A Grumman F4F, Wildcat, from the U.S. Navy Squadron, VF-5, lands on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga (CV-3) and runs off the end of the flight deck, crashing into a parked airplane and falling into the sea, during operations against the Japanese in the Pacific.
U.S. Navy bombing campaign against Japanese-held Gilbert and Marshall Islands during World War II. This film taken aboard the heavy crusier, USS Northampton, CA-26. Captain William Dwight Chandler, Jr. (1890-1977) looks out at the sea with binoculars. Officer, helmsman and another sailor on bridge of the ship (interior). Officer, wearing older-style steel helmet, looks out to sea with binoculars. Gunnery officer wearing headphones. A Curtiss SOC Seagull seaplane is seen on catapult, behind him. Carrier at some distance, as seen through railings.
Battle of Santa Cruz Islands in the Pacific during World War 2. Survivors from the abandoned aircraft carrier USS Hornet, CV-8, are being transferred, from the port side of the USS Russell, DD-414 (one of the destroyers that rescued them) to the starboard side of the cruiser USS Northampton (CL-26), by means of lines and breeches buoy. After several are transferred, this way, some wounded on litters are also transferred. Initial views are toward the Russell's stern, from the deck of the Northampton, where sailors are handling lines. Camera pans as survivors move across the space between the ships and are lowered to the Northampton deck. View from Northampton toward bow of Russell, showing two of her single turret 8-inch guns (one pointed up) as a litter passes between the ships. (Camera changes viewpoint occasionally.) An officer transfers on a bosun chair, followed by a sailor. In the final seconds, the USS Salt Lake City (CV-25) is seen in the background.
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.