MARIANA THUNDERBOLTS Part 3

Description

Summary: Reels 1-4: World War II coverage of activities of the 7th AAF in the Pacific area showing the first P-47s to be catapulted from naval carriers; the first combat tests of napalm fire bombs by P-47s; the missions and firing of the first rockets from P-47s during 1944-1945. This film was made possible through the cooperation of the 318th Fighter Group, 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion and the 45th Fighter Sq. (USAAF. By the Documentary Photo Section A-2. (Note: In order to bridge certain gaps in aerial strike sequences impossible to obtain at Saipan, a few fill in scenes were staged with the cooperation of the 45th Fighter Sqdn. 15th group on Oahu). THESE SCENES INCLUDE SOME P-47s FORMATlON SHOTS, DIVES, STRAFING AND THE FIRE BOMB RUNS. ALL O HER AERIAL STRIKE SEQUENCES HERE TAKEN WITH P-47 WING CAMERAS DURING ACTUAL COMBAT MISSIONS IN THE MARIANAS. CHIEF POINT IN THE LONG AIR-SEA ROUTE TO JAPAN IS SAIPAN ISLAND IN THE MARIANAS, 3200 MILES FROM HAWAII. TO CAPTURE THAT BASE AND OTHER ISLANDS IN THE MARIANAS, THE US ARMY, NAVY AND MARINE FORCES CARRIED OUT A CAMPAIGN UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS. FOR THE 7th AAF IT MARKED SEVERAL FIRSTS. FIRST TIME P-47s WERE CATAPULTED FROM CARRIERS. FIRST 7th AAF THUNDERBOLTS TO SEE COMBAT. FIRST 7th AAF PLANES TQ FIRE ROCKETS. FIRST COMBAT TESTS OF THE NEW NAPALM FIRE BOMB DROPPED BY P-47s. 1) MLS P-47 diving down over level terrain dropping Napalm bomb. Good shot as the plane drops the bomb -- Napalm Boab hitting small buildings and large burst of flame bellows up from the area. 2) Excellent shots of Napalm bomb explosion. FORWARD: THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THUNDERBOLTS IN THE MARIANAS CAMPAIGN WAS AIR DEFENSE. BUT SINCE NO ENEMY PLANES WERE ENCOUNTERED THE JOB RESOLVED ITSELF INTO FLYING DIRECT SUPPORT OF GROUND FORCES AND NEUTRALIZING ENEMY AIRFIELDS. STORY OF HOW 318th FIGHTER GROUP THUNDERBOLTS IN THE MARIANAS DID THEIR JOBS PEARL HARBOR -- 27 MAY 1944 -- 804th ENGINEERS AVIATION BATTALION LOADS AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. 3) PS of the dock area showing the immense piles of equipment being loaded onto LSTs in the dock area in Hawaii. 4) CS bulldozer being loaded into the LST. 5) CS of power vehicle used to pull grading equipment being loaded into the LST. 6) PS of dock area showing the huge stock pile of supplies. 7) CS coverage aboard the LST showing the supplies. AN ADVANCE CONTINGENT OF P-47 MECHANICS LEAVE WITH THE 804th TO BE ON HAND WHEN THE PLANES ARRIVE AT SAIPAN. 8) CS showing the men boarding the LSTs. MEANWHILE AT BELLOWS FIELD, OAHU P-47s AND THE 318th FIGHTER GROUP ARE PUT IN TOP SHAPE FOR THE COMING OPERATION. 9) PS of Bellows Field showing mechanics working on P-47 aircraft -- landing gears, engines, all phases of overhaul being done on the P-47s prior to loading them onto aircraft carriers. 10) CS mechanics at work. 11) CS of all parts of the planes. 12) CS of some of the names of the planes -- such as "Peter the Wolf", "Betty Co-ed" and "Little Paduzi". 13) CS mechanics crating aircraft parts and supplies in boxes prior to loading the cargo onto the ships. THUNDERBOLTS OF THE 73rd AND 19th FIGHTER SQDN. ARE LINED UP FOR FINAL INSPECTION. 14) PS as mechanics taxi out the P-47s and line them up for the inspection. 15) CS of several men lying, sitting on the runway, facing down two long rows of parked P-47s -- one of the men playing with small dog. 16) Good coverage of the inspection officers, Col. L. M. Sanders, Commanding Officer of the 318th Fighter Group, and Maj. Harry McAfeem, Commanding Officer of the 19th Fighter Squadron. 17) CS of pilot and mechanic standing in front of their plane as the commanding officers walk through the double row of parked P-47s, inspecting the men and planes prior to departure. 18) ADS of the field showing 72 planes lined up in double rows for the inspection. 19) Good Aerial coverage of P-47s parked on the airfield. FORD ISLAND, PEARL HARBOR -- 1 JUNE 1944 -- P-47S ARE LOADED ABOARD THE TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, USS MANILA BAY AND USS NATOMA BAY. 20) MLS across the bay at two stationary aircraft carriers showing the planes being loaded on tho carriers (ECS coverage of same). 21) MLS and various angles of the aircraft being loaded on carriers from the dock area. 22) CS crane operators. 23) CS of the plane being swung over onto the deck where it is pushed on the elevator and moved down into the hold of the ship. 24) CS of the Air Force mechanics working with Navy personnel moving the planes and placing them below deck. 25) Excellent coverage given to the loading ofthe P-47s on the aircraft carrier. 