U.S. 1st Marine Division amphibious assault agaist Peleliu, Palau Islands, on September 15, 1944, in World War 2. Coordinated assault involving many landing craft, troop ships,supporting warships firing at Japanese positions and F4U Corsair fighter bombers attacking from overhead.The entire island is shrouded in smoke. A U.S. carrier-based TBF Avenger aircraft is seen clearly banking overhead. An F4U in flight overhead. Explosions and smoke from bombardment. Two Landing Craft infantry (large) race toward the beach. The Cruiser, USS Louisville (CA-28) in camouflage (Measure 32, pattern 6d). U.S. aircraft bombing near the beachhead. Numerous landing craft assembling offshore. U.S. warships and LCIs (Landing Craft Infantry) offshore. Sun breaking through clouds and smoke.
Map showing progress of battle for Peleliu, Palau Islands, during World War 2. D+25 and D+24. (commencing with start of campaign on September 15th, 1944) are shown on map.
Tactical map showing disposition of forces at Peleliu, Palau Islands at the onset of the battle there commencing September 15, 1944, in World War 2. View of a Navy TCS radio Set mounted in an MZ USMC radio Jeep. Two U.S. marines seated in the Jeep. One is conversing on the radio. The other is wearing a headset.
The invasion of Peleliu, Palau Islands during World War 2. A Marine Major General is seen on the bridge of the Flagship USS Mount McKinley, off the coast of Peleliu during the amphibious assault by U.S. forces on September 15, 1944. He is observing the action through a set of binoculars.The island under bombardment. Task force ships firing their Naval guns include the heavy cruiser USS Louisville (CA 28) seen at TC: 01:29, 01:46, & 02:13. Other officers on the deck also watch the action through binoculars. Smoke columns rise from the island under bombardment.
View of situation map showing various actions by U.S. forces during the battle for Peleliu Island, Palau, from September 15th to October 15th, 1944. Key events are marked on the map in terms of D+days. View of tents on ground.
Opening slate reads LST 554, and date 8-13. Views of U.S. invasion task force vessels underway toward Peleliu Island (Palau), during World War 2. A 110 foot wooden Subchaser, number SC 633 is seen close, to starboard of camera boat (LST-554) and refueling lines are stretched between the LST and the Subchaser. Ensign Maynard K. Ross of Philadelphia, PA, directs the take-up of slack in the refueling lines while a Navy Commander on the LST bridge oversees the operation. (Note: SC 633 ended up running aground during the invasion.) Break in sequence and scene shifts to glimpse of slate reading August 20, 1944, and then view aft on LST 554. On the bridge, 21-year-old Ensign Charles Kahler, of Schenectady New York, uses a sextant to shoot sun lines. Another officer is seen taking relative bearings with a pelorus. Sailors are resting on deck. A series of splashes are created in the water by gunners testing their weapons. LST 557 is cruising to starboard. Puffs of black FLAK smoke appear overhead as antiaircraft weapons are tested.