 In April 2000 , filming began on the Michael Bay film Pearl Harbor . Before the filming , the cast and crew gathered on the USS Arizona memorial for a wreath @-@ laying by a representative of Touchstone Pictures , Jerry Bruckheimer and Bay . The producers brought fifteen vintage planes to Ford Island , placing them in one hangar for the filming . In addition , they brought fifteen ships back to Pearl Harbor for live bombardment ( without sinking them ) . The operations room of the control tower was converted into a barracks for the filming . The Pacific Aviation Museum hoped that the film would increase public awareness of the tower and spur support for its restoration . Bay reflected on the historic significance of Ford Island : " I have a vivid memory of showing the crew around Ford Island during pre @-@ production . We came upon a plaque directly across from the sunken Arizona , marking the spot where a torpedo hit nearly six decades ago . My crew stood in silence for three minutes at the sight of this small monument . It was a solemn moment for all of us , and I think it helped the crew appreciate the undertaking were [ sic ] about to begin . " During filming , a Vultee BT @-@ 13 Valiant used as a torpedo bomber crashed on the island . 
