This raw, silent footage from Iwo Jima includes some of the most famous motion picture film shot in WWII: the second U.S. flag raising on top of Mount Suribachi. It was filmed by William Homer “Bill” Genaust of Effingham IL (October 12, 1906 – March 4, 1945) a United States Marine Corps combat cameraman. Genaust was later killed in action on Iwo Jima. He filmed the flag raising on February 23, 1945, using a 16 millimeter motion picture camera which used 50-foot color film cassettes. The Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, depicts the second flag-raising on Mount Suribachi by six Marines.
Genaust and possibly another Marine were killed on March 4 (Genaust was listed as MIA on March 3), 1945 by Japanese small arms fire after they entered a large cave at or around Hill 362-A, located on the northern part of Iwo Jima. Genaust volunteered to go in the cave and most likely used his flashlight instead of his camera light inside it. After he was killed, the cave entrance was covered over by bulldozing equipment, and despite renewed search efforts in 2007, his and the other Marine’s body have never been recovered. Genaust is among 250 listed missing on Iwo Jima, although most of those Americans were lost at sea. Genaust received a posthumous Certificate of Appreciation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Paul X. Kelley on 26 April 1984. The Sergeant William Genaust Award is presented each year by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, one of a series of awards to both Marines and civilian community members recognizing their work in advancing and preserving Marine Corps history. It is given for a documentary and short subject (15 minutes or less) dealing creatively with U.S. Marine Corps heritage or Marine Corps life.
The film begins with a slate identifying Genaust as the cameraman and indicating “Roll No. 11”. At :18, Marines survey the heights of Suribachi with large field glasses. At :19, wounded arrive at an aid station in a litter. At :30 a tank is seen. At :44, soldiers examine Japanese boots. At :56 a wrecked Sherman tank is shown. At 1;03 a cave entrance is shown, a wrecked artillery piece protruding out. At 1:08 a view of Iwo from the heights. At 1:48, the famous flag raising occurs. At 2:16 Marines pose next to Old Glory. At 2:45, a new slate is shown, Iwo Jima D-Day +4, roll 13. At 3:00 the fleet offshore is visible. At 3:10 a landing craft is visible, stacked with bodies. At 3:23 a Marine takes a break with his loyal dog, and another is shown with a cat. At 4:17 a wounded Marine is assisted by a friend. At 5:40 a huge column of smoke is visible in the distance. At 6;11, more Japanese cave emplacements are seen.
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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
