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World War II

Pacific Theater

Oct 1942, Guadalcanal This may be a typical American scene, but it really is Raider's Ridge, where Epson's Raiders destroyed a Japanese battalion during the Marines drive into the interior of Guadalcanal.

Nov 1942, Guadalcanal 1st MAW Div Native boys carry U.S. Marine supplies across a plain approaching the jungle in Guadalcanal.

Nov 1942, Guadalcanal, 1stMarDiv, 2nd Raidar Battalion, Photographer: Wright THE SUPPLY LINE TAKES TO THE HILLS A raidar battalion, especially trained group of Marines, hikes over rugged terrain during recent operations on Guadalcanal. Note the native guides.

1 May 1943, Guadalcanal 1st MAW, Photographer: Sgt. Edvin Bart TIGER HITS BACK AT JAPS After serving eight months with the famous Flying Tigers, American volunteer group in China, is Major Gregory Boyington, USMC, of Okanogan, Washington, Commanding Officer of a Marine Fighter Squadron, somewhere in the South Pacific.

Jul 1943, Viru Harbork, New Georgia, Photographer: Cpl. Carroll THEIR NAMES WILL LIVE Viru Harbor, New Georgia. Ceremonies at the Marine cemetery are attended by Leathernecks in full compat gear. Note the rifle squad and buglar.

Jul 1943, New Georgia RAIDERS CAPTURE JAP BIG GUNS The Japs left four 6 inch guns when the Marines marched in and took Frogai Point, New Georgia Island. The guns were complete with ammunition and telescopic sights.

9 Nov 1943, Torokino Area, Bougainville 2nd Raider Battalion, Photographer: Pfc F. A. Cannistraci During two days and nights of fierce jungle fighting on Bougninbille, Marines of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion repelled repeated attacks by overwhelming Japanese forces on the Piva Trail roadblock. During the night Japanese suicide squads tried to penetrate through the Marine lines to silence gun enplacements with bayonets, grenades and personnel mines. This picture shows Marines in flooded foxholes behind a 30 cal. air cooled machine gun with ammunition boxes around them. Also shown is a dead Jap in upper right hand corner, who failed in his mission as it put the Marines one more step to victory.

20 Nov 1943, Tarawa TARGET A PILLBOX A Marine gets set to throw a hand grenade at a Jap pillbox as the smoke of battle rolls back over the hastily thrown-up sand bag entrenchment from which he and other Marines fought.

27 Nov 1943, Bougainville 3rd Mar Div, Photographer: Pfc Phil Schoor Front line posts in the swamps off the Numa Numa Trail below grenade hill and those posts were maintained bu Co E, 2nd Battalion, 21st Marines.

30 Nov 1943, Bougainville, Photographer: Ohman These men fell back to the beach when the boats appeared offshore. When the boats were criven off, these men resumed positions in the line.

Nov 1943, Tarawa THERE THEY ARE A squad leader points out the spot where the Japs were firing from, on Tarawa and the Marines crawling up on their stomachs got them.

12 Dec 1943, Bougainville 3rd Marine Div, Photographer: Pfc P. Scheer 40 cal gun emplacement on Bougainville Island. Note number of Jap Flags on barrel of gun, disignating 5 Jap planes shot down to their credit.

5 Jan 1944, Vella Lavella FMAW-2199, Photographer: TSgt. D. Q. White Marine Ace Major Marion E. Carl, recently ran his score of Jap victims to 18 1/2 , making him the Number 4 Marine Ace. Only Major Joe Foss, Major Gregory Boyington (both with 26), First Lieutenant Kenneth Walsh (20) and Lieutenant Colonel John L. Smith (19) have better records. Major Carl is on his second trip to the South Pacific. He shot down one plane during the Battle of Midway, 15 during the early fighting on Guadalcanal, and two within the last month.

2 Feb 1944, Namur Marshalls 24th Marine Regiment A half track rumbles forward over splintered trees and rubble heading for battle.

Marshall Island 2 Feb 1944

9 July 1944, Saipan UNDER FIRE These Marines crouch low while Jap shells hit near by. Note the tenseness of all the men who have been fighting since D-Day, June 15, and have now reached almost to the extreme end of the island. Photographer: Sgt. R.B. Opper

July 1944, Saipan 4th Mar Div, Photographer: SSgt. Mark Kauffman Carrying wounded.

