Hickam Air Base Scars

Bomb damage and bullet holes at Hickam Air Force Base. Tom (Public Domain)

To this day, you can see the bomb and bullet scars from the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, preserved on the buildings at Hickam Air Force Base.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor in an unprecedented act of warfare that officially drew the United States into World War II. The targets were the ships docked in the harbor, but also Hickam Air Force Base right next door to ensure there was no chance of airborne defense.

The base suffered considerable damage from bombs and machine gun bullets, while several aircraft were rendered useless. More than 300 people were injured, and 189 died.

The damage inflicted was not covered up or repaired, but preserved as a memorial. It is most visible on the Pacific Air Forces headquarters building, which is pockmarked with scars, but small pieces of damage exist throughout the base as a reminder of that tragic day.

Know Before You Go

This is an active US Air Force base, so you must have to have a legitimate reason to enter the base and proper identification. Best way is to know an active or retired military person who can get you on-base.