26) Several shots of Navy personnel pushing the aircrafts around into position above and below the deck of carrier. THE TWO CARRIERS AND THEIR CONVOY WEIGHTED ANCHOR 5 JUNE 44. 27) PS across the dock as the sailors cut loose the mooring lines. 28) CS several sailors and airforce personnel standing on deck of the ship as they move oot of the harbor, looking out across Pearl Harbor at Diamond Head mountain in bg. REMAINING PERSONNEL OF THE 318th GROUP EMBARK ON 6 JUNE 44. 29) CS of the men of 318th Group standing on dock prior to getting aboard the ship. 30) CS of the ships officers and the group officers checking the personnel as they come aboard the ship, walking up the gangplank. THIS THIRD CONVOY WITH GROUND PERSONNEL, SAILED 7 JUNE 44. 31) PS across Pearl Harbor showing the ships at anchor and steaming out of the harbor. 32) CS of various sections of the ship showing the men looking out across at land and ships parked in the harbor. 33) Good coverage of aircraft spotters and the personnel over the ship. 34) CS of map titled; "Mariana Islands" -- showing the location of the carrier convoy. 35) CS map showing the location of the LSTs. 36) CS map with heading "804th Aviation Engineers in Saipan". 37) CS of map and sea route marked from Hawaii past Johnson Island showing location of the transport convoy, June 17, 1944. 38) CS of convoy at sea showing men aboard the ships looking down at the water. 39) PS across the convoy showing the various types of vessels in the convoy, mostly freighters. 40) Several good shots taken at dusk showing the convoy. 41) Continuation of maps with sea markings of the route of the convoy showing the location of Kwajalein Islands and location of Eniwetok -- Carry through on the map showing the location of the carrier convoy at sea June 17, 1944. 42) Several CS of the carriers underway showing planes aboard the carriers. 43) CS of personnel on look out, aircrart spotters and etc. SCENES CARRY THROUGH ON THE MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION OF SAIPAN ISLAND WITH THE TITLE ON IT: LST CONVOY, JUNE 17, 1944. 44) MLS across water at a huge geyser of water erupting near a freighter. 45) Several good shots of the convoy off the coast of Saipan showing a huge geyser of water going up. 46) Several shots of the LSTs and freighters at anchor off the coast of Saipan. 47) CS of personnel aboard the LSTS as they move in towards the shore. Gun flashes can be seen ashore. 48) PS taken from a small boat showing the various types of vessels at anchor in the bay. 49) Good coverage of the unloading operation showing the LST pulling into shore, the door falls down into the water and a half track pulls out and moves into shore loaded with men and equipment. 50) Good shot of trucks, jeeps and all types of equipment moving across the water in toward shore. 51) CS of several of the men's faces as they look towards the shore. 52) MLS of the men walking ashore. ASLITO AIRFIELD, SAIPAN, AS IT APPEARED WHEN GROUND MEN OF THE 318th GROUP ARRIVED 18 JUNE. 53) CS Marine as he walks around inspecting the bodies of Various Japanese. 54) CS of the wounds. 55) CS Japanese dinner pail showing the spilled rice. 56) CS of several dead Japanese lying around in the area. 57) MLS of a destroyed Japanese aircraft. 58) PS demolished hangar buildings, installations. 59) CS Pan across various dud shells lying around in the area. 60) PS of the surrounding installations showing the buildings that have been bombed or completely demolished. 61) CS of the Aviation Engineers at work clearing the area for camp site, using heavy duty equipment such as bulldozers, graders, cranes and half tracks. 62) PS showing wrecked Japanese hangar Japanese operation building, Japanese control tower on airfield. 63) PS showing the Japanese auxillary gas tanks around the area. 804TH ENGINEERS DUG IN AND CONCIEVED WHAT SHELTER THEY COULD. 64) PS across the area showing the temporary huts erected by the aviation engineers. Huts are made out of canvass corrugated metal, scrap wood and metal all put together for temporary shelter. 65) CS tow of the men washing clothes in small metal containers. 66) CS jeep made into a stretcher bearer showing too patients on stretchers on the jeep. A JAPANESE BUILDING SERVED AS A HOSPITAL FOR OUR WOUNDED. 67) CS Medical Officers setting up tables and preparing for operation showing the men wearing T-shirts, masks, and gloves. 68) CS men being brought into the hospital. 