21 Jul 1944, Guam Marines crouch on beach as Jap land mines knock out a couple of their tanks. Moving Marines keep low, to duck sniper fire. One of the tanks burn in the background. Photographer: TSgt. G.R. Gass

July 1944, Guam, 3rd Marine Div, Photographer: Simpson HOT CHOW Marines get their first hot meal on Guam, two days after hitting the beach, July 21, before the foof was brought ashore, they kept going on field rations.

25 Aug 1944, Tinian 2nd Mar Div, Photographer: Cpl. E. G. Wilbert This field Howitzer is shown blasting a cave full of Japs from the brink of a cheer cliff on Tinian. The gun was lashed securely in its unusual position after parts were carried by hand to the cliffs edge.

1944, Tinian Troops advansing under close coverage of medium tanks.

Sep 1944, Palau INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH The skies are blackened with smoke from the combined Naval and aerial bombardment of the Peleliu beach in the Palau Islands as landing craft scurry shoreward with the Marine assult troops who gained a toehold on the Japanese bastion blanking the southeastern Philippines.

23 Feb 1945, Iwo Jima, Photographer: Newcomb ROCKET BARRAGE Hit and run rocket fire was the order when these Maines of the Fifth Division loosed a barrage at the enamy on Iwo Jima. Being movile the unites used hit and run tactics so that the enemy could never get an exact fix on their positions.

Feb 1945, Iwo Jima, Photographer: Howcomb Marine rockets firing at the Japanese. Hit and runtactics were used so the Japanese couldnt line up sights to knock out the rocket trucks.

23 Feb 1945, Iwo Jima Left to right: Private First Class Ira H. Hayes, Private First Class Franklin R. Sousley (KIA), Sargent Michael Strank (KIA), Pharmscist Mate Second Class John H. Bradley, Private First Class Rene A.Gagnon and Corporal Harlon B. Block (KIA).

AAF REMOTE CONTROL PLANE FLYS TO WASHINGTON Riding in the nose of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a beeper pilot is controling the drone B-17 from which the photographer shot this picture. The drone took off on Jan 13, 1947 from Eglin Field, Florida, headquarters of the air Proving Ground Command; for Washington, D.C. The beeper pilot flew the plane by remote control for the entire flilght. Their course carried the planes through weather front and a practice bombing mission was also carried out during the flight.

Jul 1948, Guam 3rd Marine Div, Photographer: Mundell Machine gunner strains up steep hill on Guam carrying the tripod of his gun. Asecond machine gunner carries the barrel, and other members of the gun crew bear the ammunition.

MARINES OCCUPY RUSSELLS: Marine Raiderd go over the side in rubber boats to occupy the Russell Island, North of Guadalcanal late in Feb. The Japs had hastily evacuated before the Marines arrived. Cpl. Allan Mott

WHERE MARINES WERE AMBUSHED When Marine infantrymen were stopped at this spot the junction of the Fiva and Numa Numa Trails on Bougainvelle Island in the Solomons. Tanks were rushed to the scene. The tank in this picture carried the unit commander, First Lieutenant Leon Stanley, of 1306 Woodstock Avenue, Anniston, Ala. A Marine killed by the Japs was left in the roadway as the tank approached the body it struck a jungle vine which was stretched across the road and set off a land mine. The tank was disabled and the crew armed with sub-machine gunsclimbed out to get the Japs. Lieutenanct Stanley was kiled almost immediately. His body can be seen beside the tank. The crew kept fighting and were joined by Private First Class Robert Lansley, of 1524 Fouth Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y., (second from left). A Marine Raider, and Zody his specially trianed dog. The dog located machine gun nests on either side of the road and here Lanelay is seen drawing the Japs fire (unreadable) fixed position or were firring free. Three times Lansley drew their fire before it was determined the Japs were firing from fixed positions. Photographer: Pfc. PhilipScheer, USMC

AMTRACK SHELTER Engaged in the bitter struggle to establish the Peleliu beachhead, Marine infantrymen carry on the fight from the shelter of an amphibious tractor whichbrought them ashore. Riflemen atop the amphibian are firing at the Japs while their comrades get a breather. Note the Nom de Guerre of the tractor.

AA search lights Leathter necks gun crew are ever on the alert for a Japanese attack on Marine manned out posts in the South Pacific.

LST unloading on beach at Bougainville.

Boeing B-17

Martin B-26 in flight somewhere over Atlantic Coast Line.

Republic P-47s

North American P-51 in flight.

The End

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