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Pearl Harbor News Recordings

News of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 was spread around the globe due to the miracle of radio.

Pearl Harbor News

27 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 6 hours, 26 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
7 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from April 09, 1942:

"What are We Fighting For: What Pearl Harbor Means"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Remember Pearl Harbor

When the world woke up on that Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Posterwe were not aware that the entire world was about to change, but that is exactly what was happening in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The fact that events between great nations could change the world was nothing new. What was new was the fact that by the end of the day, certainly by the next, most Americans were coming to grips with the fact. The reason that the news spread so fast was because of the miracle of radio.

Those who were paying attention to America's place in the international community were mostly looking east across the Atlantic. The Axis powers, specifically Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy had most of the world on a war footing, but for the moment, America was not involved. American listeners followed events in Europe, reports of battles came across the radio nearly as soon as they happened. There was also fighting going on across the Pacific. China had been invaded by the Empire of Japan, and Japan was committing other acts of aggression in the region, but that should not affect America. Truly savvy observers may have noted that Japan was becoming a major naval power and had been involved in battleship limitation talks with the great powers, so they would have known of the superiority of the Pacific Fleet which was in someplace called Pearl Harbor.

Listening to these broadcasts 75+ years ago, we are listening from a historical perspective. We have all seen photos and newsreel films of the smoke rising above Battleship Row, and we have seen countless recreations of Japanese planes filling the skies over Oahu. The short-wave reports broadcast on that infamous day may not have made as much sense to listeners in December 1941 as they do to us today, but we can appreciate the immediacy. The voices we hear in these recordings are often those of first-hand witnesses to the attack.

Radio listeners on that Sunday, 75 years ago, may have known that their world was changing before their ears, but they could not have appreciated the degree of change. There was still some feeling that America should stay out of foreign wars, although that feeling had been fading since France fell to the Germans in the summer of 1940. Isolationist sentiment evaporated after December 7, 1941.

Pearl Harbor PosterAmerica had already reacted to Japanese aggression in China. Japan's military had been dependent upon American oil imports which had been cut off in July 1941, forcing the Empire to look to its neighbors for resources. Japan had the military might to take the resources it needed, but American intervention would have proved troublesome. Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Japanese Ambassador Kichisaburō Nomura were in peace negotiations while preparations for the attack were taking place. Japan sent a "14 Part Message" to the American Government via their ambassador, the last part of which was to be a declaration of War between Japan and the United States. However, transcribing the Message took too long, and the Admiral was unable to deliver the message until after the Attack on Pearl Harbor had taken place.

After America declared War on Japan, the Axis Powers in Europe also declared war on America in support of their supposed ally Japan. The American military and industrial might began ramping up immediately, but the initial emphasis was in winning the War in Europe. The Pacific was not forgotten so much as put on a back burner. This, combined with the surprise of the Japanese attack led to stunning success for Japan in the early stages of the War. However, once America had begun to shift its priorities toward the Pacific, the outcome was inevitable, if bloody and costly.

It is a much different world than it was on that December morning seventy-five plus years ago. Hopefully, the advances in technology and communication will help protect us from another tragedy of that scope, but it is important to hear the voices from the past to help steel our resolve.

See also Complete Broadcast Day Pearl Harbor and Remember Pearl Harbor and Victory over Japan recordings.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

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    COMMENTS

    I'm listening to the first stateside radio reports on the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Manila, December 7, 1941, It's Sunday afternoon. By 3:15 p.m. NBC has the great commentator H.V. Kaltenborn (1878-1965, worked in radio for 30 years) sum up the attack and reactions in Washington D.C. His understanding of Pearl Harbor, limited as it is by phone calls from Oahu, is overly optimistic, but he is trying to be careful. Gripping stuff.

