Shot by an unknown American serviceman, this silent, color home movie shows a flying visit to Guam and the Marshall Islands in 1947. It’s unclear what the trip was about, but the cameraman flew most of the way in a PBY Catalina, and shot aerials of various atolls in the Marshalls including Kwajalein. The film ends with an injured American flying back from Kwaj to what might be Hawaii.
Palm trees (:21). Car backs up on a windy day (:33). Aerial shots from a PBY Catalina seaplane in flight (:41). Native mea and children of Guam (1:03). Harvesting coconuts. A man climbs down a tree; a man sips from a coconut (1:29). People leave a cabin (2:22). Going down a river (2:38). Navy men examine a wrecked Japanese seaplane, possibly a Aichi E13A (Allied reporting name: “Jake”) (3:11). An improvised hospital or aid station (3:28). Women are shown planting crops (3:49). A grave (4:01). Going across the ocean with a mountainous island visible (4:14). Ocean (4:45). Palm trees and sand, and a shack on a tree by the beach (5:23). Native women walk on the sand (5:34). A man, apparently Anglo, who looks like a monk or priest speaks with a native guide or assistant (6:06). U.S. military servicemen walk down a dirt road (6:19). Three men open up coconuts; one of the Navy men — wearing a pith helmet — poses with local children (6:47). Men stand near a military boat (7:26). A man hacks open a coconut with a machete (7:40). People sail on the water (7:56). Men on a boat marked ATCOM, apparently meaning “Atoll Commander”. (8:35). Lounge called the “Rocksy” (8:51). Native woman obtaining fuel or water from a surplus military tank (9:07). Military servicemen in an inflatable raft; going in the ocean (9:23). Aerial island and atoll viewed from an airplane (9:47). POV from inside the PBY Catalina as it lands on the water with its pontoons and then floats towards shore (10:49). PBY anchored in a small bay (11:49). Sailboat on the water (11:55). People cook food outside (12:18). Native children (12:41). A hut (13:00). Men get water out of a well (13:07). A woman holds a baby; another woman smiles at the camera (13:32). Native children play in the sand; men go over towards a catamaran (14:03). Men raise the sail to the boat as they start to drift; then men sail (14:29). Aerial shot of an island (15:07). Ocean surf (15:24). Airport in Kwajalein – Kwajalein Atoll is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.(15:32). A serviceman and a woman stand (15:45). The side of an airplane with the Naval Air Transport Service NATS logo (15:54). A wounded American, with his arm in a sling, shakes hands with officers as he goes to board an airplane (15:59). In the air, clouds and sun (16:19). Aerial approaching on an island, possibly Hawaii (16:32).
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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
