This film was taken May 10, 1945, the same day that the USS Block Island began their first attack oil the Battle of Okinawa. The USS Block Island was to be followed by the USS Gilbert Islands and then the USS Cape Gloucester shown here. This was filmed in San Diego at North Island as the ship was being prepped to return to sea.
These personnel were among the first Marine Squadrons to operate from Escort Carriers in the Pacific theater during WW2. There were four Escort Carriers that started this new program:
CVE-106 USS Block Island with squadrons VMTB-233 and VMF-511
CVE-107 USS Gilbert Islands with squadrons VMTB-143 and VMF-512
CVE-109 USS Cape Gloucester with squadrons VMTB-132 and VMF-351
CVE-111 USS Vella Gulf with squadrons VMTB-234 and VMF-513
More of these WW2 Carrier based training and operations videos will be found at channel @VMTB143Mike. I will be uploading new videos of the Squadron, ship training and combat experience over time.
These films are from the collections of the USMC History Division and are digitized and physically preserved through a partnership with the University of South Carolina. These films, and much more, can be found at digital.library.sc.edu.
#WW2FighterPilot #WW2Aircraft Carrier #WW2History #WW2FighterPilotTraining #WW2Color #WW2
16 сен 2024
