OKINAWA BULLETIN, NO. 2--FINAL PHASES

Year Published: 1944

Creator: National Archives and Records Administration

Format: 16mm/video file

Description: National Archives and Records Administration - ARC Identifier 37453 / Local Identifier 127-MH-6197B - OKINAWA BULLETIN, NO. 2--FINAL PHASES - Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. U.S. Marine Corps. (09/18/1947 - ). On the activities of the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions on the island. A "Corsair" plane lays a smoke screen to protect tanks crossing a field north of Naha under Japanese artillery fire. Marines follow tanks across open terrain, and mop up Japanese hillside positions after the tanks' flamethrowers have been used. Artillery bombards Shuri. Heavy rains bury vehicles, artillery, and munitions in water. Food and ammunition is passed up a hill via a human chain; supplies dropped from "Corsairs" are collected. Bazookas are used against Japanese strong points to open a road west of Shuri. Demolished Shuri Castle is inspected and corpses examined. Artillery bombards Naha; Marines move into its outskirts firing rifles and machine guns; tank guns reduce enemy strongholds. Marines cross a pontoon bridge, laid over mud flats, and enter a suburb of Naha. Naval guns, mortar fire, and low-level bombing blast the city. Pack charges are used to detonate buildings during house-to-house fighting. An unopposed landing is made below Naha; Marines advance inland to high ground, carry their wounded to the rear, clean out caves with flamethrowers and satchel charges, and capture Naha airstrip. Tank flamethrowers and phosphorus grenades are used to fire cane fields driving Japanese from cover. Planes drop firebombs into wooded areas. Japanese POW's, stripped to their loin cloths, are marched to the rear.