Are situated in the north this of the ocean, forming a chain tot extends west, southwest form the southern boundary of the bering sea. Andmprise four groups constitute part of the territory of alaska, usa. Of volcanic origin, manyu are still active. The coast is rocky, rising fromt steepwater with mountains. A permanent lowpressure area prevails there. [wind howling] narrator cold air masses from the polar regions have a shearing effect with the warm air masses from the japanese front to cause disturbances. Because of the earths rotation, these storms move from west to east and this dominant is one of weapons of our enemy. Of june, 1942,ys they employed this advantage in an allout attempt to secure absolute domination of the pacific ocean. Behind in easternmoving storm, they dispatched two pleats to midway island, an objective to break the american defense. These attempts failed. The American Forces engaged to be task force, achieving an to knocked outy 1, 2 troop filled transports. Enemy, theyf the had 20 hours out of 24 sometimes down through zero ceiling, not knowing the enemy fleet was below. Sweating it out for our after find a directional beam in blind hell. That manyo argument went out and did not return. They knew that they would be forced down at sea, but they were unwilling to break off contact. If you wish to see their monuments, you americans at home, look around you. In the wreckage of the Japanese Task force, they immediately undertook the offensive. In 1942, a large detachment of troops landed on an island and under two hours i bomber. The name of this island is adak and it is close to japan. It has lot, spongy vegetation. Islandy bird life on the are the scavenger birds. It is next to worthless in terms of human existence. Its value is measureless. Strategically, it is one of the most important locations in the world. Occupation,r the the first of the bombers sat down. Three days later, a Bombing Mission with complete fighter protection. It beats with a halfmillion horsepower. Maybe amphibians with ships for transport. The sound of engines warming up start before dawn. Every day, weather permitting, the bombers take off on at least one mission. Often on regular days, its under bombardment until nightfall. Equal in importance to the air people, and without which the air people could not exist is the excellent harbor. , itlocked on two sides enables heavy draft vessels to come in and unload under almost any weather conditions. If demands are ever on the increase. Night, transports relationship to the beach. Every day, adding to the battery, machinegun post. There is nothing vulnerable any longer. This guys are constantly circling with patrols. Here it a surprise landing attempt. Offshore, the destroyers are challenging and approaching the horizon. They are scanning with a periscope, standing for duty on patrol or on port of the flank of a convoy. O although the sea lanes are constantly traveled and contact with enemy subs is a daily occurrence, encounters in these waters have been few and far between. The enemy destroyers bear down and release depth charges. They hold the undersea enemy well in check. Float ceaselessly on. The gigantic task of provisioning the American Expeditionary force falls to the army service corps. Maintaining and there. S a special problem everything must be brought here. Food. Fuel. Machine. They use these basic requirements to the end power. Everything from caterpillar the estimates of purchasing, assembly, transport, delivery and it becomes apparent why the force is now dignified i a 12 word like logistics. Original landing, the air power has been constantly augmented. , taking anywhere from a week to a month. But it will take more than a single month to land them here. They are toughened to handle their weapons. Add those numbers to the stakes. Down eastern accents makes with texan drawls. Bookkeepers, college men. Course, ex bookkeepers, excollege men. Soldiers now, as if all their lives they have been nothing but. Orders of the day. Newspapers and magazines radio news flashes which are the only means by which these are going on outside. No fresh meat. No green vegetables. Potatoes. Canst tomatoes. The basic diet. Appetites are huge. Officers have the same the officer may not display rank. Formality taking his place. A day like this, there is a tendency to only think of the present. That faraway world may seem like a dream. This is proof. Mirror, shaving with the old man. If he happens to be in the air corps, he will be happy. No moving pictures. Girls,e door canteen, no pretty or otherwise. Nothing to drink. Candy bars, cigarettes, and chewing gum are rationed. But you will never hear them bellyache. The extraordinary fact is it gets stronger with the troops who have gone to the enemy. Morale is first rate. The site of the airfield was originally a shallow lagoon. They drain the water in the channel. It was there that they were astorting distorting natural formation for 10 days and 11 nights. A thousander with tons of. Thousand tons of ash. As the waters receded, cruise pack into the area. This surface was not the usual a steel wall, who sections had been refabricated. Hours it was found by the infantry. Square feetd a half of it. The severest weather kept our planes grounded. There were rainbows. Weather,nt like the wait a minute, the soldier says. Everything the weatherman has to offer may be in a single day. Dont force, hurricane wind, hail, snow, sleet, and sunshine. It is not so much bad weather, but changing weather that makes flying hazardous. [crash] the greater percentage of casualties, however, are enemy aircraft flying. The wounded and dead or word. In my fathers house. I will come aain and receive you you myself, and where i am, are also. [playing taps] s mission ise day the highlight of 24 hours. At the first sound, the ground event. The unit is cleared for action. And site aircraft, ammunition, and everything in readiness for at home. Out and six are coming back. A first ship lands. They circled the field. Those was wounded above are taking priority. It is recognition of how much punishment one of these bombers can take and still navigate. Finds the gashell tank but all the odds are safely even they will get home. Anyone who has been over will most wonderful ife arrived home even daylight is pouring through the wings, theres something about the scenery on the way home. Cruise precede with operations. Or the Bomber Command the jigsaw reports are compared and cross checked with a complete active record. They have nothing to do but eat, drink, and be merry. Mend i have a twopence to and a twopence to send home to my wife i am happy as a king, believe me as we are rolling home