A U.S. Task Force destroys Japanese aircraft in the Northern Mariana Islands during World War II. The Japanese aircraft in flight. A U.S. war ship in the Pacific Ocean. U.S. soldiers at a gun barrel. Explosions in the air. A Japanese aircraft catches fire and plunges in the sea.
Recovery of Marine wounded in Saipan during World War II. United States ships underway in the Pacific Ocean during the battle of Saipan. Naval guns aboard the ship bombard the coast. United States troops aboard transport ships. Landing crafts loaded with Marines move towards the shore. Troops land at the coast amidst heavy firing. Medical Company arrives at the beach and looks after the wounded Marines. Marines fire machine gun and tanks roll. Injured Marines on stretchers being carried away. Litter patients being placed into ambulance jeep and carried away. Medical officer examines the wounded and provides first aid to them. Litter patients being placed in a jeep and walking wounded being helped to get into the jeep. Jeep carries the injured Marines to Regimental aid station. Doctor checks the injured Marines and treats them. Tags being prepared for each patient. Records being maintained. Wounded being loaded onto a jeep and the jeep is driven away to a collecting station. At the collecting station Marines at work.
June 14, 1944. Naval guns of U.S. battleships and other warships bombard the island of Saipan, in the Marianas, in World War 2. U.S. aircraft fly low over the shore attacking Japanese military positions. A U.S. tank and marines moving on the beachhead. October 19, 1944, landing craft, manned by U.S Coast Guardsmen, from the Coast Guard operated Attack Transport USS Calloway (APA-35) are seen among others maneuvering in the water as they begin the assault on Luzon, the Philippines. U.S. troops wading ashore on Luzon.
The Pacific Campaign on the Island of Saipan, Mariana Islands during World War 2. Map titled 'Mariana Islands' showing the location of U.S. carrier convoy. Map showing the location of LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank). Map with heading '804th Aviation Engineers in Saipan'. Map and sea route marked from Hawaii past Johnson Island showing location of transport convoy, June 17, 1944. Convoy at sea showing men aboard the ships looking down at the water. Convoy showing the various types of vessels in the convoy, mostly freighters. Continuation of maps with sea markings of the route of the convoy showing the location of Kwajalein Islands and location of Eniwetok. Carriers underway showing planes aboard the carriers. Personnel on look out, aircraft spotters and others. Huge geyser of water erupting near a freighter. Convoy off the coast of Saipan showing a huge geyser of water going up. LSTs and freighters at anchor off the coast of Saipan. Personnel aboard LST as they move in towards the shore. Gun flashes can be seen ashore. Unloading operation showing the LST pulling into shore, the door falls down into the water and a half track pulls out and moves into the shore loaded with men and equipment. Trucks, jeeps and all types of equipment moving across the water in toward shore. Men walking ashore.
Opening scene shows an M8A1 75mm Howitzer motor carriage (variant of M8, using M5A1 Stuart tank chassis). It moves slowly toward the camera along a dirt road on Saipan during World War 2. Closeup shows short gun barrel and driver in turret above, speaking on radio. Bodies of many Japanese soldiers are seen, recently killed in final attacks culminating in their organized suicide assault (AKA "the Tanapag Plain banzai attack") on July 6th and 7th, 1944. A marine throws a hand grenade at a clump of foliage. (Note: Principal American defenders included units of the 105th Infantry, that bore the brunt of the assault, together with 165th Infantry; 23rd Marines; 24th Marines; 25th Marines; 20th Marine,Engineers; and 10th Marines, plus supporting artillery units.
Americans display (holding it upside down) a huge Japanese rising sun Vice Admiral rank flag , captured after a desperate "banzai" attack by Japanese forces on Saipan, during World War 2. A photograpner takes a picture. Ammunition left on the ground from the battle. Two knocked-out Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go tanks. Destroyed defensive positions and buildings. Americans examine remains of buildings and defensive positions. Several local civilians walk into the center of the scene of death and destruction. Dead Japanese soldiers are seen everywhere, throughout the sequence. (Note: Aftermath of the "Tanapag Plain banzai attack" on July 6th and 7th, 1944. Americans engaged included units of the 105th Infantry; 165th Infantry; 23rd Marines; 24th Marines; 25th Marines; 20th Marines; and 10th Marines.)