Following the Japanese surrender, ending World War 2, on September 2, 1945, U.S. Marines were sent into China to help the Nationalist Chinese Government with the surrender of Japanese forces occupying parts of China. This film shows Marines of the 6th Marine Division marching into Tsingtao (aka Qingdao) China on that mission. Headed by a brass band, they march along an avenue in the city. A number of Chinese civilians walk alongside them. A man riding an empty rickshaw, is seen on the sidewalk. A U.S. military policemen stands guard along the line of march. Some Chinese enter the roadway to follow the band, walking, riding bicycles, and several on a horse-drawn wagon. They have to move aside to avoid interfering with the first contingent of marching Marines following the band. Next a squad of Marines is seen marching onto a dirt field. Many Marines are assembled in another field across the road in the background, where a U.S. M4 Sherman tank and other armor are also seen. The squad is followed by a larger group of Marines. Shift in scene shows Marines marching past a building displaying the Nationalist Chinese (Republic of China) flag.
Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Air-Sea Rescue June 11, 1945. View from low flying aircraft of a 13th Air Force B-24 ditched in Japanese-controlled waters off the coast of Celebes, NEI. A Catalina PBY flying boat of the Jungle Air Force's 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron, lands and picks up the B-24 crew. However, as it takes off on the water, it founders and crashes, killing three men. An accompanying PBY lands immediately and picks up all survivors who are aboard a rubber raft. Crew members on the wing of the PBY, help survivors aboard.
Air evacuation of Marine causualties from narrow road, near Itomen, Okinawa in 1945 during World War 2. A Stinson L-5B Sentinel ambulance aircraft of the 163rd Liaison Squadron lands and rolls past a flagman and waiting Marine with arm wound. View of the wounded Marine inside the airplane. View of L-5B taking off and in flight. Wounded Marine on stretcher being loaded on an L-5B and another being taken, on a stretcher, from an ambulance and loaded on an L-5B.
Remains of United States Army Air Forces B-29A Super fortress that crashed on March 30, 1945, at North Field, Tinian,in the Northern Mariana Islands, during World War 2. Scattered debris on ground. Remaining piece of tail section displays serial number 265283 indicating it is B-29 number 42-65283, nicknamed "Big Wheel," from the 9th Bomb Group, 99th Bomb Squadron. Reportedly, it experienced mechanical problems during a mission to drop mines in Japanese waters. After jettisoning its munitions, it returned to Tinian, but crashed on the shore. Of the 12 crew, only the radar operator survived.
Remains of USAAF B-29 number 42-65283 from the 9th Bomb Group, 99th Bomb Squadron, that crashed, 30 March 1945, in World War 2, on Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands. All crew members were immediately killed in the crash, except tail gunner, Sgt. Joseph C. Trullo, Jr., who initially survived but died of his injuries, five days later, and the sole survivor, Radio Operator, Sgt. James Langraf who was injured but eventually recovered. Air Force personnel inspect debris that is scattered across the crash site in sand dunes close to the ocean in the background.
Film opens with slate reading: "Cabanatuan Prisoners' Hospitalization at Time of Repatriation." Brief view of a tent-like field hospital where former POWs were being treated, behind American lines, with rescued American POWs in beds and several Army nurses attending them. After that is an extended view of several ambulatory patients engaged in conversations at a hospital behind American lines. At TC:01:35, the scene reverts to earlier time, and a patient is seen lying in the ruins of the prison camp on the day of the rescue raid (Jan 30, 1945). He is being tended to by another soldier, with whom he converses. Two former prisoners are seen in a straw-lined cart prepared for transport back to the American lines, by water buffalo. The remainder of the film shows the former POWs and their rescuers leaving the Cabanatuan prison, on their way back to the American lines. Some non-ambulatory former prisoners are seen lying on straw- covered ground.
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