Answer
The Pearl Harbor attack, a devastating surprise assault on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii by the Imperial Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941, acted as a pivotal catalyst in motivating Paul Tibbets to engage in anti-submarine patrols. This audacious act of aggression profoundly impacted Tibbets, fueling his determination to confront the threat posed by enemy submarines that prowled the vast ocean expanses, endangering Allied shipping lanes and military operations.