Parked P-40 aircraft of the U.S. Army Air Corps 8th Pursuit Group, seen from a vehicle driving along the flight line at Mitchel Field, Garden City, Long Island, New York. They are parked along the sides of hangars. Complete change of scene shows waterfront with P-40s diving in flights of 3 aircraft, each, and firing at target in the water. Next, they are seen flying overhead in a loose formation of 18 aircraft. Another shot of bullets striking water during gunnery practice. Brief glimpse of the 18 aircraft formation (World War II period).
Pursuit Airplanes of United States Army Air Corps. A tiny racer plane for a speed test at Port Washington, Long Island, New York. The pilot of the racer plane, Alford J. Williams. The plane in water with pontoons attached to a sailing craft in Manhasset Bay. The plane taxis on water and takes off. Aerial scenes of the flight.
U.S. Invasion of Okinawa in World War 2. Several DUKWs underway loaded with personnel, equipment and at least one 105mm howitzer. The battleship USS New Mexico, BB-40, in background. An OS2U Kingfisher patrol seaplane in a low approach. LSM(R)-194 launches 5-inch rockets at Okinawa. Smoke covered shore of the island of Okinawa. LSM(R)-196 and LSM(R)-197 launch 5-inch rockets at Okinawa.
An animated graphic shows Japanese gunfire near Naha Okinawa pounding U.S. 420th Group artillery positions located on the small island of Keise Jima, near Okinawa. Also animation of the U.S. Navy Cruiser, USS Tuscaloosa, moving in to provide counterfire against the Japanese batteries near Naha. Actual views of U.S. warships provide a floating mobile artillery to support the ground troops. U.S. warships firing on Japanese artillery positions near Naha Airfield. Details seen include: At time 00:36, the battleship USS New Mexico, BB-40, firing a starboard mounted 5in/25cal gun. Time 00:40 is the battleship USS Tennessee, BB-43 in camouflage Measure 32v1, Design 1D earlier in the war. Time 00:52 is the battleship USS Colorado, BB-45, in camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D and in the background is the battleship USS West Virginia in camouflage Measure 32, Design 7D. (World War II period)
U.S. infantry and M4 Sherman tanks move against heavily fortified Japanese positions on Okinawa during World War 2. American soldiers use flame throwers to dislodge Japanese defenders. Two soldiers run as an explosion occurs behind them. U.S. artillery firing from under camouflage netting. Glimpse of soldier walking past a burning building. Okinawan women and children seek refuge behind the U.S.Tenth Army lines. A soldier carries a naked baby to safety. View of Okinawan refugees (Ryukyuan people), mostly women and children and some old people, seated together where they are to be cared for by the Army's Civil Affairs Command. Wounded American soldiers being placed aboard a U.S. Air Transport Command C-47 aircraft number 42-72383. Change of scene to the battlefield where a U.S. Army soldiers throw a hand grenades that explode on a Japanese caves. A Japanese soldier is shot as he stumbles out of his cave. Another Japanese soldier is take prisoner. U.S. soldier fires his rifle and a Japanese soldier falls to the ground. Scenes shift to the sea off of Okinawa, where a Benson-Livermore class destroyer is seen under a sky full of black flak clouds. Closeup of the destroyer. A Japanese aircraft is shot down as it flies toward a U.S. New Orleans class heavy cruiser. It crashes into the sea near another U.S. capital ship. An attacking Japanese plane is shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashes into the sea. More flak filled skies and bombs exploding along with machine gun fire raking the waters. Anti-aircraft tracer bullets firing from ships. A Japanese plane hit, is burning, and then explodes in the air. A Douglas dauntless aircraft lands on an aircraft carrier. Another aircraft doesn't make it to the carrier, and ditches in the water nearby. The pilot is seen standing on the plane's right wing, awaiting pick up. A Navy F4U Corsair plane approaches its carrier to land but loses control and crashes into the carrier's island. Firefighters direct streams of water on it's burning wreckage.
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.
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