The Aleutian Islands Campaign during World War 2. U.S. Army Air Forces B-24 and B-17 bombers on bombing mission from Adak Island to Kiska, Aleutian Islands. The B-24 aircraft in formation over the Pacific Ocean. Navigator at his position with compasses and chart. Gunners test turrets and guns. Scene shifts to the B-17s flying at low level over water. Small iceberg seen off wing of B-17. One B-17 displays number 19162 on its tail. Kiska volcano seen. Scene shifts again, to B-24 Liberator bombers maneuvering over Kiska, then shifts again, to B-17s on a low altitude bomb run. Bombardier over bomb sight dropping bombs. Views of bombs falling from the higher flying formation of B-24s. Low altitude bomb run by B-17s. Gunners firing at ground targets.Bombs falling. Some black Flak bursts are seen. Flights of B24s and B-17s returning from Kiska, as fires burn at the targets.
Shores of Tarawa Atoll in Pacific Ocean. Wreckage on island. Trees after bombardment. Marines mill around. Tents put up on beach. (World War II period).
Shores of Tarawa Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Marines milling around, wreckage after battle. Palm trees along shoreline. Wreckage on Tarawa. Marines mill around on beach. (World War II period).
U.S. marines engage Japanese during the Battle of Tarawa in World War II. Members of United States 2nd Marine Division walk up gangplanks, in full battle gear, and board ships. Convoy of ships underway in the Pacific Ocean, with weapons on deck visible. Fighter escort aircraft from U.S. aircraft carriers fly in formation over the convoy. A U.S. destroyer pulls alongside to deliver sealed orders on a line stretched between the two vessels. Officer briefs the Marines with a relief map on deck of ship. Marines load ammunition in belts for machine guns. They check and fire weapons. They exercise to relieve tension. Navy and coast guard assault boat coxwains receive last minute instructions from an officer. Chaplain conducts religious services for the Marines before the invasion day. Boats loaded with marines proceed toward the shore. Explosions occur. Aircraft in flight as they strafe and drop bombs on Japanese shore installations. American assault boats approach the beach. Heavy Japanese firing destroys several U.S. assault boats. Marines find some shelter behind a pier extending into the water. Marines are held down by heavy Japanese fire. They suffer heavy casualties and administer aid to wounded.
U.S. Navy Documentary highlights functions, duties and crew activities aboard 'The Fighting Lady', pseudonym for the USS Yorktown, CV-10, in the Pacific Theater during World War II. A sailor looks through binoculars and telescope. A sailor ties a rope. Sailors with various crew jobs stand in a group and talk. They work on instrument and equipment on the ship. The sailors load guns and fire during practice drills. Signal flags being hoisted. Sailors with headphones work on fire control of 5 inch guns. Smoke due to firing. A sailor paints the letter 'E' for "efficiency."
Functions, duties and crew activities aboard 'The Fighting Lady', pseudonym for the USS Yorktown, CV-10, in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Housekeeping activities aboard the ship. U.S. Navy sailors on the deck do exercises and lay under the sun. A man plays with a dog (the ship's mascot, named Scrappy). The ship leaves the Panama Canal. Reserve, specialists and pilots eat food. Non commission personnel stand in a mess line and serve themselves food. They sit at a table and eat food. One of the sailors smokes a cigarette. The non commission personnel peel vegetables like potatoes and cabbage. A navy butcher cuts slabs of red meat and a cook at work. A pharmaceutical unit and a hospital on the ship. A tailor, a cobbler and a dry cleaner work on the ship.