69) CS several of the patients, military and civilian; foreign and Japanese all treated at the same hospital. 70) Several shots of the wounded Japanese sitting around the outside of the hospital. 71) CS small wounded child wrapped in bandages. 72) CS several civilians that had been treated at the hospital. JAPANESE PRISONERS OF WAR M0VE AVIATION FUEL FOR COMING P-47s. 73) Japanese prisoners as they unload the gasoline from trucks, push it across the area, and stack it up in supply dump area. 74) CS men pushing the drums of gas, 50 gal drums, onto a truck. 75) CS gasoline pouring out of the into a trough made out split 50 gal. drums. This trough serves as an opening for the underground storage for the aviation gas. 76) CS Japanese prisoners of war sitting around in the area resting. BY 22 JUNE, ASLITO FIELD WAS READY FOR THE P-47. 77) PS across, airfield showing the grader moving across the finished field. WORD WAS FLASHED TO THE TWO CARRIERS LYING 60 MILES OFF SAIPAN. 78) CS taken from one deck of a carrier across to another nearby showing the blinker system used to correspond between ships at sea. 79) Tower and the operators of the blinker system. MAJ. JOHN HUSSEY, COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 73rd SQDN, BRIEFS HIS PILOTS BEFORE TAKE OFF, 23 JUN 44. 80) CS Major talking to various, pilots. 81) ECS Major. 82) MS pilots standing or in kneeling position grouped around the Major as he conducts briefing scenes. All scenes taken aboard carrier. 83) CS two mechanics as they haul a belly tank out and attach it to the underside of P-47. 84) Good coverage aboard ship as the men, Naval and Air Force, prepare the planes for take off. 85) CS pilots grouped around talking and smiling. 86) Several shots of mechanics as they prepare the ships for take off, checking armament and the plane over. 87) CS signal operator for the carrier signaling the plane to pull out in position for catapulting. 88) Good shot of navy personnel as he gives signal to the starter for the starter to signal to the pilot for take off. 89) CS P-47 is moved up into position on the catapult, catapult attached to underside of P-47, the plane is being readied for catapulting. 90) CS Navy personnel as they give the various hand signals concerning the movement of the plane to fit it into the right position for take off from carrier. 91) CS starter as he signals to the pilot, plane is catapulted from carrier. 92) Several CSs of the pilots' faces prior to their being catapulted from the carrier. 93) Several shots of the planes being catapulted from the carrier. ALL PLANES WERE CATAPULTED WITHOUT INCIDENTS IN AN AVERAGE TIME OF ABOUT 2 MINUTES A PLANE. 94) Several CSs P-47s being catapulted from aircraft carrier at sea. 95) Several shots, a. formation of P-47s with belly tanks attached formation of two and three flying low over water -- a. formation of 12 P-47s 47?s in flight -- a. formation of P-47s. 2 JUNE 1944, AFTER 60 MILE FLIGHT FROM THE USS NATOMA BAY, 19th SQDN PLANE LANDED ON SAIPAN ASLITO FIELD (LATER RENAMED ISLEY FIELD). 73rd SQDN LANDED NEXT DAY. WITH ARRIVAL OF THE 333rd SQDN, ARMY FIGHTER STRENGTH WAS OVER 100 PLANES. 96) PS from the air across the coastline of Saipan island. 97) ECS control tower operator on lookout for aircraft. 98) signal from the tower giving the planes directions for landing. 99) AS four P-47s peeling off for landing. 100) PS P-47s approach for landing and landing on airfield. Excellent coverage of the formation as they come in for landing, one by one. 101) CS men standing around near their ships watching the other planes come in for landing at Isley Field. 102) CS P-47 stationary. 103) MLS P-47s taxiing into the special area. 104) CS pilot talking to the crew chief or his plane. 105) PS across the airfield showing the demolished hangar building showing the P-47s in dispersal area, general activity on the airfield as the planes land on the airfield. CAPTURED JAPANESE PLANES ARE INSPECTED BY NEWLY ARRIVED PILOTS. 106) ECS several of the pilots as they go out and start looking at various types of Japanese aircraft which were left on the field of which the Japanese were unable to destroy before retreating into the hills. 107) MS destroyed Japanese zero on ground at the airfield. 108) Several good shots of the Aircraft left on the island by the Japanese undamaged. F0UR DAYS LATER REMAINDER OF THE 318th PERSONNEL ARRIVE. 109) PS across the bay at various freighters at anchor and moving into the harbor area. 110) CS anchor dropping into the water. 