Design for Peace is the last episode in the Victory At Sea TV series, which chronicled naval warfare during WWII. Originally aired on NBC and developed with full cooperation from the US Navy, this 26 episode program includes wartime footage and features the major battles such as the Battle of the North Atlantic, the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway.
This film, episode 26, is about the surrender of Japan, the end of the war, and the return of the soldiers to their homes.
The film “Victory at Sea” begins (0:27). It showcases the devastating atomic bomb explosion in New Mexico 1:27), followed by the destruction of Hiroshima at (2:00). Amidst the ruins of the city, the Torii shrine gate still stands (2:20). The film captures the departure of the Allied battleships from Tokyo Bay (2:50) and features the Higgins class amphibious transport boat PA156-19 number 27 (3:09). At (3:50), a building with the words “Come After US” comes into view. The film includes scenes from Japanese Prisoner of War camps, which contain graphic content from (4:25) to (4:34). An engraving on a piece of wood reads “ashes Americans 60 Americans 60 Camp 17 Fukuoka” (4:44). The navy hospital ship, USS Benevolence, appears at (5:19), and a fleet of ships (2:25). The Royal Navy meets up with the U.S. ships at (5:47), while debris from a Japanese ship is displayed (6:18). The American Battleship USS Missouri is featured (6:44). Notable figures make appearances in the film, including General Douglas MacArthur of the American army (8:10). Japanese Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu is seen signing the instrument of surrender (8:12), followed by General Yoshijiro Umezu signing the documents (8:32). Generals Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV and Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival stand alongside General MacArthur (8:47). U.S. Fleet Admiral Nimitz signs the documents of surrender (9:09). The film shows the border sign for the home of the 1st Cavalry Division in Tokyo (9:33), followed by Emperor Hirohito of Japan at (9:55). A Japanese street officer appears (10:16), and the Great Buddha of Kamakura (10:45). From (11:10) to (11:18), there are graphic scenes displaying dead soldiers tied to large crosses, torture devices, and Nazi incineration chambers. At (11:27), an unidentified American war vehicle is displayed. The film then depicts allied soldiers liberating captives from slave labor and concentration camps from (11:34) to (12:50). U.S. Army trucks are shown transporting freed prisoners away from a camp at (13:08), and the sign for the Calas-Staging Area appears (14:00). World War 2 era American Battleships form a convoy to transport the soldiers back home (15:14), and a World War 2 era American Aircraft Carrier (17:09). A message reading “Welcome Home, Well Done” is displayed on a New York coastline hill (18:35). Soldiers and sailors disembark from the ships and reunite with their loved ones from (20:00) to (23:17). This includes African American / Black sailors. A group of soldiers bearing flags with the American Seal marches down a street at (23:17). General Douglas MacArthur is seen standing in a car, waving to the crowds at (24:10). The film features battalions of soldiers marching in celebration from (24:22) to (26:40). Finally, the film concludes (26:42).
