Earth moving equipment on Pacific islands. A rough terrain and a later view of the same area as an airfield is constructed by equipment. Airplanes fly over a Japanese island. Beaches and pontoon bridges. Steel meshes are laid for construction of airstrips on Bougainville and in the Aleutians. An aircraft lands. Airplanes take off from a runway constructed by earth moving equipment.
American and Australian troop convoy underway at sea, and then arriving at Port Moresby, New Guinea. A Hudson bomber of the Royal Australian Air Force flys by the troop ship escorting them into the harbor. U.S. and Australian troops unloading men and supplies at Port Moresby. Japanese planes attack the dock area and troop convoy. Elevated land-based views of the harbor with explosions and smoke during the bombing. Anti aircraft guns fired at enemy planes. Soldiers and sailors on ships at harbor open fire on the Japanese aircraft overhead. Planes drop bombs and explosions occur. Complete change of scene to the USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. United States Navy sailors fighting fires aboard the USS Yorktown. Japanese airplanes overhead during the Battle of Midway attacking the Yorktown. Patterns of tracer bullets seen fired from the Yorktown. Japanese torpedo bomber aircraft is hit by gunners on the USS Yorktown.
Scenes of Allied soldiers celebrating Victory over Japan at the end of World War 2. Most scenes show liberated Allied prisoners of war as they celebrate being freed from Japanese prison camps. Many of the former POW soldiers are emaciated, starved, and thin, and show signs of abuse. Smiling liberated prisoners gather at a dock beside a prison camp compound and cheer an approaching relief boat. Letters painted atop bombed out building include "US Army Come After Us" alerting allies to the presence of their prison camp. Freed prisoners in another camp pose together, smiling and cheering. Freed prisoners pass around a flask of booze and share drinks in celebration. Views of a prison complex and prison grounds, after liberation, with U.S. Army and other Allied soldiers eating food and washing. Many are emaciated. U.S. Army officer interviews a liberated prisoner and takes notes. Two freed prisoners hold up a bat that was used to beat prisoners, among various atrocities committed by Japanese guards. A soldier holds up his burned and battered hands. His right hand is possibly also missing the thumb. Interior view of a barren prison barracks is shown, with only thin blankets on floors. An Americna soldier stacks up boxes of Red Cross supplies that had been sent to the camps for the prisoners, but which were stolen by Japanese guards. Liberated prisoners stand beside the graves of several dead soldiers. Final scene shows three Japanese former prison guards bowing before two liberated prisoners as the freed soldiers exit the Ofuna prison camp, near Yokohama, Japan.
A ship and boats underway in sea. Two planes fly overhead. Planes in formation overhead s seen from the United States Navy aircraft carrier Independence (CVL-22). A line of smaller craft being towed are also seen. World War 2 period.
Japanese warship placing mines, during World War 2. Japanese marines board boats lowered from a ship and begin rowing them. Bombs dropped from U.S. aircraft burst in water near Japanese ships and near the Japanese marines in the boats. Japanese machine gunners on a ship fire at American aircraft in flight overhead. A U.S. Martin PBM Mariner flying boat, at extremely low altitude, launches a torpedo and climbs sharply over its intended target (Japanese warship). American warplanes flying overhead. Crew on Japanese ship drop buoys marking locations of mines.
Opening scene shows Emperor Hirohito of Japan dressed in military uniform, astride a white horse, riding along a path, followed by military officers. (Narrator cites Japanese declaration of war against the U.S. and Britain on December 7, 1941.) Japanese soldiers in two groups engage in local war games against each other. Animated map shows Japan and the expansion of her influence and military presence throughout the Pacific. Aerial view through scattered clouds, of Japanese fleet of warships. Aerial view of American warplanes in formation through scattered clouds. Closeup from cockpit of a U.S. A-20 Havoc aircraft, showing its left engine and prop and a second A-20 flying to its left in close formation. Swerving wake of a Japanese warship engaged in evasive maneuvers on surface of the sea, below. Several scenes of U.S. aircraft strafing Japanese warships. Aerial view from a U.S. B-25, flying above Japanese ships, of another B-25, with its bomb bay doors open as it launches a torpedo. Japanese ship is struck, explodes, and sinks stern first. Glimpse of more Japanese ships in a convoy.