A Japanese high-level bomber dropped a 1,760-pound that penetrated the forward deck of the ship about 40 feet in from the bow. The explosion ignited aviation fuel stores and the powder magazines for the 14-inch guns, instantly separating most of the bow from the ship and lifting the 33,000-ton vessel out of the water.

The explosion and subsequent fires killed 1,177 sailors and marines instantly. The fires continued for 2½ days, virtually cremating every man on board.

Out of a crew of 1,511, only 334 survived the explosion.

Only 107 USS Arizona crew member where able to be positively identified. Due to the immense fire the remaining 1,070 casualties were not able to be identified.

A total of 40 sailors and marines assigned to the USS Arizona were not aboard the ship when it was attacked.

A total of 319 sailors and 15 Marines (on or off the ship) were officially USS Arizona survivors.

Crew members who were assigned to the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941, have the right to have their bodies cremated and interred inside the barbette of gun turret four by National Park Service divers.

No, only Survivors from the USS Arizona can be interred in the ship. Other Pearl Harbor survivors can have their ashes scattered over the place in the harbor where their ship was located during the the attack.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Stanley M. Teslow ashes were interred on April 12, 1982.

A total of 39 crew members have been interred into the hull of the the USS Arizona. That list consists of 37 Navy sailors and 2 Marines.

Yes, there is solemn ceremony of interment, complete with a two-bell ceremony from the Fleet Reserve Association; a rifle salute from the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps; and a benediction with the echo of Taps being played across the harbor.

The services are conducted at the Arizona Memorial and consist of an invocation, funeral ceremony, and a flag presentation to the family.

Each interment ceremony is hosted by the USA NPS and the United States Navy

The USS Arizona was inspected by the US Navy in early 1942 and it was determined a total loss.

In addition to the USS Arizona, The USS Oklahoma, and the USS Utah were not put back into service.

The USS Pennsylvania, USS Nevada, USS West Virginia, USS Tennessee, USS Maryland, and USS California were repair and put back into service.

A lot of the metal was used for the war effort. In June of 1942, the US Navy decided the lost ship’s hulk was not a hazard to navigation in the harbor and the ship would remain where she fell.

A decision was made to leave the crew members with their ship, considering the men to be buried at sea.

There were over 180 ships and vessels in Pearl Harbor when the attack began.

A total of twelve ships were sunk or severely damaged. There were another nine ships that needed extensive repairs. All the ships but the USS Arizona, the USS Utah and the USS Oklahoma were returned to service.

The USS Utah lays where she fell on the north side of Ford Island. After several attempts of raising the ship failed the US Navy made the decision to leave the bodies of 58 crewmen on board, considering them buried at sea.

Over 400 men were trapped inside, of which only 32 were rescued.

Resting in the main channel of the harbor, a major salvage operation began in March of 1943. The ship was then pumped out and the remains of over 400 sailors and Marines were removed. The guns and superstructure were removed following the battleship’s formal decommissioning in September of 1944. Two years later, a California salvage company bought the ship for scrap and began towing the USS Oklahoma to Oakland. On May 17, 1947 the ship began listing to port and the tow lines had to be cut.

The USS Oklahoma sank approximately 540 miles northeast of Hawaii.

There were 37 sets of brothers assigned to the USS Arizona.

The USS Arizona was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in December of 1942.

The USS Arizona is treated as one of the current fleet. On March 7, 1950, the Arizona was symbolically “re-commissioned” when a flagpole was erected on the ship.

Yes, on March 25, 1961, Elvis Presley performed a concert at Bloch Arena in Pearl Harbor and ticket proceeds benefited the construction of the Memorial.

The concert generated $54,678, more than ten percent of the $515,728needed to construct the monument.

You can explore the historical exhibits, watch a 23 min. documentary on the attack and take a navy boat to visit the memorial.

What else can I do?

There are other sites at the Pearl Harbor that you can explore:

The Battleship Missouri Memorial on Ford Island, which is a short shuttle ride from the visitor center
The USS Bowfin Submarine located adjacent to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
The Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor on Ford Island, which is a short shuttle ride from the visitor center

WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument oversees operations at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and maintains and operates the USS Arizona Memorial, as well as the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials on nearby Ford Island.

WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument, part of the National Park Service.

You can visit the USS Oklahoma Memorial on Ford Island by purchasing a $3 shuttle ticket at the Battleship Missouri ticket desk. If you purchase a ticket to the Battleship Missouri, you can also see the USS Oklahoma Memorial that way, as it is located nearby.

At this time, the USS Utah Memorial on Ford Island is only open to visitors with a military ID card.

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is located at 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI, 96818.

No. For security reasons bags are not allowed.

You can bring cameras, water bottles, wallets, and other items.

When you book your Pearl Tour & Ticket you’ll receive a confirmation emails with all the information about your Pearl Harbor visit. The email will tell you what time you will be picked up and where you will meet your tour guide and transportation.

The transportation company will pick-up at your hotel pick up area and the tour bus will will be marked with the company name.

Although it rarely happens, if by chance, you are not picked up at your scheduled time and location, it’s because we have the wrong hotel information. It is very important that you enter the correct hotel at which you will be staying.

We recommend that you reconfirm your reservation 24 hours prior to your PearlHarbor tour. If there are any changes regarding hotels or any delays upon your arrival to the islands, let us know by calling us.

Remember that your tour guides have to pick up passengers at a few hotels and they we will be there on time. For example if your pick up time is between 8:45 and 9:05 am, your tour guide will be there between those times.

Should we not be there a few minutes after the pick time, please call us to check on the location of your tour guide.

Although it rarely happens, if by chance, you are not picked up at your scheduled time and location, it’s because we have the wrong hotel information. It is very important that you enter the correct hotel at which you will be staying.

We recommend that you reconfirm your reservation 24 hours prior to your PearlHarbor tour. If there are any changes regarding hotels or any delays upon your arrival to the islands, let us know by calling us.

Remember that your tour guides have to pick up passengers at a few hotels and they we will be there on time. For example if your pick up time is between 8:45 and 9:05 am, your tour guide will be there between those times.

Should we not be there a few minutes after the pick time, please call us to check on the location of your tour guide.

We offer a risk free reservations and an easy cancellation policy :

PEARL HARBOR TOURS WITHOUT AIRFARE:
Changes and cancellations are allowed up to 48 hours prior to tour commencement without penalty. No-shows and changes or cancellations within 48 hours are subject to a full charge. No refunds are available once a tour has commenced.

TOURS WITH AIRFARE:
Due to airline tickets restrictions, all Pearl Harbor tours, which including airfare, are non-refundable once the reservation is purchased. Airline tickets are non-changeable and non-transferable.

To request a change or cancellation, please call us.

Please let us know How we can make your Pearl Harbor visit enjoyable and accommodate your request to the need you might have. If booking over the phone, simply let our friendly reservations team know of your requests or special needs.

If making your Pearl Harbor tickets reservation on the online, there is a ‘Special Requests’ box where you can let us know about any special needs, special occasions, requests, and any other important information that you feel is necessary