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Panic on the Pacific: How America Prepared for the West Coast Invasion
The aftershocks of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor were felt keenly all over America—the war in Europe had hit home. But nowhere was American life more immediately disrupted than on the West Coast, where people lived in certain fear of more Japanese attacks. From that day until the end of the war, a dizzying mix of battle preparedness and rampant paranoia swept the states. Japanese immigrants were herded into internment camps. Factories were camouflaged to look like small towns. The Rose Bowl was moved to North Carolina. Airport runways were so well hidden even American pilots couldn't find them. There was panic on the Pacific the Japanese were coming.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2016
6 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Bill Yenne
201 books52 followersBill Yenne is the author of several novels and over three dozen books on historical topics. He has also been a contributor to encyclopedias of both world wars.
The New Yorker wrote of Sitting Bull, his biography of the great Lakota leader, that it "excels as a study in leadership." This book was named to the number 14 spot among Amazon's 100 Best Books of the Year.
Library Journal observed that "enthusiastic World War II readers will be drawn to" his dual biography, Aces High: The Heroic Story of the Two Top Scoring American Aces of World War II.
Recently, his book Convair Deltas was named as Book of the Month by Air Classics, while his book Tommy Gun was named Pick of the Month by Shooting Illustrated.
His book Guinness: The 250 Year Quest for the Perfect Pint was listed among the top business books of the year by Cond Nast Portfolio Magazine, which rated Yenne's tome as its TOP pick for "Cocktail Conversation."
Yenne's Rising Sons: The Japanese American GIs Who Fought for the United States in World War II, was praised by Walter Boyne, former Director of the National Air & Space Museum, who called it "a fast moving... page turner," and the "best book yet written on the saga."
The Wall Street Journal wrote, when reviewing his Indian Wars: The Campaign for the American West, that Yenne writes with "cinematic vividness," and says of his work that it "has the rare quality of being both an excellent reference work and a pleasure to read."
The author lives in San Francisco, California, and on the web at www.BillYenne.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 22, 2021
3.5 stars
"From December 1941 and well into 1942, the same fear and the same bleak gloominess felt in England fell upon the Pacific Coast [of the United States] and its people, who knew how unprepared they were to fight the Imperial Navy [and] Army." -- the author's introduction, page xii
Panic on the Pacific works best when detailing some of the little-known or now-forgotten aspects of those dark days after America's entry into World War II. And for the citizens on our then-burgeoning west coast, they truly were dark, whether we are referring to those mandatory 'blackout' periods - when many coastal towns and cities had to shut off all lighting (including vehicle headlights, which obviously caused a spike in traffic / pedestrian fatalities) after sunset, lest they become subjected to an air raid - OR the infamous Executive Order No. 9066, which 'relocated' thousands of American-born Japanese citizens into hastily-constructed internment camps. As noted by other reviewers, some of the text is fairly dry. However, when author-historian Yenne digs deep to present some unique stories or details - such as the Hollywood special effects man who created incredible wooden facades to protect the Southern California aircraft and munitions factories from becoming bombing targets, or some actual mainland attacks (like the bombing of a rural stretch of Oregon, which started a large forest fire) which were hushed up by the U.S. military - the book was of most interest.
"From December 1941 and well into 1942, the same fear and the same bleak gloominess felt in England fell upon the Pacific Coast [of the United States] and its people, who knew how unprepared they were to fight the Imperial Navy [and] Army." -- the author's introduction, page xii
Panic on the Pacific works best when detailing some of the little-known or now-forgotten aspects of those dark days after America's entry into World War II. And for the citizens on our then-burgeoning west coast, they truly were dark, whether we are referring to those mandatory 'blackout' periods - when many coastal towns and cities had to shut off all lighting (including vehicle headlights, which obviously caused a spike in traffic / pedestrian fatalities) after sunset, lest they become subjected to an air raid - OR the infamous Executive Order No. 9066, which 'relocated' thousands of American-born Japanese citizens into hastily-constructed internment camps. As noted by other reviewers, some of the text is fairly dry. However, when author-historian Yenne digs deep to present some unique stories or details - such as the Hollywood special effects man who created incredible wooden facades to protect the Southern California aircraft and munitions factories from becoming bombing targets, or some actual mainland attacks (like the bombing of a rural stretch of Oregon, which started a large forest fire) which were hushed up by the U.S. military - the book was of most interest.
October 29, 2018
Following the attack at Pearl Harbor the Japanese followed up with a land-and-sea campaign which netted them Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, chunks of China and several American islands. Is it any wonder that Americans living on the West Coast believed that they might be next?
Bill Yenne examines the state of defense in the 4th Army area, which included Washington, Oregon and California, both before and after the attack in Hawaii. America remained woefully unprepared despite the fact that much of the United States' aircraft production happened to be on the West Coast. Only four U.S. Army divisions were located in the far west to prevent an invasion, yet these units were badly positioned to prevent a serious incursion against the Pacific states. There were almost no Navy warships (they had mostly gone to Pearl Harbor) and there were not enough aircraft to provide fighter cover or to attack an enemy task force at sea.
Meanwhile, General DeWitt (4th Army commander) and the governors of the Pacific states made the decision to relocate and intern Japanese living in the West, including citizens. Without FDR's acquiesence such a dishonorable measure could not have been carried out and this did little or nothing to protect the West Coast.
