The USS Vicksburg (CL-86) in camouflage paint, is seen still in the water, providing support with her 5 inch and 6 inch guns during the invasion of Okinawa in World War 2. Views of American dive bombers striking Japanese targets nearby, inland. As the camera follows the diving planes, it gives closeup of the superstructure of the Vicksburg.
An amphibious vehicle (DUKW number 284) carrying U.S. wounded from Okinawa battlefield during World War 2. It ties up to a Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) aka Higgins boat, from the Attack Transport, USS Callaway (APA-35). Coast Guardsmen in the Higgins boat work with crew of the DUKW to transfer the wounded to their boat. The next sequence shows the Higgins boat tied up to the USS Callaway and wounded being tranported aboard on stretchers. The Callaway deck is fulled with troops and equipment, some of which is being moved by cranes, to a landing craft at her side. Another transport ship is seen in the background, and several U.S. Navy warships in the distance.
U.S. Officers seated at a planning table aboard a U.S. warship during World War 2. They refer occasionally, to a stack of papers (battle plans or intelligence reports) as they point to a relief map of Iwo Jima. They discuss various places on Iwo Jima.
U.S. Fleet Oiler, USS Neches ( AO-47) is seen refueling an aircraft carrier during heavy seas and weather in the Pacific in World War 2. At one point the rudder of the USS Neches is seen exposed as she pitches. In final part of the sequence, the number 47 can be seen clearly on the bow of the Neches as viewed from a covered deck on the carrier. Note: A crew member on the Neches added the following inforrmation: "This fueling of the fleet was just days before we sailed into an inlet off the island of Okinawa. Several days later we shot down a suicide plane while anchored there in the inlet. I was the sightsetter on the 5 inch gun that shot the plane down. We hit it on our third shot and it splashed into the water just shy of an LST, its target. The plane's original target was our Neches but, after the first shot, it turned and headed toward the LST. My memory tells me it was on April 7th."
Two survivors from U.S. Navy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) on raft as the USS Register (APD-92) comes alongside at sea in the Pacific Theater. Two weary sailors floating on a raft are rescued. Several survivors are carried on deck on stretchers. Survivors on USS Indianapolis transferred on stretchers from deck of APD-92 to LCP alongside.
A United States New Mexico class battleship (believed to be the USS Idaho) is seen underway off Okinawa in World War 2. Heavy flak (antiaircraft gun fire) in the sky. Japanese Kamikaze (suicide dive bombers) in the skies under heavy flak fire. Kamikaze dives and strikes a battleship that appears to be the USS Tennessee (BB-43) throwing up a ball of flame. In the background is a smoking Destroyer, probably the USS Zellars (DD777) which was already hit by one or two Kamikazes. The Zellars and Tennessee were a short distance ahead of the Idaho during the attack. The Zellars was dead in the water as the Idaho passed it.