The attack on Pearl Harbor was marked by incredible coincidences, such as Japanese attack planes arriving during a flag raising ceremony, with the band playing the national anthem despite being strafed. American sailors were so unprepared for war with Japan that they initially thought it was a screw-up or a drill, and some even believed that Army personnel had mistakenly loaded the planes with real bombs. It illustrates how unprepared people were for the war with Japan, with one sailor even commenting that it was the best drill the Army had ever put on, before realizing it was not a drill.