Attack on Wotje Island, February 1, 1942. Crew members move F4F-3 Wildcat's and Douglas Dauntless SBD aircraft across crowded flight deck of the U.S. aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CV-6) during raid against Japanese positions in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, by Task Force 8, of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral William Frederick Halsey, Jr, during World War 2. Oversize U.S. stars are evident on the aircraft, at this early stage of the war (1942). Crewmen roll bombs, on dollies, across the deck. F4F Hellcat aircraft sit with engines running as some Douglas Dauntless aircraft commence take off. The destroyer USS Gridley, DD-380 passes abeam the Enterprise at time 00:37. A Curtiss SOC Seagull airplane catapults from the heavy cruiser USS Northampton, CA-26. Several U.S. aircraft seen in flight. View from stern of a U.S. heavy Cruiser as a destroyer crosses her wake, behind. The heavy cruiser USS Northampton, CA-26 and the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City, CA-25, in background (time 1:09 to 1:11) bombard Wotje island. Black smoke billows from a ship burning close to shore. Brief glimpse of the heavy cruiser USS Northampton, CA-26's triple battery of 8-inch guns. The heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City, CA-25 fires a broad side. Scene from the stern of heavy cruiser with fires burning on Wotje Island in background. Formation of Japanese aircraft attacking U.S. ships are fired upon by antiaircraft guns. Black flak bursts seen in the sky. Vice Admiral Halsey consulting with other officers aboard his flagship, USS Enterprise.
Several blindfolded American fliers are seen being taken from an airplane. They are crew of the 16th B-25 comprising the famous "Doolittle"s Raiders." (Their aircraft was serial number: 40-2268, nicknamed: "Bat Out of Hell." Low on fuel, they were captured after bailing out near Japanese occupied Nangchang City, China, on April 18, 1942.) Captured American pilot, Lieutenant William .G. Farrow, is seen smoking a cigarette, while being escorted by Japanese soldiers, out of a building. With him are members of his crew: co-pilot, Lieutenant Robert L. Hite; Navigator, Lieutenant George Barr; Bombardier, Staff Sergeant, Jacob DeShazer; and Engineer Gunner, Sergeant Harold A. Spatz They pose for a group photograph on the steps, with the officer crew members on the top step and the two enlisted crew members a step below. (Lieutenant Farrow and Sergeant Spatz were executed by the Japanese on Oct. 15, 1942, at Kiangwan Cemetery, Shanghai, China.)
Camera pans vertically from top to bottom over the bow of the USS Iowa (BB-61) as she is ready for launching at the Brooklyn Navy yard in New York City, on August 22, 1942. Sponsor of the ship, Ilo Browne Wallace, wife of Vice President Henry A. Wallace, Christens the Iowa by breaking a bottle of champagne over her bow, and the ship moves down the ways toward the East River. The Williamsburg Bridge is seen dimly in the background, as the Iowa plunges into the water. Camera focuses, next, on the USS New Jersey (BB-62) ready for launching at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on December 7, 1942. Men knock supports from below the New Jersey, in preparation for her launching. Next, she is seen moving down the ways. Closeups of some shipyard workers smiling as the New Jersey is launched. The New Jersey is seen well out into the Delaware River, with some smoke rising from one of her funnels. (World War 2, WWII, WW2)
Mechanics servicing P-40 fighter aircraft on what is most likely 4-mile Strip on New Guinea. Date is probably late 1942. "Scatterbrain" was the name painted a P-40 flown by Captain George Manning of the 7th Fighter Squadron, which was based at Rogers Airfield, Port Moresby, New Guinea, during 1942-43, during World War Two.
The Arcadia Conference in Washington, DC, during World War 2, from December 22, 1941 to January 14, 1942. American President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, are seated in chairs on a portico of the White House. ( Roosevelt wears a black arm band, in mourning for his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, who died on September 7, 1941.) Behind them stand representatives from various Allied nations. Scene shifts abruptly to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, June 24, 1942, where Prime Minister Churchill and U.S. Army Brigadier General William C. Lee, ride in back of an open white convertible car to inspect U.S. Army troops at attention in a massive formation. Next, the troops are seen marching. Churchill smoking a cigar is seated on a bench watching as the parade continues, to include soldiers in jeeps, and trucks. Closeup of U.S. Army chief of Staff, General George Marshall, conversing with Prime Minister Churchill. Next, Churchill, accompanied by General Lee, personally inspects Army paratroopers in their jump gear. Among others accompanying him is U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, wearing a pith helmet. Churchill listens on a portable radio, as paratroop commanders in flight give orders for their paratroopers to jump. Formations of U.S. Army Air Forces C-47 aircraft are seen overhead, as hundreds of paratroopers jump from them and descend by parachutes. Churchill, seated on a chair, next to General Lee, watches the paratrooper demonstration. Secretary Stimson, sits behind him. British and American officers and soldiers stand behind and watch, as well. Closeup of Churchill with cigar in his mouth, shielding his eyes, with his hands as he watches the demonstration. The second person seated behind Churchill is British Field Marshal Sir John Dill, with his hand on an upright wood support. More views of parachutes floating down into an area of trees, and of more C-47s dropping paratroops from overhead.
Families at harbor waiting for the troop transport ships. United States soldiers and liberated prisoners of war on ship. San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and harbor in background with Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill. Troop ships arrive and crowd cheers. Japanese soldiers bonzai cheer and Japanese forces bomb and take control of Corregidor. Japanese planes bombing. Ambulance carries wounded. United States soldier loses his arm during a Japanese aerial attack on Corregidor in 1942. Japanese soldiers guard American prisoner of war soldiers and escort them into prison camp in Manila (soldier narrating says it was Bilibid jail). General Wainwright surrendering in Corregidor in May 1942. United States flag lowered by Japanese soldiers and Japanese flag is hoisted. Wreckage of bombed U.S. facilities in Philippines. Japanese propaganda film showing care for wounded American soldiers on hospital beds. U.S. Army prisoners fo war eat food. Wounded American soldiers walk with crutches on the grounds of the prison camp. Bataan Death March of the emaciated prisoners. American military prisoners at Cabanatuan labor and sleep on open air bunks. Scene of U.S. Army training early in World War 2 with troops in a field setting a machine gun emplacement to fire at rolling trucks relabeled as "Tank". Japanese propaganda newsreels showing Japanese military success in Philippines and Japanese forces in the Aleutian Islands. Aerial view formation of U.S. Army Air Force B-25 bombers in the sky. Aerial side view of American bomber aircraft and bombs away view. Navy bombing from ships. General MacArthur returns to Philippines and wades ashore. Philippine guerrillas and U.S. troops in battle to retake Philippines. U.S. prisoners of war liberated and freed and at 92nd Evacuation Hospital Cebu. Released prisoners on ships to America. WAC women hand out mail. Soldiers write telegram wires announcing arrival. Ship docks in San Francisco. Prisoners reunite with happy families and crowds on streets cheer their arrival. Soldiers and civilians walk on Market Street in San Francisco. Welcome home parade for San Francisco soldiers during WWII. Soldiers waving from buses in parade. Soldier in front of Marina Junior High School, 3500 Fillmore Street. One armed, disabled soldier with parents views photo album.