A U.S. Department of Commerce film entitled "Voyage to America." Opening scenes depict ordinary life during rush hour in major city in the United States in 1963. People walking in what appears to be a large railroad station and then riding escalators to lower floors. People stepping from a subway door to a platform and others leaving a crowded train station. An official cutting a ribbon to open some place or event. Young women cheer leading for a political candidate. People attending a concert and others at an outdoor sports event. Crowds filling sidewalks to watch foreign dignitaries in two white cars. Republicans fill the Cow Palace near San Francisco in the 1956 political convention where President Dwight D. Eisenhower is supported for a 2nd term as President. Some "Stick with Ike" banners are seen in the crowd. Scene transitions to views of clouds and beautiful coastal images of America.
U.S. B-29s of the 314th Bomb Wing parked and taxiing at North Field, Guam, Marianas Islands during World War 2. Among those seen are two displaying tail code, Square M, of the 19th Bomb Group; one without tail code, displaying tail number: 42-93967, of the 19th Bomb Group ("City of Lansford"); and five displaying Square P tail code, of the 39th Bomb Group. One of the parked B-29s displays tail code Square K and, on its forward fuselage, what looks like the logo of the "City of San Francisco" (K-29) of the 330th Bomb Group.
Opening scene shows some German infantry surrendering with hands raised. Next scene shows people thronging Times Square in Manhattan, New York City, celebrating VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, on May 8, 1945, when Germany surrendered to end World War II, in Europe. Image of the first atomic explosion (Trinity) on July 16, 1945, in New Mexico, United States. Scene shifts to deck of the U.S. Battleship, USS Missouri, where Japanese foreign minister, Mamoru Shigemitsu, is seated and signing the instrument of surrender., on September 2, 1945. Closeup profile of General Douglas MacArthur. Another glimpse of Mamoru Shigemitsu signing. Next, MacArthur is seen signing the document. He turns and presents the pen to Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wainwright , who is standing behind him alongside British Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival. Brief glimpse of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center with flag appearing to be at half staff and a long awning extending from its entrance to the sidewalk. View of representatives at the first United Nations meeting there . Views of audience in auditorium shows many notables. Closeups of Soviet Ambassador, Andrey Gromyko and Soviet Foreign Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov.. Next, President Harry S. Truman is seen broadcasting a greeting to the delegates, from the Capitol, Washington, DC, on April 25, 1945. The delegates are seen listening to the broadcast and then applauding.
Narrated in German. President Harry S Truman reads Japanese surrender announcement. Woman holds a poster that reads 'Victory Japan Surrenders'. News correspondents run in White House corridors. People celebrate VJ Day or Victory over Japan Day on streets in Chicago, San Francisco, Frisco Chinatown, and in New York City Times Square. Crowd gathers near Hotel Astor. Celebration in London with the King and Queen in horse drawn carriage leaves Buckingham Palace. Opening of British Parliament, shows Lord Edward Halifax, Lord John Allsebrook Simon, U.S. Ambassador John C Winant, Admiral Harold R Stark and a representative from Saudi Arabia arrive in a car. Crowd runs towards Buckingham Palace. The Royal family waves to the crowd from Palace balcony.
Narrator Lee Marvin standing on a seashore. U.S. astronauts heading to their capsule for launch on mission to first man on the moon. Launch service structures falling away, as rocket launch is completing countdown in launch of Saturn V rocket carrying Apollo 11 mission to the moon. View of Mission Control operations center during Apollo 11. Glimpse of the earth from the moon and sound of Neil Armstrong on radio to Houston Control Center, "Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." View shifts to Houston Control Center. View of the Lunar Module, Eagle, descending and landing on the moon surface, July 20, 1969. Next, a view of Neil Armstrong descending ladder from the Lunar lander and taking the first step onto the moon by a human, and then moving about on the lunar surface, on July 21, 1969. View of seashore, again, where birds are walking on the wet sand. Flock of birds flying above breaking surf. Aerial view of Hoover Dam. A road being built in rugged wilderness. View of the Panama Canal. Aerial view from helicopter flying very close to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Following the tragic fire aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) on October 26, 1966, remains of all 44 who died were returned to their families for burial, except for Lieutenant Commander Omar R. Ford, who's will requested burial at sea. Accordingly, on November 6, 1966, while the Oriskany was underway way to San Diego, from Subic Bay, a funeral with full military honors was conducted on board and Commander Ford's body was committed to the deep in the Philippine Sea. Marines form honor guard in full dress uniforms. Bugler holds trumpet. A Navy Commander and a Lt. Commander stand at attention. Group of ship's officers acting as pallbearers, stand by the flag-draped body. The ship's company in formation in dress whites. The Destroyer, USS Chevalier (DD-805) visible in water nearby. Ship's Captain, John H. Iarrobino, walks across the flight deck to a podium and speaks. Sailors with heads bowed. Pallbearers commit the body to the deep. Marine honor guard fire rifle salutes. Bugler plays taps. Officers salute. Pallbearers ceremoniously fold the American Flag into triangle and present to the Captain. Ceremony is ended.