    Jeff Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    27 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 6 hours, 26 min
    27 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 6 hours, 26 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 27 shows - total playtime 6 hours 26 minutes
    2. Carson Robison And Orchestra Remember Pearl Harbor.mp3
    3. Cbs Radio Workshop 570811 80 Malihini Magic Vacations.mp3
    4. Columbia Presents Corwin 440425 08 Dory Got Medal.mp3
    5. CW 461207 043 Parade.mp3
    6. Eleanor Roosevelt 411207 Cpl James Cannon.mp3
    7. Eyes Aloft 421207 17 Special Pearl Harbor Memorial.mp3
    8. Front Page Drama 420110 0455 Black Dragons V.mp3
    9. Hv Kalten 411207 Comments Just After Attack On Pearl Harbor.mp3
    10. March Of Time 411211 Pearl Harbor.mp3
    11. News 411207 Bbc Alvarliddell Attackonpearlharbor.mp3
    12. News 411207 Cbs Analysisf Pearl Harbor And Manilla Attacks.mp3
    13. News 411207 Cbs Attempts To Call Honolulu.mp3
    14. News 411207 Cbs News.mp3
    15. News 411207 Cbs Ny Philharmonic War Bulletins.mp3
    16. News 411207 Cbs Pearl Harbor John Charles Daly.mp3
    17. News 411207 Nbc Honolulu Kgu Radio Pearlharbor.mp3
    18. News 411207 Nbc Newsbulletins 411208 Wardeclaration.mp3
    19. News 411207 S Marlowe And R D Bennett Pearl Harbor.mp3
    20. News 411208 Bbc Roosevelt.mp3
    21. News 411208 Bbc Wilfred Pickles News On Far East.mp3
    22. News 411217 Sammy Kaye Remember Pearl Harbor.mp3
    23. News 421207 Mbs Wor Gabriel Heatter 1 Yr After Pearl Harbor.mp3
    24. Sound Of War 09 Day They Attacked Pearl.mp3
    25. This Is Your Fbi 19451207 036 Pearl Harbor.mp3
    26. Time News Magazine 411207 Pearl Harbor 1 Of 2.mp3
    27. Time News Magazine 411207 Pearl Harbor 2 Of 2.mp3
    28. What Are We Fighting For 420409 What Pearl Harbor Means.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    27 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 6 hours, 26 min
    27 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 6 hours, 26 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 27 shows - total playtime 6 hours 26 minutes
    2. Carson Robison And Orchestra Remember Pearl Harbor.mp3
    3. Cbs Radio Workshop 570811 80 Malihini Magic Vacations.mp3
    4. Columbia Presents Corwin 440425 08 Dory Got Medal.mp3
    5. CW 461207 043 Parade.mp3
    6. Eleanor Roosevelt 411207 Cpl James Cannon.mp3
    7. Eyes Aloft 421207 17 Special Pearl Harbor Memorial.mp3
    8. Front Page Drama 420110 0455 Black Dragons V.mp3
    9. Hv Kalten 411207 Comments Just After Attack On Pearl Harbor.mp3
    10. March Of Time 411211 Pearl Harbor.mp3
    11. News 411207 Bbc Alvarliddell Attackonpearlharbor.mp3
    12. News 411207 Cbs Analysisf Pearl Harbor And Manilla Attacks.mp3
    13. News 411207 Cbs Attempts To Call Honolulu.mp3
    14. News 411207 Cbs News.mp3
    15. News 411207 Cbs Ny Philharmonic War Bulletins.mp3
    16. News 411207 Cbs Pearl Harbor John Charles Daly.mp3
    17. News 411207 Nbc Honolulu Kgu Radio Pearlharbor.mp3
    18. News 411207 Nbc Newsbulletins 411208 Wardeclaration.mp3
    19. News 411207 S Marlowe And R D Bennett Pearl Harbor.mp3
    20. News 411208 Bbc Roosevelt.mp3
    21. News 411208 Bbc Wilfred Pickles News On Far East.mp3
    22. News 411217 Sammy Kaye Remember Pearl Harbor.mp3
    23. News 421207 Mbs Wor Gabriel Heatter 1 Yr After Pearl Harbor.mp3
    24. Sound Of War 09 Day They Attacked Pearl.mp3
    25. This Is Your Fbi 19451207 036 Pearl Harbor.mp3
    26. Time News Magazine 411207 Pearl Harbor 1 Of 2.mp3
    27. Time News Magazine 411207 Pearl Harbor 2 Of 2.mp3
    28. What Are We Fighting For 420409 What Pearl Harbor Means.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    27 recordings on 7 Audio CDs. Total playtime 6 hours, 26 min
    27 recordings on 7 Audio CDs
    total playtime 6 hours, 26 min

    Pearl Harbor News Disc A001

    1. Carson Robison And Orchestra Remember Pearl Harbor
    2. Sound Of War 09 Day They Attacked Pearl
    3. This Is Your Fbi 19451207 036 Pearl Harbor

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pearl Harbor News Disc A002

    1. Eleanor Roosevelt 411207 Cpl James Cannon
    2. Hv Kalten 411207 Comments Just After Attack On Pearl Harbor
    3. News 411207 Bbc Alvarliddell Attackonpearlharbor
    4. News 411207 Cbs Analysisf Pearl Harbor And Manilla Attacks
    5. News 411207 Cbs Attempts To Call Honolulu
    6. News 411207 Cbs News

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pearl Harbor News Disc A003

    1. News 411207 Cbs Ny Philharmonic War Bulletins
    2. News 411207 Cbs Pearl Harbor John Charles Daly
    3. News 411207 Nbc Honolulu Kgu Radio Pearlharbor
    4. News 411207 Nbc Newsbulletins 411208 Wardeclaration
    5. News 411207 S Marlowe And R D Bennett Pearl Harbor

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pearl Harbor News Disc A004

    1. Time News Magazine 411207 Pearl Harbor 1 Of 2
    2. Time News Magazine 411207 Pearl Harbor 2 Of 2
    3. News 411208 Bbc Roosevelt
    4. News 411208 Bbc Wilfred Pickles News On Far East
    5. March Of Time 411211 Pearl Harbor
    6. News 411217 Sammy Kaye Remember Pearl Harbor
    7. Front Page Drama 420110 0455 Black Dragons V

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pearl Harbor News Disc A005

    1. What Are We Fighting For 420409 What Pearl Harbor Means
    2. Eyes Aloft 421207 17 Special Pearl Harbor Memorial
    3. News 421207 Mbs Wor Gabriel Heatter 1 Yr After Pearl Harbor

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pearl Harbor News Disc A006

    1. Columbia Presents Corwin 440425 08 Dory Got Medal
    2. CW 461207 043 Parade

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pearl Harbor News Disc A007

    1. Cbs Radio Workshop 570811 80 Malihini Magic Vacations

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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