. Nearly 7000 men stepped forward before the impending attack. In the movie, Rafe McCawley confides in his friend about his mission with the RAF Eagle Squadron, a scene set in 1941, before America's involvement in World War II. Nevertheless, it was illegal for American citizens to join another country's military while the US maintained a stance of neutrality, and doing so would result in the loss of their citizenship. Therefore, it seems unlikely that McCawley would have been encouraged to join the RAF. Interestingly, in the film, McCawley appears to be the only American among the RAF's ranks, despite it being predominantly composed of Americans.

The film erroneously depicts 1940s radio technology. In one scene, Evelyn Johnson eavesdrops on Doolittle's raiders' conversation as they fly towards Tokyo. However, during that era, long-range communication primarily relied on Morse code, as long-distance voice communication was not fully functional. Planes would have used radios exclusively for interplane communication, and an unknown attack would have adhered to radio silence.

In 1941, the "Queen Mary" donned a coat of grey paint, yet the film portrays Rafe McCawley and Evelyn Johnson passing by the British ship, which is shown in its standard red, white, and black paint scheme.

It is essential to differentiate between fighter pilots and bomber pilots. In the film, McCawley and Danny Walker start as fighter pilots but transition to bomber pilots when Doolittle plans his bombing run.

Most of the women in the film are depicted as nurses. However, during the war, women were involved in various roles, such as mechanics, test pilots, and manufacturing jobs, as men departed for the battlefield. The war effort also included 10,000 female code breakers, and women of various races contributed to these endeavors, not exclusively white women.

In the movie "Pearl Harbor," a fictional portrayal depicts Franklin D. Roosevelt demonstrating his unwavering determination by attempting to stand up and casting aside his wheelchair. In reality, Roosevelt diligently kept his condition discreet, rarely drawing attention to it.

The portrayal of Dorie Miller, the ship's cook, was partially accurate. He indeed saved sailors and bravely manned a machine gun against Japanese planes. However, the film erroneously depicts Evelyn Johnson attending to Miller's injuries, which would have been improbable during that time due to segregated hospitals. A chaperone would have been required if a white woman were alone with a black man.

The film inaccurately depicts the equipment used during the attack. The Japanese airplanes featured in the movie were not historically correct. Additionally, Japanese torpedo bombers did not strike the American airfields. Furthermore, the film includes an anachronistic 50s Jeep, a speedboat, and even a nuclear-powered submarine.

The film suggests that the Japanese planes deliberately targeted the hospital during the attack. In actuality, the Japanese did not aim for or fire upon the hospital; they reserved their ammunition for high-value targets.

Contrary to the film's depiction, the Pearl Harbor attack did not come as a complete surprise. Weeks before the incident, the US Navy and Army issued warnings about a potential attack. They were aware of Japan's intentions to strike, albeit uncertain about the exact location.

The film accurately represents the swing music prevalent during that time and the historical fact that the Japanese attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor on the fateful date of 7 December 1941.