NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The National World War II Museum on Saturday opens "Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theater Galleries," its newest permanent exhibit explaining how the war was won by the American-led Allied forces.

Dr. Gordon H. Mueller, president and CEO of The National World War II Museum, said the opening of "Road to Tokyo" will complete Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters, a pavilion that goes to the heart of the museum's mission.

"Road to Tokyo" retraces the path of war that led from the Japanese surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on through the Pacific engagements to Tokyo Bay and the atomic bombs in Japan. More than 400 artifacts are showcased, including a shark-faced P-40 Warhawk aircraft, interactive oral-history kiosks, serialized Dog Tag profiles, short films and recreations of wartime environments.

The exhibit explores the evolving American strategy for fighting relentless Japanese forces in Asia and the Pacific. It also examines the cultural differences of the combatants, logistical challenges and the extreme conditions American forces faced in Asia and the Pacific.