Made in 1946, “Anchor to Westward” is a WWII documentary film about the re-taking of the island of Guam, and the building of a massive U.S. base by the Construction Battalions or CBs. The film begins with planning in Guam for the defense of the island followed by footage of Japanese leaders including Yamamoto planning an assault on the island. At 2:10 are views of the island as it appeared prior to the Japanese invasion, with the Chamorros living in peace and harmony. At 3:27, the cable station at Hagåtña is shown. At 3:37 a weather station is shown getting information for the Pan Am China Clipper. At 4:00 Congress approves money to improve the island’s defenses. At 4:17, a Japanese commentator criticizes the proposed defense of Guam. At 5:27 the events of early December 1941 are shown through re-enactment. At 6:40 the supply depots that are needed to support the re-taking of the Pacific are shown — and the need for advance bases of supply discussed. At 7:14 the Combat Battalions are shown at work, the CBs. At 7:50 training of the CBs is shown and there is a montage of indoctrination in various skill areas. At 8:10 men are shown how to survive the sinking of a ship at sea by jumping through fire. At 8:21, heavy equipment for the CBs is shown as well as building pontoon barges at 8:43. At 8:50 is a live fire exercise likely conducted near San DIego. At 9:30 the island hopping strategy of MacArthur is shown. At 9:53 the assault on Guam is shown. At 10:30 machinery moves into action to clear wrecked Japanese tanks and guns. At 10:50, civilians are shown returning from hiding and new homes built for them (11:17). At 11:58, a Japanese compactor is used to help build an airfield. Quonset huts are constructed (12:21) as well as fuel tanks. At 12:51, the harbor is improved by blasting with dynamite. At 13:20 men eat at a mess hall on Guam. At 13:30, wind from the trade winds is used to dry laundry. At 13:48 rest and relaxation is shown. At 13:55, journalist Ernie Pyle is shown visiting the island. At 14:10, Admiral Nimitz arrives on the island. At 15:07 ammunition, rations, and other supplies are shown. At 15:26, an asphalt plant is used so that roads can be built on the island. At 16:30, a Thunderbolt is seen at the new airfield. At 16:45, Admiral Nimitz is shown maps. At 16:51, a B-29 takes off from Guam headed to Japan — at 17:04 the Hiroshima bomb that ended WWII is shown. At 18:01 men of the CBs pray in a Quonset hut church.
Guam, at 212 square miles, is the largest island of the Marianas. It had been a United States possession since its capture from Spain in 1898 until it was captured by the Japanese on 10 December 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the Japanese occupation of Guam, it was not as heavily fortified as the other Mariana Islands such as Saipan that had been Japanese possessions since the end of World War I. But by 1944, Guam had a large Japanese garrison.
The Allied plan for the invasion of the Marianas, Operation Forager, called for heavy preliminary bombardment, first by carrier aircraft and USAAF bombers based in the Marshall Islands to the east, then once air superiority was gained, close bombardment by battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. Saipan, Tinian, and Guam were chosen as the targets due to their size, their suitability as a base for supporting the next stage of operations toward the Philippines, Taiwan, and the Ryukyu Islands. The seaport at Apra Harbor was suitable for the largest ships; and air bases for Boeing B-29 Superfortresses could be built from which to bomb Japan. B-24 Liberators from the Marianas could also bomb Iwo Jima and the Bonin Islands, such as Chichi Jima.
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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
