View of the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at sea during its shakedown cruise in the Pacific, in 1943, during World War 2. An F4U-1 Corsair aircraft of U.S. Navy Fighting Squadron 17 (VF-17) lands on the carrier deck,and appears to successfully engage its tail hook. However, it bounces, and, noses over, smashing its propeller. The aircraft has a small skull and crossbones painted on its engine cowling, and 17-F-26 painted on its fuselage. In a slow-motion sequence, the aircraft, is seen to be dragged backwards slowly,by arresting gear, along the deck. Responding ship's crew members run towards it. One grabs the right wing to stabilize it.
An F4U Corsair airplane of U.S. Navy Squadron VF-17 is seen in slow motion as it attempts to land on the flight deck of the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) during its shakedown cruise in 1943. The aircraft displays 17-F-28, on its fuselage. The pilot rounds out high, bounces, apparently missing restraining cables, and ends up nosing over into tail-high vertical position, falling slightly toward its right wing. It settles in about a 70 degree tail high position, as sailors run toward the aircraft as they respond to the emergency.
Local Pacific Islanders are seen in wooden dugout boats in the vicinity of U.S. Navy warships, in a bay during World War 2. Closeup of a man in one canoe with an outrigger. A boy sitting in one carrying a box of fruit. U.S. military engineers aboard a ship, look at shore with binoculars. Sailors in stern of a boat flying Naval ensign. Sailors on a barge, transport the fuselage and float of a OS2U Kingfisher Floatplane to an island, where they bring it ashore amidst grove of palm trees. Sailors roll 55gallon drums of fuel shore from a barge. A jeep is lowered over the side of a ship and driven ashore. Supplies, including foodstuffs, are brought ashore. Cartons containing canned corned beef; canned cherries, and many other foods, are stacked up in a warehouse. Engineers chart water depth in a bay as they mark boundaries for construction of a seaplane base. Caterpillar tractors level trees and clear land for the base. Soldiers install a 155mm long tom gun in position for coastal defense. Marines prepare temporary shelters of palm fronds. A U.S. Navy PBY Catalina seaplane flies overhead.
Scenes from the Naval Battle of Midway, in World War 2. A helmeted sailor, on deck of a U.S warship, silhouetted next to a propeller blade. A Fletcher-class U.S. Navy destroyer in background. View from near top of a Curtiss SOC Seagull airplane on the USS Portland (CA-33),as she fires two of her 5 inch antiaircraft guns, amidship,during the battle of Midway. Air is filled with low-altitude black flak smoke. A Japanese G4M1 model 11 ("Betty") bomber flies close by at low altitude across the line of sight. Smoke rises from the Portland's gunfire. Another Betty bomber low over the water in far background. Aerial view of a burning Japanese cruiser, far below, maneuvering to evade American attacks. View from U.S. airplane circling closer to the smoking Japanese cruiser. Closeups of panned stills showing severely damaged Japanese warships. Scene shifts to a large formation of Navy personnel in dress whites, where U.S. Admiral Chester Nimitz is decorating navy personnel who distinguished themselves in the battle. Nimitz sits, visiting a wounded sailor, at a hospital. U.S.Army Air Forces B-17 Crews, who bombed Japanese ships, are seen being interviewed on Midway Island. Scene shifts to war production workers assembling aircraft in factories in the United States. U.S. warplanes being manufactured. B-24 Liberator bomber aircraft being rolled out of a plant. Graduation ceremony at the U.S. Naval academy, in Annapolis, Maryland. Spectators watch as the cadet corps parades. View inside the historic hall of the old academy filled with spectators, cadets graduate a year early due to the war. Graduating cadets shaking hands with Academy administrators. Cadets of the class of 1943 cheer and throw their hats in the air at end of commencement ceremonies on June 19, 1942.
Japanese armorers carry a large bomb on their shoulders and place it on the ground next to a line of other bombs at a Japanese airfield in the Pacific region, early in World War 2. A Japanese pilot, carrying a katana (samurai) sword, climbs on the wing of a Kawasaki Ki-32 (Mary) light bomber and into its cockpit. Another crew member seen getting into rear cockpit. A flight of two Kawasaki Ki-32s airborne on takeoff from an established airfield. Both aircraft display wheel pants and white stripes and star-shaped images on their tails. View of pilot in forward cockpit. Six Kawasaki Ki-32s flying in loose formation.
A United States Navy aircraft carrier underway in Pacific ocean during World War 2. Numerous carrier landings are shown, involviing F6Fs, TBMs, and SB2C aircraft . There are no mishaps, and only one aircraft is seen getting a wave-off and going around. The various aircraft approach and land in a mixed sequence of the different types.