This short WWII film by the U.S. Marine Corps was made to drum up public support for Marine wartime activities in Japan based on demonstrating the Marine Corps’ advanced techniques of creating relief maps. The film shares success stories against Japanese on Iwo Jima.

Note: the first part of the film is silent. The sound section begins at 1:48. Also, there are some segments of the film which are apparently missing, and it can be considered incomplete.

Title screen over Eagle: “The following scenes were made during the Capture of Iwo Jima” (0:10). “Photographed by Marine Corps Combat Photographers” (0:13). Dark figures (islands / ships) roughly visible on water near shore (0:18). Two marines on small boat (0:20). Close-up rocky surface in foreground with sea behind (0:22). Small explosion / dynamite in sandy clearing by sea (0:30). Tank sets fire on landscape (0:36). Two camouflaged marines hiding on land viewed from back (0:38). Smaller puffs of exploding sand in clearing (0:45). Marine sniper viewed from back, firing (0:50). Smoke / gas billowing out of tanks in cleared area, with small group of people nearby (1:00). Marine rushing forward, rifle in hand (1:03). Small flares / explosions roughly visible in distance (1:10). Tank on hillside fires towards ravine (1:15). Men on cliffside near sea (1:20). Marine lookouts study rocky shore from high vantage point, small explosions visible beneath (1:25). Silhouetted marines near American flagpole against blue sky (1:40). Marine Corps Logo (1:44). Title appears over Marine logo: “Blue Prints for Victory” (1:46). Panning shot of dark landscapes / ravine, then aerial views of Japanese “enemy territory,” landscapes at Iwo Jima (1:50). Marine ships just off the Japanese coast (foreground), hitting enemy targets, smoke billowing (background) (2:24). Single propeller plane flies overhead at Iwo Jima, shot pans down to bomb hitting target on land (2:33). Near water, troops somewhat visible; a target is hit in background (2:42). Rapid sequence of various individual scenes of artillery firings (2:43). Marine shoots rifle into vegetated distance across stream (2:46). Several small distant ships firing at nighttime (Battle of Iwo Jima) (2:48). Plane dropping bombs viewed from below (2:49). Troops on boats viewed from a distance, then up close (2:55). Signage: Field Relief Mapping unit; man enters restricted area at field unit holding files labeled “secret” (3:03). Close-up: Marines’ handling relief maps of Japan, measuring distances on WWII relief maps with compasses; Marines sketching Japanese coastlines (3:15). Two young white male Marines study relief maps together at work desk, one Marine smoking a cigar (3:33). Several Marines making 3D relief map by hand using contour lines, symbols, compasses (3:50). Marine cuts away section of finished relief map using scalpel for storage (4:10). Sections of wooden base for relief map laid on table, plastered for safe transport of relief map (4:25). Men load section of wood for relief map into portable shelving storage (4:40). Man mixes cement / plaster in bucket (4:45). Panning close-up shot of colorful finished relief map, gestured at by Marine with stick; WWII Marines looking at relief map of Japan (4:47). Marine field officers study completed relief map together outside (5:00). Aerial view of Japanese shoreline (viewed from interior) (5:28). Two Marines crouching in snow-covered area loading ammunition into mounted rifle; Marines fire rifles in Pacific War (5:30). Rapid shots of individual Marines firing on targets and a tank lighting trees and landscape on fire (5:32). Plane flying overhead, tree in foreground (5:45). End screen: “The End” over Marine Corps logo (5:50). “Produced by the Marine Corps Photographic Section (5:58).

During WWII, a special team of personnel in the Department of the Navy was created to make detailed, three-dimensional relief maps of strategic islands in the Pacific Ocean for use in planning military operations. This included cartographers, photograph interpreters, illustrators, painters, and sculptors, some of them drawn from the ranks of Hollywood studios. The maps depicted with great detail and accuracy an area’s topography, hedgerows, ravines, buildings, and tank traps. Maps were initially made of plaster, but later made of foam rubber, which could be rolled up for easy transport.

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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