rolling home rolling home by the light of the silvery moon mmm as we go rolling home but tomorrow begins today with a director. A photograph accompanies the mission. Its the immediate results of a bombardment. These photographs are studied by specialist interpreters and submitted with comments to the , coloneltaff office fits. A canopy, steel huts, her hangers, her gun installations. One of the hottest spots on the earth. Main objective destruction of shipping, harassing of enemy personnel. Officers work out the operation details. Among the considerations, the type of aircraft employed, the weight and type of toms , the time an attitude of attack. Each of these influences the other. Hismeteorologist updates charts until takeoff. A change of weather at the last moment may mean complete revision of tomorrows plans. Tomorrow is sunday. At their outpost on the island, catholic, protestant, and jewish priests, not ministers, or rabbis, but chaplains all these defenders exercise their freedoms. There is a Mission Going out. 2 500vy bomber carries 1 counters or eight 1000 pounders. The target is small, theres a better chance of hitting it than with a single large bomb. On the other hand, a congested area, a blockbuster comes into its own. The fuses put on directly before the assembled mom is wasted into the bomb bay. The bombs can be released individually or in salvos. Belts of ammunition are brought to the machine gun ready for firing. And black tracers regulations. Ofh one with the belt ammunition that is cleaned and checked. We see the final instruction. The is ought to go over the target. They will drop 500 feet from the coastline, strapping into the west. The second flight is at 7500 feet. There are second and third accounts. There are three providing protection to enemy aircraft. Crews begin to assemble around awaiting the appearance of their officers. A bomber crew. A long list of teamwork. There is is a mutual responsibility. The safety of the ship and the lives of all the others may depend on these men. Trust, respect our implicit in such a relationship if it should indoor. Maybe in the beginning you do not like the color of a guys hair. Flightt, sleep, together. Their voices on the intercom , easy tomiliar understand and understanding is vital. Every gunner knows the others marksmanship and courage. They can make a landfall. Eight men can testify. Rust and respect the engineer, the copilot. A monument ought to be put up to determination. Judgment, inspiration, daring. Lieutenant george, 12 missions. Lieutenant harvey, 14 missions. Lyle, 15 missions. Major milton, 15 missions. Lieutenant henry, 11 missions. Generaljack, son of the from the flying tigers. He has a submarine to his credit. Weather observation is made. The word is given to go. Over the hill. The aerial camera goes aboard. The bomber pilot informs his crew the exact part their ship is going to play in the mission. When the fighter is reckless, pilot is responsible, determined. There are no lastminute decisions for him. Intricates the big costly piece of machinery at heavy bomber is, he has the lives of others to think about. 100 men. Fighters,rs, 12 setting out to attack and immobilized 10,000 men behind naval and military defenses. This is significant aerial supremacy. But behind it, the enormous system that makes it possible for ships to take off. The naval convoy. Air transport. The corps of engineers. Army and navy intelligence. Signal call. Ordinance. These have done their part for today. Set. Tage is rehearsal is over. The actors are ready. The curtain is going up. They will be playing 40. They will be playing for keeps. [explosions] narrator col. William o. Eric led the original mission. [engines roaring] the thunder of engines makes the earth tremble and the ravens rise. The echelon proceeds. It is a bit eight hours is about eight hours. Its also one of the most strongly fortified. Of 10,000ed force goes underground at the sound of our approaching engines. We cannot hope to annihilate. We can only harass the force, keep the enemy from adding to its resources while we build our own fighting strength for the day in the hour when we will undertake an operation. Maintainedcts is throughout the flight at speeds of 160 miles per hour. During the first part of the journey, the guns swing into position. Trial rounds are fired. Crew members have been known to play. Many pilots and crews have made the flight 25, 30 times. Time it is cited they begin to look out for enemy planes. Say, no matter how many times a fellow goes over, he always feels funny up there. For a minute and a half they will proceed on an absolutely ,traight line toward the target enabling the bombardier to make the flight. There can be no deviation if the bombs are to make their way to the target. Each light will go to its designated attitude. The enemy will endeavor to throw the flight off the run and the he. H will the machine gun will make a filigree of their wings. Hikes as it will make holes big enough for a man to fall through. Little kiska, the outer defense of the harbor. A bomb doors open. This it is just as easy to shoot away from it. You say, good morning, father abraham. To stick toery man his guns. There will be plenty of maybe around to pick us up. Ok . Kiska. [bombs whistling] [explosions] 3 00. Mery aircraft at enemy. Narrator second flight, low altitude. Once again, over lightning. [explosions] on target. Let em hit. Whistling] [explosions] [indiscernible] narrator third flight, at 4500 feet. Bombs away. [indiscernible] bombs away. Thats better. Ok. Ok. [indiscernible] im ok. Ok. Ok. Kiskas hangers are destroyed. The bombs on the target. Nine bombers came out and nine are going home. Singing] going home going home going home y moonlight of the silvr [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2019] American History tv is on social media. Follow us cspanhistory. P lin wasarolinians 33 years old, married and had two children when he received a draft notice in march 1944. Eight months later he died in a fierce battle in a german forest. Up next from the National WorldWar Ii Museum in new orleans, a conversation with Chris Hartley about his book the lost soldier. Diaries, and, official war records, mr. Hartley tells the story of pete ruth on the anniversary of the battle of hurtgen good evening. Welcome to the World War Ii Museum for a fascinating escutcheon about one soldiers experience in the battle of hurtgen forest. To have you here with us this evening. I would like to welcome our viewers at home who are watching on the internet via our live stream channel and on cspan. Its great to see our programs getting ever wider distribution and attention. In addition to our many