This “restricted” United States War Department Film, produced by the US Army Signal Corps, is “one of a series of war film communiques released by the War Department for showing to men and women workers in America’s industrial arsenals. Photographed by army cameramen, the scenes you are about to see are the war as it is.”

So begins this film, made in late 1943, which at mark 00:48 takes us to a reassembly and automotive service yard in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the many “Little Detroits,” we are told, scattered around the world to aid in the war effort. We see convoys of trucks and equipment being unloaded after arriving from the United States, all designed “for duty on the firing line.” The film captures soldiers as they unload axels, truck frames, and tires from crates as cranes lift heavy containers with additional supplies. “Workers of all creeds and colors. Citizens of the United Nations, working side by side to get this war won,” we are reminded at mark 01:48.

As scenes portray lines of workers assembling the various parts, we are told that the men are trained by Army automotive experts, with instructions given in English, French, Spanish … basically any language necessary to get the job done. Work continues as the narrator reminds us at mark 02:40, “Vehicles used in this war number in the millions. Few realize how fast they are used up. Never in all history has an army been so critically dependent on wheeled transportation as now.”

In the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily, we are told, up to 54 percent of all material was destroyed in action. To fill that void, some crews work around the clock to churn out new equipment. “working within the sound of gunfire, in danger of enemy air raids, working despite every obstacle to give our vehicles a last processing before they’re sent into fighting service,” it is said at mark 03:00.

“Finally, the insignia of the USA,” the announcer proclaims, as the film shows a work spraying a single star on a vehicle at mark 03:23.

Scene of vehicle inspection follow as the trucks finally roll out for duty.

Mark 04:00 takes us to “a report from 5th Combat Camera Unit Army Air Force” in New Guinea as the opening strains of the “Army Air Force” song (today known as “The U.S. Air Force” or commonly, “Wild Blue Yonder”) are heard and the insignia of the Troop Carrier Command (an eagle carrying a soldier in its talons) is shown. With that, it is explained that this portion of the film will inform the viewer on what that outfit has been doing to keep troops supplied in New Guinea and areas such as the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal.

“Jap flying fields are only minutes away by air, which means the path of the Troop Carrier Command often runs Tojo’s gauntlet on routine flights to service our bases,” it’s said. One such base, at Wau, New Guinea, is introduced at mark 04:38, “in the shadow of en enemy wings. Wau looks peaceful enough, but Jap snipers and patrols are in the surrounding ranges and often take pot shots at arriving and departing planes.”

And although Allied aircraft are sometimes destroyed in air raids, “for every one of our airplanes destroyed, the Nips lose five or more.”

At mark 07:00, the film shows us a group of transport planes flying in formation, accompanied by P-39 escorts. After collecting supplies and evacuating any wounded soldiers, the aircraft are back on their way.

Mark 09:00 then introduces viewers to “The Price of Rendova.” (The invasion of Rendova Island in June 1943 was the first major step in the US invasion of the New Georgia group. its purpose was to establish a base for the attack on the Japanese base at Munda on the main island). At mark 10:30, we see the landing force approach Rendova to establish a beach head. “On the success of the first assault lies the success of the entire operation,” the narrator reminds us.

Infantry tank teams follow at mark 11:40. “The Jap, like all savage fighters, has taken to the trees. We spread into the jungle to hunt him down,” it is said, as footage shows soldiers making their way through the jungle and battling the Japanese.

“Our men have skill and courage,” the viewer is reassured at mark 12:54. “Millions of willing American hands will see that enough weapons are delivered for moments like these. We’ll keep on delivering until no more American lives are sacrificed to Japs or Nazis.”

Although the campaign was successful, lives were still lost, as the film (at mark 16:10) shows the bodies of those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. “The price paid for Rendova and Munda,” we are reminded.