Activities of the Seabees on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, during World War II. Seabees seen salvaging ships damaged and sunk during the Japanese December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.Seabees seen on the deck of the USS California (BB-44). U.S. warship fires guns at Guadalcanal. U.S. Marines land on Guadalcanal and advance in long line across the island. Marines firing heavy field artillery. Seabees begin rebuilding Henderson Field, surrounded by fire and smoke of battle. Ground and aerial views of Henderson field, with destroyed U.S. fighter bombers seen. From the air, many small airplanes and several B-17s can be seen. Seabees filling shell and bomb craters on the field. U.S. Marines firing firing antiaircraft weapons against attacking Japanese airplanes. Two Japanese airplanes plunging in flames. An empty life vest floating in the water. The Seabees continue rebuilding and expanding Henderson Field using Marston matting (pierced steel planking). A Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber lands at the newly repaired field. U.S. Air Force B-17s take off from Henderson Field. and
Army pilots in thrilling stunt flight, Maxwell field in Alabama, United States. Four pilots known as "Men on the Flying Trapeze," an Army flight demonstration team, pose in front of a U.S. Army Air Corps P-l2. From the left they are Sgt. William C. McDonald; an unidentified pilot; Captain Claire Chennault and Sgt. John H. Williamson. (Claire Chennault went on to lead the famous "Flying Tigers," The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force in 1941–1942.) Next, three P-12's are seen taking off together. When airborne, they start an inside loop, then execute other aerobatics in formation Three P-l2's executing a 360 degree roll. Three P-l2's in formation flight.
U.S. Army General, Jonathan Mathew Wainwright, home from Bataan and Corregidor, and Japanese prisons, reviews a parade in San Francisco and Washington DC and receives the Congressional Medal of Honor from U.S. President Harry S. Truman. General Wainwright exits an airplane in San Francisco. A crowd stands on both sides of a road. The General is greeted by the western defense commander, and by his sister, Mrs. Frederick Mears. They ride in a convertible car and wave at a large parade crowd along Market Street in San Francisco, gathered to welcome him back to the United States. Next scene shows his arrival by airplane in Washington DC, where he meets his wife for the first time since she left the Philippines in 1941. A military motorcade with General Wainwright crosses Memorial Bridge from Arlington into Washington DC. Huge "Welcome" sign and bunting arches all the way across Memorial Bridge, with the Lincoln Memorial in the background. Posters on poles read "Welcome Home Skinny" (his nickname). Large crowd gathers at the Washington Monument to celebrate General Wainwright. Next, on the White House lawn, President Truman presents the Congressional Medal of Honor to the General in Washington DC.
American President Franklin Roosevelt at the podium on the eve of Democratic Party Victory dinner in Washington DC, USA. President Roosevelt makes a speech. He says that his great ambition on January 20, 1941 will be to turn over this desk and chair in the White House to his successor, whoever he may be. He describes America as a Nation that is in a position to its powers to the full in order to move forward steadily to meet the modern needs of humanity. During the Great Depression, he speaks on the need for economic freedom and prosperity. President says that economic freedom for the wage earner and the farmer and the small business man will not wait, like emancipation, for 40 years; it will not wait for 4 years; it will not wait at all.
Film starts showing view from a hilltop of the port of Yalta, Crimea, during World War 2. A Soviet soldier stands behind barbed wire next to several street signs. One points toward Livadia (site of the Yalta Conference). A woman with a small child walks along a winding sidewalk overlooking the port. The Medved'-gora (Bear mountain) is seen in the background. A motorcycle with sidecar drives down a road. A Soviet soldier walks past destroyed structure. Camera pans over other destroyed buildings. Street scene showing three-story apartment buildings with porches, lining the road and pedestrians walking along the street and sidewalks. No motor vehicles are seen. Closeup of civilians standing in a group that includes several men, a woman, and some school age children. A boy in the group wears a military style cap. Children gather near a cartoon poster depicting Adolf Hitler with bandages on his head. Two Soviet men converse near the displays. Another cartoon poster with 1941 on it, shows Hitler and his cronies using periscopic artillery binoculars as they hungrily eye the Kremlin as a target. Below it in juxtaposition, with date 1945, is a cartoon showing Hitler in rubble, completely overwhelmed by Soviet military might. A woman with a boy and girl are seen at an open shop window where a woman is dispensing drinks. The boy is drinking one and the woman gets one too.
Audience enters the Town Hall in New York to hear a recital by Marian Anderson on December 30, 1935. Curtains are opened. Marian Anderson stands beside a pianist on the stage. Audience applauds. She sings while the pianist plays. Marian Anderson bows to the audience. Curtains are closed. Two assistants help Marian sit in a chair because she has been performing with a broken ankle. View of the streets in the District of South Philadelphia., Marian's native hometown. Marian's mother Mrs Anna Anderson at her home. Shots of members of the Union Baptist Church passing an offering plate to raise money to aid Marian Anderson. Marian Anderson talks with manager Sol Hurok in dressing room. Marian Sings during another concert. Crowd applauds as she finishes. View of the New York Times showing name of Marian Anderson in the roster list of great American artists. Montage shows Marian's concerts cards, awards received by Marian from city foundations, the Philadelphia Bach Award of 10,000 dollars in 1941. Marian performs outside at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, USA on Easter Sunday April 9, 1939. Thousands in attendance at the concert as she sings My Country Tis of Thee.