On this day in 1945, during World War II the US took over Iwo Jima. Here is a British Movietone report showing marines of the 4th and 5th Division making the landing under cover from their own ships.
For seventy two days before the American landings planes had been bombing the heavily fortified base on Iwo Jima. Marines of the 4th and 5th Divisions made the landing under cover from their own ships. Casualties were heavy, two thousand Marines gave their lives in storming the beaches and advancing towards the first of the airstrip.
Cut story - KS. GV of island. Aerial shot of island, arrows show where landings were made, also another map shows distance between Iwo & Tokyo. Aerial shots of American bombers attacking island, explosions. Flying over the volcano - Mount Surabachi. Bombers fly through flak. Fighter crashes on deck of carrier, another crashes into the sea, the pilot manages to escape, swims, picked up & transferred by breeches buoy to another ship. Various shots of battleships, cruisers, destroyers, bombarding the island, fires, & explosions can be seen, the warships are very close inshore. Aerial shots of hundreds of landing craft going in. Various ground shots of LCIs going in, approaching beaches. SV hundreds of LCIs making for the shores. Threading their way between shell bursts, explosions etc. American troops land, make their way up the beach, shot of troops advancing inland towards airstrips. Through the slit of a tank GVs of battlefield; infantry advance, also in slit trenches, tanks advance to aid infantry. Tanks use flame-throwers. Jap runs across line of fire, making for pillbox, he doesn't get there. Tanks fire machine guns. Out at sea off coast, lie the large transports. Alligators come ashore, stranded along the beaches. Jap prisoners ( Koreans) brought aboard ships. Various shots of the beaches, & shots on the island.
Disclaimer: British Movietone is an historical collection. Any views and expressions within either the video or metadata of the collection are reproduced for historical accuracy and do not represent the opinions or editorial policies of the Associated Press.
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