Vulnerable to surprise attacks. April 18, 1942, 16 b25 bombers led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle prepared to take off from the Aircraft Carrier hornet. Their target tokyo and 4 other major japanese cities, with carefully selected military targets. It was only nine days after the fall of bataan. [plane engines] never before had such a thing been attempted. The psychological effects of the raid on tokyo were even greater than the material damage inflicted. It raised the morale of all americans and shocked the enemy into realization that we had the will and wherewithal to carry the war to the heart of his own homeland. Three weeks later, United States navy planes from the Carrier Task Force dealt the japanese fleet a damaging blow in the coral sea, the first naval battle in history to be fought entirely with carrierbased aircraft. [explosions] while the navy was starting to make a comeback, general wainwright surrendered corregidor. A proud old soldier who had fought in world or o
This was amphibious warfare on a scale that staggered the imagination. Nothing like it had ever been seen. At omaha beach, in the first assault, 30,000 american troops stormed ashore. British and Canadian Forces struck at three different beach sectors. At utah beach, 20,000 american troops were landed. By the end of the first day, our ashore totaled 120,000 men. With every passing hour, with each passing day, reinforcements streamed ashore to enlarge the beachhead with tanks, trucks, ammunition, and supplies. Hundreds of our attack bombers and fighters were now over europe, carrying payloads of destruction aimed at the Vital Centers of hitlers europe. Hitlers fortress europe. [planes flying] [explosions] flying forces in heavy formations cascaded 3500 tons of explosives, a ton every second, upon naziheld positions. Our mass bomber formations were given a canopy of air support. Together, they fought off enemy air attacks. [gunfire and explosions] as the roar of engines and the concussio
You episodes four through eight. They cover u. S. Involvement and world war ii, from the pearl harbor attack through the surrender of japan. Each of these is about 30 minutes. They originally aired on the u. S. Army big pitcher television series. This was the europe of 1941. Nazi blitz, had overwhelm fronts, holland belgium, denmark, norway, and luxembourg. Russian armies were in desperate retreat. The German Air Force was raining destruction on england. Combined italian and German Forces were menacing egypt. Their objective to defeat an opposing british army and dominate fall north africa. In asia, japanese air and Ground Forces were driving forward in their conflict with china. Only one of the worlds major powers, was still not at war. The United States. It was a sunday afternoon in december 1941. The statue of liberty towered certainly over the new york harbor. As if she were the last symbol of freedom left to the crumbling free world. Afternoon york Early Morning and why, and anoth
The british advanced up the east coast in the face of equally bitter opposition. In the pacific, troops of the First Cavalry Division landed on the islands in the Admiralty Group to wipe out all japanese resistance and complete occupation of the entire group of islands. We landed large forces on the north coast of new guinea. General stillwell and his troops were fighting the japanese in bur burma. This was global warfare on a scale never known before. Less than three years before, hitler had made an address. Germany, italy and japan will wage common war on the United States to a victorious conclusion. In rome his fascist partner had declared italy and National Socialist germany ever closely linked participate from today on the side of heroic japan against the United States. A japanese militaryist joined the derisive chorus. Americans have radios, automobiles, big beefsteaks when a people has those things they dont want to fight. Americans wont sleep in hammocks or lie in trenches. The
With the coming of spring, 1944, the winter stalemate in italy was broken. Our forces resumed fighting their way up the west coast of the italian boot towards rome. Against bitter german opposition. The british advanced up the east coast, in face of equally bitter opposition. In the pacific, troops of the first cavalry division, land on the islands in the admiralty group. To wipe out all japanese resistance, and to take hold of the entire group of violence. We landed in large forces at homeland here, on the north coast of new guinea. General stillwell and his troops, were fighting the japanese in burma. This was global warfare, on a scale never known before. Less than three years before, hitler had addressed the nation. Germany will face war on the United States to a positive conclusion. A japanese militarist, joins the chorus. Americans have radios, automobiles, big beefsteaks, when a people have those things, they dont want to fight. Americans wont sleep in hammocks, or lie in trench