Woodsmen cut and tie fir Christmas trees for shipment in Shelton,Washington, United States. Woodsmen in the forest areas cut and tie fir trees. They attach tags to the Christmas tree bundles. Tags read names of places like Manila, Singapore, Honolulu. Man transports the tree bundles by a trailer. Crane loads a bundle on a ship.
U.S. 2nd Division Marines process about 10 Japanese soldiers taken prisoner on Betio, Tarawa atoll, during the battle there in World War 2. They cut away the prisoners' clothing to assure they don't carry weapons or explosives. (Narrator states they were later given replacement clothing from captured supplies.) Marines tend to a wounded Japanese prisoner. Japanese prisoners carrying their own wounded to a pier for evacuation. Marines cleaning up using water from captured Japanese steel barrels. Marines stand on fortifcations containing British Vickers BL 15 inch Mark I coastal defense guns captured by the Japanese in Singapore. These were knocked out by U.S. naval gunfire during the pre-assault bombardment. Closeup of one breech of a gun. A knocked out Japanese light tank at the South side of Japanese Rear Admiral Shibasaki's headquarters on Betio. (Shibasaki, commander of the Japanese forces there, was reportedly killed by U.S. Naval gunfire early in the assault.) Panning view of the remains of the reinforced concrete Japanese headquarters structure. U.S. Seabees using power shovel, dump trucks, graders, and heavy rollers, to restore the airfield for U.S. operations.
Pictures taken by military and news cameramen during World War II. Operation Claymore, March 1941: British Commandos raid Lofoten Islands in assault boats. They destroy a fish oil refinery off the coast of Norway. Soldiers and civilians on the docks. Burning refineries and buildings. Clouds of black smoke. 1941: British and Canadian troops on Spitsbergen Island. They destroy Soviet coal mines to prevent the Germans from occupying them. Black smoke clouds due to the explosions. Operation Archery on Vaagso Island, 1941: British Commandos raid the Island. Soldiers walk in the snow. Nazi prisoners surrender and marched by British soldiers. Battle ensues on the Island. Soldiers walk past a fence. Burning buildings in the background.
Crash of a Grumman F4F-3 aircraft from U.S. Navy Squadron VF-42, on the carrier, USS Wasp, early in 1941. In a slow motion sequence, a U.S. Navy F4F-3, with F-42-17 painted on its side (BuNo 2537) is seen rounded out too high for landing, above all arresting cables, and drifting into the carrier's island, where it impacts, losing its right wing, and flipping over to crash inverted on the flight deck. Sailors stand in the background. After the aircraft settles, a sailor runs across the deck to render aid. (Note: Navy Squadrons VF-42 and VF-71, assigned to the USS Wasp, received their F4F-3 Wildcats in January and February of 1941 under Bureau of Aeronautics contract C-68219, order number 48-020. These aircraft were painted overall aluminum with VF-42 having willow green tails and VF-71 having black tails. Later in 1941 the aircraft were repainted overall light gray.)
United States Government film entitled "The World At War" dealing with World War 2. Film opens showing Japanese warplanes in formation above a Japanese military installation. Slate reads: "Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. An airfield is seen filled with parked U.S. Army Air Forces B-17 bombers. Two Boeing XB-17 (Model 299) bombers are parked next to each other on the ramp. Derricks and ships are shown at the Pearl Harbor naval base. A formation of Japanese Mitsubishi G3M bombers is seen in flight. They are seen overhead as bombs explode on the U.S. Navy Air Station at Ford Island destroying hangars and aircraft. Next, is shown the famous image of the USS Arizona burning, listing, and sinking, after being bombed. Film continues, panning over post-air raid views of destruction. On December 8, 1941, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, addresses the Congress, delivering his declaration of war message. He calls December 7, 1941 "a date which will live in infamy." Roosevelt recounts that the United States was at peace with japan and in conversation with its government and Emperor, in the interest of maintaining peace.in the Pacific. even at the time of the attack. Japanese ambassador and his colleagues seen visiting State Department offices to meet with U.S. Secretary of State prior and even during the initial attack operations by Japan.Roosevelt recounts that the United States was still in conversation with Japan even at the time of the attack. Japanese ambassador and his colleagues seen visiting State Department offices to meet with U.S. Secretary of State prior and even during the initial attack operations by Japan. Photographers take pictures of the visiting Japanese delegation. President Roosevelt asks Congress to affirm that a state of War exists between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
Film opens showing forward port section of the British Battleship HMS Prince of Wales in Placentia Bay, Argentia, Newfoundland. Next, Winston Churchill is seen greeting President Franklin D. Roosevelt as he arrives to meet with him during their Atlantic Conference in 1941. The President is assisted by his son, Army Captain James Roosevelt. The entire ship's company is seen assembled on deck for a church service. Closeup of President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and their principal advisors. all singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" during the service. Scene shifts to December 7, 1941, showing the American battleship USS Arizona and other battleships being bombed by Japanese aircraft. View shifts to the White House in Washington, DC. on July 19, 1940, President Roosevelt is broadcasting his speech to the Democratic National Convention, accepting nomination for an unprescedented 4th term as President. Views of ordinary Americans in various settings. Legislators congratulating the new Vice President, Harry S. Truman, after inauguration in January 1941. Truman seated and surrounded by staff and well-wishers. View of Truman, his wife, Bess and daughter Margaret, walking across the lawn at their home in Independence, Missouri. View of the three of them, inside their home, opening and sharing congratulatory messages received by the new Vice President. Immediately following FDR's death, now, President Truman is seen assuring the public that he will continue the course set by his predecessor. Glimpses of President Roosevelt seated in front of the White House and at his desk. In Yalta for the Big Three Conference, Roosevelt rides in a jeep as Prime Minister Churchill walks beside. Closeup of Roosevelt and Churchill. Participants gathering for the Yalta conference. Closeup of Roosevelt and Stalin. Churchill arriving and taking his seat. Closeup of the Big Three, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin. (World War II period).