Produced by Army Pictorial Service Signal Corps, “Combat Bulletin 56” (c.1945) is a black-and-white WWII U.S. Military film highlighting military operations on all fronts across Europe and the Pacific theater. The film features segments on the aftermath of a liberated Hamburg, a newly developed 57mm recoilless bazooka, a captured Japanese “Baka” suicide plane in Okinawa, leaflet work of the Psychological Warfare Division in Italy, Battle of Tarakan, and the Battle of Baguio.

Film opens (0:07). Activities in European Theatre of Operations: Camera surveys bomb damage at submarine yards in Steinberg, Germany off of Hamburg Harbor (0:32). Aerial view of damage to other industrial zone (1:13). Aerial view of bomb, conflict damage to Hamburg city and residential areas (1:25). Hermann Göring surrenders at American 7th Army Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany; Press conference with journalists from allied states (2:02). During lull in fighting as American troops await Russians coming from the east, GIs take on daily chores at an abandoned German farm: Take horses for walk, milk cows, slaughter chickens (3:00). Operations in the Mediterranean: Paper War (3:46). Psychological Warfare Division using propaganda leaflets in Italy; Process of writing, printing, distributing leaflets (3:52). Intricate process of linotyping leaflet at propaganda team print shop; Thousands of copies roll off press and cut by industrial machines (4:30). Example of leaflet that would be dropped, addressed to 350 German Infantry Division (4:47). Women working at unit roll leaflets and stuff them into fun shells; At ammunition supply depot packages fitted into smoke shells (4:58). Two officers load leaflets into a Piper J-3 Cub plane to be dropped over enemy territory (5:24). Packaging leaflets into fighter-bombers using special-type bomb package containers (5:43). Republic P-47 Thunderbolt takes off, filled bomb package containers visible under wings, leaflets released into air (6:12). Footage of enemy German soldier coming to propaganda office with leaflet; example of use of safe-conduct pass (used to designate German soldiers who were willing to surrender) (6:31). 57 mm Recoilless Rifle (M18) (6:54). Officers conducting combat drills using M18 recoilless rifle (7:00). Close-up of 2 and ¾ pound projectiles fired by M18; Detailed explanation of design features (7:14). Comparison of recoil between M1 rifle and M18 (7:51). Animated cross-hatch demonstration showing how artillery passes through M18 without causing recoil (8:11). Test-firings of M18 at 4-inch concrete wall, medium tank at close-range, moving targets, pillbox at 300 yards (9:10). Proper means of transporting weapon: Two-man carry with rifle in case, one-man pack-board carry (10:56). Development of larger recoilless weapons, test firing 75 mm M20 recoilless rifle with machine gun tripod (11:37). Invasion of Tarakan, Indonesia (12:07). Consolidated B-24 Liberators from 13th air force 5th bomb group fly over Miri on northwest coast of Borneo; Aerial view of bombs dropped and exploding; Destruction of key resources like timber, oil fields, Kuching airstrip (12:20). Invasion convoy moves on Tarakan Island off Borneo’s NE coast, Lockheed P-38 Lightnings bomb jetty area on beach, destroying key resources like oil wells (13:40). Invasion troops prepare themselves on landing vessels, amphibious landing by Australian forces on 1 May, code-named Operation Oboe One; 4-day Naval bombardment by U.S. and Australian fleets (14:18). Japanese suicide bomber attacks in Okinawa (16:06). Japanese “Baka”/ Kamikazi Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka rocket bomb plane inspected at Kadena Air Base; Men disassemble plane to better understand function (16:20). Capture of Baguio (17:19). Elements of 37th division (tanks, troops walking) along highway 9 northwest of Baguio in Philippines; Troops exchange fire with Japanese troops firing from atop Mount Mirador (17:33). Japanese soldier surrenders to American troops; Troops continue towards target advancing through destroyed cemetery to destroy Japanese pillbox (18:13). As troops descend onto the city center of Baguio locals happily greet the troops; Cease resistance notice dropped on Japanese (19:55). Camera pans heavily bombed remains of Baguio (20:13). Closing credits (20:25). Film ends (20:37).

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