Opening slate indicates that the USS Hancock (CV-19) is operating as part of a carrier task force in the Pacific during World War 2. About six F6F hellcats of Navy Squadron VF7 take off from the hancock. The Hancock's horshoe symbol is visible on their tails. The Battleship USS New Jersey (BB-52) is seen off the Hancock's port side. More F6Fs take off. A pilot climbs from the cockpit of his airplane. A mechanic unscrews fasteners on the aircraft panels, and opens them.
USS Hancock in a carrier task force in the Pacific during World War 2. In opening scene camera tracks a Fletcher class destroyer moving at hight speed past the USS Hancock (CV-19). Scene shifts to the Hancock flight deck, where F6F aircraft are taking off. Camera pans across the water and shows the battleship, USS New Jersey (BB-52) and several destroyers underway. Back on the flight deck, an F6F is taxiing with folded wings, escorted by several aircraft handlers. They park the aircraft.
Four F6F aircraft in pairs, fly over the Aircraft Carrier, USS Hancock (CV-19) with their landing gears down, preparing to recover on the carrier. Scene shifts abruptly to a spash off to starboard, where an SB2C Helldiver has ditched, or crashed, in the water. The aircraft submerged almost completely with only parts of it seen above the water surface. It sinks rpidly out of sight.
U.S. Sailors and Marines participate in traditional nautical ceremonies marking the crossing of the Equator, aboard the Landing Ship Tank, LST 554, during World War 2. This involves "Shellbacks" (sailors who have already crossed the equator) intiating "pollywogs" (sailors who have never crossed the Equator) into the Kingdom of Neptune. "Pollywogs" are seen assembled below, and then brought up on deck where they are subject to various forms of horseplay and embarrassment (all in good fun). Some are seen in silly lookout poses. One is seen nearly atop the ship's mast. One, naked, pours water over the head of another. Another is made to dance with a mop. Then two are made to dance together, after which they must mop the deck. Finally, the Pollywogs have their heads shaved, and dunked in water, after which they run a gauntlet of shellbacks who hit them hard (with soft paddles). Initiates being sprayed with water on deck.
The American campaign against the Japanese in the South West Pacific during World War II. U.S. 6th Army soldiers aboard the ship talk. Ships in the background. A silhouetted soldier looks through binoculars towards a coast. A naval gun being manned. A man at the controls in the engine room of the ship. An officer briefs the troops before the invasion of Los Negros, Admiralty Islands. An officer speaks on a wireless. Naval guns and rockets bombard the coast at night. Smoke rises due to the bombardment.
Opening scene shows glimpse from deck of the Heavy Cruiser, USS San Francisco (CA-38) underway in World War 2, with waves rolling over her bow from rough waters, then the scene shifts to view from the bridge. overlooking her pair of forward triple 8-inch guns. Her smaller gun emplacements at the bow are inundated by the waters as she plunges in and out of the waves. A Casablanca class Escort Aircraft Carrier (CVE) is seen to starboard. View of Curtiss SOC Seagull wing and pontoon on the San Francisco. A battleship seen in distance. More views from bridge of the San Francisco. A South Dakota class battleship is seen underway and a fighter plane above her in flight. Still more views from the San Francisco's bridge and then from her main port deck.