World War 1 mechanics of the U.S. Army Air Service 99th Aero Squadron sitting and standing beside parked Salmson 2 A.2 aircraft in Dogneville, France. Lt. G C Khale wears his flying helmet. Lt. G C Khale and Lt. F A Hill climb into cockpit of Salmson 2 A.2 aircraft. Lt. Hill puts ammunition canister on twin machine gun in rear cockpit. Ground crewman hands an aerial camera to Lt. F A Hill. Salmson 2 A.2 aircraft taxiing and taking off.
American troops returning home from Europe after conclusion of World War 1. Coast Guard cutters removing wounded U.S. soldiers from the troop carrier "Northern Pacific," which is aground at Fire Island, New York. Man gives flag signals. Men load goods on a boat to carry it to the ship. People disembark from a boat. View of various other ships in sea. Men camp on the coast with the ship in background. Officials taking a drink and reading a newspaper.
U.S. Army African American troops returning home following service in Europe at the conclusion of World War 1. The 369th Infantry, 93rd Division African American troops of the New York National guard (also known as the 15th New York National Guard Regiment or Old Fifteenth; also the nickname Harlem Hellfighters), arrives at Hoboken aboard the Swedish-American ocean liner 'Stockholm'. View of their commander, Colonel William Hayward, talking to a soldier on the ship deck. African American soldiers of the famous jazz band led by James Reese Europe play on the aft promenade deck of a smaller transport ship shuttling troops from the Stockholm to the disembarkation pier. View of Hoboken skyline buildings as they disembark at pier 97, North River, at the foot of West 57th Street and march in line formation. A board reads 'Welcome Home'.
Camera from hilltop, pans over an outdoor corral and collection of buildings (some quonset style) at U.S. Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, California. In the middle background, what appears to be a firing range, can be seen. Other buildings sit atop hills in the far background. Scene shifts to close view of a chestnut mare, in a private stable. A sign on the gate reads "Reckless." The mare wears a blanket displaying a staff sergeant's stripes and service ribbons. The words "Sgt. Reckless 1st Mar. Div." also appear on it. Sgt. Reckless is contentedly eating from a trough of hay set up in the pen. Closeup of her horse blanket. (Note: Sgt. Reckless is seen here in retirement. She was bought by U.S. Marines in Korea, in 1952, during the Korean war, and trained to be a pack horse for the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, Anti-Tank Company, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Her decorations include: Purple Heart w/ 1 award star; Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star; Navy Unit Commendation; Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Korean Service Medal w/ 3 bronze service stars; Korean Presidential Unit Citation; United Nations Korea Medal; and French Fourragère. Sergeant Reckless died in 1968.)
Night engagement off Empress Augusta Bay, during World War 2. Documents describing U.S. forces engaged in the battle. View of the Augusta Bay at dawn. Animation on screen shows the Guadalcanal naval battles and the attacks on Solomon Islands and Bougainville Island. A diagram depicts the movement of U.S. Navy Task Force 39 from Empress Augusta Bay to Shortland Island and diverting towards Treasury Island. Fleet of ships en route. United States B-24 Bomber in flight. Diagram shows the route of Japanese Forces and the United States Task Force 39. Fleet of Japanese ships on the way.
American Army's 828th Engineer Aviation Battalion (African American) reconstructs airfield, at Munda Point, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, in World War 2. Originally constructed by the Japanese and captured by U.S. Forces, the airfield is unusable and requires rebuilding. African American bugler blows reveille and the Battalion begins a day of work reconstructing the field. Battalion engineers pile into trucks, as their names are called, and head from their bivouac area to the airfield work area. They climb aboard and begin to operate heavy construction equipment, such as graders, tractors, steam shovels, and dump trucks. Surveyers seen using a level in the midst of the field. A machinist steps into a shop contained in a truck, and begins turning a part on a lathe. One engineer steps into a shed containing heavy equipment. Team of men in an excavation pouring concrete. Grading equipment seen smoothing the field surface, and steam rollers packing down the surface. A plane takes off in background. View from above, of Douglas Dauntless SBD aircraft all over the field. A C-47 transport plane in foreground. A B-24 Liberator bomber taking off. Engineers climb aboard a truck at end of work shift. Back at their encampment, the men gather around as mail call is in progress. They enter a mess tent, go through a chow line and eat together at tables. Another tent is seen with sign outside reading: "Munda Cotton Club." Inside, the men relax, playing cards, smoking, playing checkers, and writing letters. Change of scene shows Chaplain leading singing during church service. As a day ends, the bugler blows taps. A sentry stands at ease with rifle. (Note: Sound is very poor and undiscernible in much of the clip.)
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