111) CS men walking down the gateway into the water and marching across the water to shore getting out of LST. Good coverage of the men as they get off of LSTs and walk through the water to shore. Camera scenes from aboard ship and on shore as the men go out to shore. 112) CS of the men digging temporary shelters and fox holes along the airfield. 113) CS of mail clerk serving mail. 114) CS of one of the men reading a letter. 115) CS of two men, one erecting a shelter the other sitting and reading a letter. 16) CS of one of the men looking at a large painting of a girl on a trailer. 117) CS interior of demolished building showing the man as they set up beds with mosquito netting over them inside the building for temporary shelter. 118) CS of several of the men taking showers in improvised wash rooms. 119) CS of the men cleaning up their living area. SNIPERS BECAME A SERIOUS PROBLEM BUT WERE DEALT WITH. 120) CS of pilot writing a letter. 121) Good coverage interior operations building showing the men lounging around and relaxing. 122) CS barber giving a haircut in outside area, P-47s in bg. 123) CS of a pilot laying down taking a nap. 124) CS of bulletin board of the fighter squadron. 125) CS of the names of the men on alert list and the shifts they will pull. 126) CS of men cleaning and inspecting small arms. Reels 5-8: 1) GSAP shots strafing of Tinian Island showing buildings being hit, tracer fire to and from aircraft. 2) Good shots strafing of troop positions and buildings on the islands. 3) GSAP shots strafing of anti aircraft gun positions and troop positions on the Islands. 4) Good shot coverage devoted to the P-47s as they go into a dive -- camera ships follow the ships as they go in low over target. 5) GSAP strafing showing smoke and flame rising from target area. 6) GSAP strafing of buildings near the shoreline. 7) Excellent shots, GSAP showing the heavy anti aicraft and ground fire being fired at the planes while diving. 8) Aerial formation 12 P-47s against a white cloud background, excellent shot. BACK IN ISLEY FIELD. 9) ADS Isley field showing dispersal area for the aircraft buildings surrounding area. 10) ADS of Isley Field showing the new runway under construction. 11) CS observer position looking up at the skies -- aircraft spotter watching for enemy attack. 12) Ground shot up P-47s as they come-in in formation flights of 3 and 4 and buzz the field. 13) GSAP shot of the runway as the planes come in for a landing. 14) PS R to L as P-47s make approach and land. 15) PS of Isley field showing the P-47s taxiing into parking area. 16) PS of the entire field. 17) Good coverage of the field showing the weapons carriers and such going out to transport the pilots back to the base operations. 18) Good shots pilots getting out of their ships into weapons carrier and being driven off to the briefing session held after the mission. 19) CS of the pilot's faces as they get out of their planes. 20) CS pilots going into the briefing room. 21) CS briefing session held after the mission. 22) CS pilots and briefing officer checking over target map, pointing out objects hit. 23) CS of two pilots playing chess. 24) CS of pilot lying on sack, reading comic book. 25) CS of one of the pilots writing a letter. 26) CS of a huge hole made in the wing of a P-47 by a 40mm anti aircraft gun. This plane was damaged on a raid over the Pagan Islands. 27) CS of mechanics checking over the planes and removing damaged wing section from the plane. THUNDERBOLTS LOSSES IN THE MARIANA CAMPAIGN. COMBAT SIX, OPERATIONAL TWELVE. 28) PS across the island showing a burning P-47. 29) CS of stretcher bearer running out and placing the dead pilot onto the stretcher. 30) CS of the scattered plane and a piece of enineering equipment which the plane crashed into showing the remains of both the plane and the engineering equipment. 31) LS firmen fighting the fire on the plane that crashed. 32) Good coverage devoted to the firemen using foamite on the scattered debris of the crashed P-47. 33) CS several men throwing dirt with shovels onto the burning remains of the plane. MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT COME BACK. 34) CS of the men attending memorial services for the lost pilots. 35) AS of two P-47s buzzing the airfield. 36) Good shot P-61 engines turning over as P-47s make landing. 37) PS of P-61 taking off at dusk. 38) Aerial formation three P-47s buzzing the field at dusk. 39) Good shot of P-47s flying into a red sunset, a sudden flash of lightning illuminates the scene -- Aerial formation of 4 P-47s buzzing the field at dusk showing the landing lights on the wing tips. Good

Collection

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities