Return to the United States of Marines from 2nd Raider Battalion, known as "Carlson's Raiders" (led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson). They arrive at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, aboard the submarine, USS Argonaut (SS-166) after completing their famous Makin Island raid in August,1942, during World War 2. Inserted view of surfaced submarine, as it fires its deck gun. Distant smoke arises in the sea from a burning ship. Scene shifts back, to Hawaii, again, as the Argonaut arrives at a pier in Pearl Harbor. Admiral Chester Nimitz boards the submarine and shakes hands with Lieutenant Commander John R. Pierce, USN, Commanding Officer of the Argonaut. Major James Roosevelt, USMCR, Executive Officer, Second Raider Battalion (the President's son) salutes Nimitz, who then shakes hands with him. View of stacked arms and equipment of the Marines on the boat's deck. Sailors transport a wounded Marine on a litter. The rest of the marines begin to step from the Argonaut, to the pier, and walk past a military honor guard with rifles, at parade rest.
During World War 2, while stationed at NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii, U.S. Navy F4Fs of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3) are seen making a series of attack passes for a camera mounted in an airplane in flight. They demonstrate attack maneuvers singly and in pairs.
Lieutenant Edward O'Hare, the U.S. Navy's first ace fighter pilot of World War 2, is seen flying his F4F aircraft (number: F-13). Felix-the-Cat logo of the Navy Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3) is seen on his airplane, but only 4 Japanese victory flags are visible below his cockpit. Another F4F (number F-1) appears,flown by Lieutenant Commander John S. Thach, Commander of VF-3. Thach is flying with his canopy open. The VF-3 logo and 3 Japanese victory flags are painted on his airplane. With Thach in the lead, O'Hare maneuvers into the left wing position.
Ships enter Honolulu, Hawaii during World War II. Camera pans to show a street in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii. Buildings along the sides of the street in Honolulu. Traffic passing on the street. Pedestrians walking in sidewalk. Ships approach the harbor area. A merchant ship enters the harbor. Chief petty officer (CPO) stands next to a 50-caliber machine gun in the building.
A bulldozer excavates a shelter trench in a public park in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the start of World War 2. A street and commercial buildings are in the background. The bulldozer digs the trench deeper. Shovel of the bulldozer lifts the dirt. Civilian workers dig trenches in another location in Honolulu, next to a street.
U.S. civilians work on the propeller blades of submarines at a dry dock in Hawaii, United States.