HOME MOVIES: 1946

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1946

Format: 16mm

Description: Shot by an unknown U.S. serviceman, this poorly shot 16mm silent home movie shows views from a visit to Guam and Iwo Jima made just after WWII around 1946-46. The film opens with shots at sea of Guam (very dirty). At 1:58 a car trip begins with shots from the moving vehicle, most of which are very jumpy. A Japanese type C class midget submarine with the serial number "Ha-51" is standing on display. It is now at the War in the Pacific visitors' center on Guam. The submarine ran aground off the southeastern coast of Guam. It was crewed by two Japanse soldiers, who held off the American troops for three days before surrendering. Only 47 type C class midget submarine were built at the end of the Second World War, of which only 15 saw action. At 2:27 men are seen (fishing?) in a rubber dinghy. At 3:34 a B-29 is seen flying overhead. At 3:48 a camp is seen with Jeeps coming up the road. At 4:06 a naked man is seen on his way to bathe in the camp, and at 4:18 the man's towel is stolen and he is forced to run for it. At 4:28 a lot of troops are seen at a tent city. At 4:58 wrecked landing craft and ships are seen on the beach. At 5:48 a concrete plant is seen. At 6:11 we're definitely at Iwo Jima with Mt. Suribachi visible at the far end of the island. At 6:40, wrecked aircraft and tanks are seen in a junk yard on Iwo, including a smashed B-29. At 7:00 graders are seen at work. At 7:07, a large building is seen, possibly a church, and the U.S. flag. At 9:00 a boxing match is shown at an area where troops are receiving a bit of R&R.

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