Born April 4, 1884, Yamamoto was a career naval officer whose forebears were samurai. He spent several years in the United States and understood Americans better than most of his contemporaries. He argued against war with the United States but once the decision was made he fully committed to winning the war. He was in charge of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, believing that Japan would have to destroy the US fleet before its planned conquests could be completed. After the attach on Pearl Harbor, he was quoted as saying "I fear that we have awakened a sleeping giant."
After the Battle of the Coral Sea, Yamamoto planned an invasion of Midway Island hoping to draw out the few remaining US aircraft carriers in the Pacific. The US had broken the Japanese naval code and knew of YamamotoÆs plans. They successfully ambushed the Japanese main carrier group and sunk four first line Japanese carriers while loosing only one US carrier. The Miracle at Midway on June 4, 1942 marked the turning of the tide against Japan in the Pacific War.
The broken Japanese naval code led directly to YamamotoÆs death on April 18, 1943 when allied fighters were able to intercept and shoot down the plane transporting JapanÆs greatest admiral of World War II. (Photo: Japanese Battleship Yamato)
