Back at the hospital, Evelyn helps tend to the dozens of wounded who come in and must help decide who can and cannot be saved. The surprise Japanese air raid sinks the battleships USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma and many other ships. The next morning, on December 7, they are interrupted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor by Zero fighters, Val dive bombers and Kate torpedo bombers. He quickly realizes that Evelyn and Danny are now together, and feeling hurt and betrayed, the two friends soon get into a fight at the local hula bar. On the night of December 6, 1941, Rafe unexpectedly returns to Pearl Harbor, having survived the crash and being stranded in occupied France in the interval. Rafe is shot down over the English Channel and presumed to have been killed in action.Three months later, Evelyn and Danny bond over their mourning of Rafe and unexpectedly develop feelings for each other. Evelyn and Danny are transferred with their respective squadrons to Pearl Harbor.
Before Rafe leaves for England, he makes a promise to Evelyn that he will come back for her. The two soon begin dating and fall in love.However, Rafe has volunteered to serve with the Royal Air Force's Eagle Squadrons. Rafe meets Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), a Navy nurse who passes him for his physical examination even though he has dyslexia, and is instantly smitten. In the summer of 1940 Rafe (Ben Affleck) and Danny (Josh Hartnett) are First Lieutenants in the United States Army Air Corps under the command of Major Jimmy Doolittle (Alec Baldwin).