This fascinating 1945 newsreel shows the battle for the Philippines, as U.S. forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur launch an assault on the island of Leyte. The battle resulted in a U.S. and Filipino victory. The Allies had taken control of all strategically and economically important locations of Luzon by March 1945, although pockets of Japanese resistance held out in the mountains until the unconditional surrender of Japan. While not the highest in US casualties, it is the highest net casualty battle US forces fought in World War Two, with 192,000 to 205,000 Japanese combatants killed, 8,000 Americans combatants killed, and between 120,000 to 140,000 Filipino civilians and combatants killed.

The newsreel has some fascinating moments including images of the liberation of Japanese prisoner of war camps, and the wholesale destruction of the City of Manila — which the Japanese refused to abandon. Much of the City of Manila was destroyed in the conflict.

The second half of the newsreel shows the Battle for Iwo Jima. The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945), or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States Armed Forces fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Empire during World War II. The American invasion had the goal of capturing the entire island, along with its three airfields (including the South Field and the Central Field), to provide a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands. This five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of World War II.

At the 5:43 mark, rescue at sea of airmen from downed aircraft is seen.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2K. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

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