U. S Mahon class destroyers speed through the water in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Closeup of one passing the camera ship. Distant head-on view of a North Carolina class U.S. Battleship. The American aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CV-6), with aircraft on her deck. Animated map shows the Coral Sea and Midway Island, in the Pacific, where the U.S. Navy successfully engaged the Japanese in major naval battles. Glimpse of sailor with binoculars at railing of an aircraft carrier with many Douglas Dauntless dive bomber aircraft on her deck. View, looking back from an airplane, toward the aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid (CV-11) underway in the Pacific, with aircraft crowded forward on her deck. A South Dakota class battleship underway and firing guns astern while defending against attacking Japanese aircraft Black flak clouds are visible low in the sky. Aircraft carrier and other U.S. warships under aerial attack. An American aircraft carrier tilting as she maneuvers sharply under fire. U.S. ships firing 1.1 inch quad anti-aircraft guns. Japanese bombers maneuvering and attacking amidst numerous black flak clouds. Skies filled with tracer rounds of ammunition. An airplane crashes into the water. Sailors reloading their quad anti-aircraft guns. Glimpse of a destroyer firing her anti-aircraft guns while racing behind an aircraft carrier. A Japanese bomber heading toward a U.S. ship, through heavy fire, is hit in the left wing and plunges into the sea. Black smoke marks its impact. Two Japanese aircraft hit by anti-aircraft fire, trail fire as the aircraft crash into the sea. More scenes of combat. Glimpse of a disabled Navy F4F airplane on a carrier deck. Sky littered with black flak smoke clouds. The sound of an engine on one Japanese aircraft begins cutting out. Two observers with binoculars point toward the plane as it falls into the sea. A PT boat is seen underway carrying Japanese airmen rescued from the sea. A sailor guards them with a Thompson machine gun. More rescued Japanese airmen are seen stepping from a Higgins boat, and then walking , while trying to avoid the cameras. Some prisoners crouched together smoking cigarettes provided by a U.S. soldier. At end of film, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, decorates American aviators and sailors at a formal award ceremony aboard an aircraft carrier.
Lines stretched between the U.S. battleship, USS North Carolina (BB-55), and a destroyer, to facilitate transfer of personnel. Heavy smoke billowing from the USS Wasp (CV-7) after she is struck by three torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-19, in World War 2. A U.S. destroyer moves into position near the Wasp. Views, from a nearby ship, of the Wasp, listing, and of severe damage to her hull. Oil burns on the water ahead of Wasp. Lines extend from her deck and sides as her crew abandons ship. Fire and explosions continue and consume the USS Wasp.
Japanese Imperial Navy operations and exercises in World War 2. Large formation of Japanese Mitsubishi G3M (Nell) bombers in flight, over a bay. Shadow of one in water below. A formation of Japanese Mitsubishi A6M (Zero/Zeke) Fighter airplanes. Aerial view of Japanese warships executing coordinated maneuvers below. Two Japanese aircraft carriers in calm waters. Aichi D3A2 (Val) dive bombers take off from carrier. A Japanese battleship making way in heavy seas and later in fog and rain. A column of Japanese warships, including a battleship, underway. Close view of Takao class heavy cruiser. Japanese sailor signalling with semaphore flags. Ise class battleship underway and firing guns. View of torpedo tubes on a ship. Japanese Battleships firing heavy guns and antiaircraft guns during gunnery practice. During this exercise, the Japanese battleship Hyuga, experiences an explosion in the left gun breach of her #5 turret. Smoke billows from the turret and flames are seen coming out of, and around the the gun barrels. Column of Japanese heavy cruisers turning to port.The Japanese rising sun Naval ensign in the breeze.
U.S. Submarine, USS Pickerel (SS-177) docked in Pearl Harbor during World War 2. Crew members handling lines on deck. Navy ensign displayed on stern. Shipyard derrick in background. Sub's conning tower displays several miniature Japanese flags, representing victories. Boat's officers pose on deck. Other subs docked alongside in background. Sailors ride a motorized lift transporting a torpedo to the sub. Below decks, crewmen load torpedoes into firing tubes. The Pickerel starts moving out of her berth. Animated map shows pattern of U.S. submarine operations out of Pearl Harbor, fanning out toward Japan. Views of the submarine cruising on the surface. Binocular view of ships on horizon. Crew members clear the deck and go below. The submarine submerges. Crew working at duty stations. Captain at the periscope, orders firing of number 1 torpedo. It strikes a ship Which explodes and burns with billowing black smoke.
View of the USS Yorktown (CV-5) underway in the Pacific during the Battle of Midway in World War 2. Two quad-mount 28 mm anti-aircraft guns being fired by sailors on the ship. Quad mount 1.1 inch gun being fired. The flight deck of the USS Yorktown. U.S. Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless airplanes of Bombing Squadron Five (VB-5) are parked on the flight deck. Black puffs from Flak bursts seen in the air. The remainder of the film shows 14 aircraft of VB-5 launching, one after the other, taking off in sequence.
Segments of film, shot under direction of John Ford,for documentary on Battle of Midway in World War 2. Two U.S. Navy F4F-4s take off successively from deck of an aircraft carrier. A Douglas Dauntless (SBD-3) takes off. Man in steel helmet strains to look directly overhead through binoculars, as a flight of five Japanese zeros peels off overhead and dives. One is seen releasing a bomb. The Five aircraft fly away in trail formation and then reappear flying toward the camera and dropping bombs. Flak clouds hang low in the air. Objects stike the water with splashes. Antiaircraft fire, with tracers visible, is directed at low flying airplane. Two Japanese zero fighters zoom low toward the camera and pull out overhead. A flight of three Douglas Dauntless aircraft in formation.