To The Shores Of Iwo Jima is a 1945 Kodachrome color short war film produced by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. Photographed in combat areas by cameramen of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the film documents the Battle of Iwo Jima. The film opens with a shot of a battleship sailing on the sea (00:32). It discusses the island of Iwo Jima and uses graphics to show the makeup of the island and the network of tunnels built by Japanese troops. A shot of Iwo Jima from the POV of a plane (01:43) gives way to U.S. Navy battleships firing heavy artillery on the island. Planes (appears to be Grumman F6F Hell Cats) take off from carrier (2:18) to strafe and bomb the island. Gunboats (03:00) move in close to the island and fire on enemy installations. U.S. guns continue firing into the night. There is a shot of the American flag with artillery shells being fired into the sky behind it (04:10). An aerial shot of Marine Corps landing craft preparing to head for beach (04:17) provide viewers with the scope of the invasion. Waves of Marines stay calm as they approach the beach; 500 landing craft hit the shores and the soldiers immediately take cover from enemy fire. There is footage of injured and dead soldiers being evacuated by the medical corps. Tanks make shore and push inland (06:30), allowing the Marines to advance from Yellow Beach. On Green Beach, men are pinned down (07:25) by Japanese fire coming from fortifications on Mount Suribachi. The U.S. Command Ship (08:00) receives a request for assistance, and planes soon bomb Japanese targets while Navy ships also fire on Mount Suribachi. Patrols move forward, including one with a soldier armed with a flame thrower (09:25). Admiral Turner (10:05) orders a cease fire as Marines climb Mount Suribachi. U.S. Marines summit the top and raise the American flag (10:25). Supplies are brought ashore (10:55) in preparation for the push north against the bulk of Japanese forces. Marines run across devasted land in the advance. Wounded soldiers receive medical attention (11:58; 14:13) and are evacuated. Rocket trucks move into position and fire at Japanese targets (12:40); however, they are the target of Japanese fire. Initially unable to take a ridge, U.S. forces finally capture the high ground on the sixth attempt. Artillery fire (14:38) softens up Japanese defenses. A U.S. ammunition dump is hit by Japanese artillery and explodes (15:18). Marines flush out the enemy in caves using guns, grenades, and flame throwers (16:19), leaving behind dead and charred remains of Japanese soldiers. U.S. soldiers attend a prayer service (17:21). Scenes of wreckage along the beaches of Iwo Jima is a testament to the fierce fighting. Helmets of dead are stacked in piles and graves marked with white crosses remind viewers of the death toll. A B-29 lands on an airstrip (18:41), followed by smaller aircraft like what appears to be a P-51 Mustang. An aerial shot of Mt. Fuji (19:05) concludes the film.

A follow-up film (MN 5079e 1945) “Mission Completed” thanks servicemen and women for their sacrifices and acknowledges the difficulty they may face reintegrating into civilian life. This film opens with a shot of a battleship (19:34), followed by Navy men who stand with the sky as a backdrop. There are shots of civilians at various events and sailors mopping the deck of a ship, guiding planes on carriers, and attending to sick people. Sailors (21:43) present for inspection (21:43). The narrator discusses the destruction of the war as an aerial shot shows a devastated European city (23:02), which contrasts to the virtually untouched American cities. American kids play baseball with the New York City skyline in the background. The soldiers return to their pre-war lives: the film shows scenes of men building, farming, writing, and attending church services. Men and women fish, golf, sail, and play music. The film concludes with footage of a playground, Christmas morning, and people voting, before the Secretary of the Navy (28:40) James Forrestal looks at the camera and addresses the men and women of Navy, saluting their service and acknowledging that adjusting to civilian life can be difficult, but assures them they will succeed.

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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