Well-written, with maps and black-and-white photos, this book tells a little-known story of American weakness early in WWII. It also includes a a bit of speculative history about what MIGHT have happened if Japan had decided to deny the United States the industries located on the West Coast and actually invade America. Overall, a good read!
Bill Yenne examines the state of defense in the 4th Army area, which included Washington, Oregon and California, both before and after the attack in Hawaii. America remained woefully unprepared despite the fact that much of the United States' aircraft production happened to be on the West Coast. Only four U.S. Army divisions were located in the far west to prevent an invasion, yet these units were badly positioned to prevent a serious incursion against the Pacific states. There were almost no Navy warships (they had mostly gone to Pearl Harbor) and there were not enough aircraft to provide fighter cover or to attack an enemy task force at sea.
Meanwhile, General DeWitt (4th Army commander) and the governors of the Pacific states made the decision to relocate and intern Japanese living in the West, including citizens. Without FDR's acquiesence such a dishonorable measure could not have been carried out and this did little or nothing to protect the West Coast.
Well-written, with maps and black-and-white photos, this book tells a little-known story of American weakness early in WWII. It also includes a a bit of speculative history about what MIGHT have happened if Japan had decided to deny the United States the industries located on the West Coast and actually invade America. Overall, a good read!
August 18, 2022
This is an interesting look at how the beginning of World War II affected the Western U.S., for better and worse.
America was woefully unprepared for war in 1941, and the West offered no real resistance to Japan at first. Fear of an invasion drove the response from the military and state governments. And the lack of planning led to overreaction by the officials in charge, in particular an Army man who seemed to get a little drunk with power.
One of the overreactions was the interning of Japanese-Americans all over the West. A sad circumstance, absolutely, but in a way understandable. The confusion and fear spoke louder than reason, just like it did in the days after 9/11. And unlike 2001, there were actual instances of espionage being carried out by some nisei.
Interesting to find out just how many times Japanese submarines attacked off the West Coast - they sank 2 civilian ships and damaged more - and how they conducted other missions that raised alarm in America. But after six months, they were gone - but not forgotten.
The last part of the book, a "what if" scenario of an invasion, was unnecessary.
The book's downfall, for me, were the typos and at least one error of fact that I identified. I always feel that if one error gets past the writer, I wonder what else might have.
America was woefully unprepared for war in 1941, and the West offered no real resistance to Japan at first. Fear of an invasion drove the response from the military and state governments. And the lack of planning led to overreaction by the officials in charge, in particular an Army man who seemed to get a little drunk with power.
One of the overreactions was the interning of Japanese-Americans all over the West. A sad circumstance, absolutely, but in a way understandable. The confusion and fear spoke louder than reason, just like it did in the days after 9/11. And unlike 2001, there were actual instances of espionage being carried out by some nisei.
Interesting to find out just how many times Japanese submarines attacked off the West Coast - they sank 2 civilian ships and damaged more - and how they conducted other missions that raised alarm in America. But after six months, they were gone - but not forgotten.
The last part of the book, a "what if" scenario of an invasion, was unnecessary.
The book's downfall, for me, were the typos and at least one error of fact that I identified. I always feel that if one error gets past the writer, I wonder what else might have.
August 17, 2024
I give it 5 stars because he captured the attitude of the people at the time and the book was very readable. The author harped on 5th Columnists, which is an important concept to understand at the time. I first heard the term in a Humphry Bogart movie and it was essential to the plot, as Bogie saved us from the Nazis in the movie, so it is an important concept for modern day Americans to grasp when considering that part of our history.
I read the book after listening to the author talking about it on a history podcast and I feel it was a smart decision to read the book. He really helped encapsulate the fear at the time.
I read the book after listening to the author talking about it on a history podcast and I feel it was a smart decision to read the book. He really helped encapsulate the fear at the time.
February 24, 2019
I'll admit that I don't read a lot of non-fiction these days, but this book was really dry. The subject matter was interesting, I just got lost in all of the names, dates, and military jargon. I often caught myself thinking about something else or getting drowsy and would have to go back over large swathes of a page. It reads more like a college history textbook, than a focused story meant to entertain.
January 14, 2019
Well-researched, but somewhat drily written. It was just interesting enought to keep me going in spite of the dozens of spelling and grammar errors. I had to skim the last few chapters just to get it over with. I did learn a few things, though, and admire the author's spirit in writing this book. It needs to have been more thoroughly edited.
September 24, 2019
Interesting piece of history
February 12, 2017
Interesting detail, perspective and context about the post Pearl Harbor environment in the Western Region of the U.S. it puts President Roosevelt's Executive Order concerning the internment of Japanese-Americans in some context. America's military unpreparedness is well documented.
December 8, 2016
Another area of western U.S. and WWII history I knew little about. Interesting how vulnerable the west coast was to attack and how much damage the Japanese could potentially have done, but fortunately they never seriously tried. Maybe more significant is that it is another example for me of how once a situation becomes a military crisis with the military in charge a lot of decisions are made that have terrible consequences for thousands of people. Obviously the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry was the worst decision. There were other decisions that affected lesser numbers of people but were still serious, like the numerous traffic deaths during blackouts and various economic impacts from events and activities cancelled by the military.
November 5, 2016
Interesting story on WWII
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews