This film takes a look at the 2nd Battle of Guam in July through August of 1944. It involved U.S.forces moving to recapture Guam which had been captured by Japan in 1941. Guam was under 1,600 miles from Tokyo and Manila (:32), another reason the U.S. wanted to recapture it. Japan used the island to guard their vital sea lanes. After the fall of Saipan, Guam was pointed to as the next target (:43). US convoys make their way towards Guam (:52). Pre-invasion bombardments carried on hitting shore installations for 17 days as the initial invasion date on June 16th had to be postponed (1:04). This was the longest pre-invasion bombardment in the history of the Pacific war (1:18) and naval guns are seen blasting the shoreline (1:18). US Air crafts strafed and bombed Japanese positions (1:25). 400 tons of explosives were dropped and an aerial view of bombs popping along the ground follows (1:28). The invasion plan included two assaults (1:36). The first involved the 3rd Marine Division hitting Asan Point and the second involved the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade reinforced by the 77th Infantry Division hitting Agat. July 21st was chosen as D-Day (1:51). The 1st Provisional Marine Brigade loaded into amphibious landing crafts (1:56) and the 77th was to follow. Major General Andrew Davis Bruce, Commander of the 77th, moved his troops inland (2:23). The extended pre-invasion bombardment left little enemy resistance (2:29). The 3rd Marine Division invaded in the northern sector (2:39) and footage of the first troops landings follows (2:45). Japanese mortar fire fell upon the men as a landing craft was hit (2:58). Naval guns fired back (3:09). Marines were forced to dig in and wait for air attacks to thin out enemy concentrations (3:25). They move inland through jungle terrain (3:45) and cross the Assan River (3:50). Intense combat picked up over the weekend (4:01). The next objective was a juncture of the forces to control the Apra Harbor (4:07). The 3rd Marines were to capture Asan Point and Cabras Island (4:14). The 1st Provisional Marines were to hit Orote Penninsula (4:20). A counter attack from the Japanese ensued from Chanito Cliff (4:26), though US tanks and naval gun fire drew them back (4:36). The 3rd Marines moved south fighting resistance from Japanese in caves along the way (4:46). By the end of the weekend, they had hit Cabras Island and Asan Point (5:03). A section of troops headed north from the south (5:22) and another drove east towards Mount Alifon (5:26). As the men were moving across an open plain, machine gunners cleared their path (5:33). Troops moved for the base of the Orote Peninsula (5:42) making contact with the northern bound forces (5:46). Howitzers were set up at the base of the peninsula (6:25) and trenches were dug in (6:31). Aerial and naval attacks hit Japanese positions (6:41). Marines broke through the Japanese forward defenses and begin working their way through the jungle (6:57). Explosions erupt as troops used packs of dynamite and grenades to remove enemy troops from dug in positions (7:06). Eight days after their landing, Orote’s air field was captured (7:07) and a US Marine Barrack plaque is seen which had been set there prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor (7:12). The next target was to be the capital city of Agana (7:27). The 3rd Marines and the 77th Infantry are seen heading onward alongside one another (7:34). In retreat, the Japanese set up roadblocks (7:42) and two troops are seen defusing a landmine (7:50). Agana was abandoned and decimated (7:54). In order to split the island in half, troops on the east coast moved towards Pago Bay (8:15). Brig. General Nobel of the 3rd Division watches the troops progress (8:29). Recon patrols hit the area south of the splitting line (8:38). Japan moved their forces to the north (8:48). A flank of the 77th began moving towards Mt Santa Rosa (9:20). US artillery hit Japanese forces at its base (9:26). From the other side of the island, Marines moved from Agana to an air field (9:36). Airfield captured and decimated Japanese planes are seen (9:54). Communication lines set up and airfield reconstructed (10:06). Marines moved towards Finegayan (10:17). As they moved towards Pati Point, fighting intensified as all of the Japanese forces had been cornered here (11:01). On August 10th, all organized resistance ceased (11:43). 22,000 civilians of the island sought refuge with the American forces (11:53) and raised a hand made American flag (12:07). Guam was now again U.S. territory and was to be used as a naval base close to the war to hit Japan (12:43).

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