DIRTY SECRETS of WW2: The Pacific Final Countdown

Shows the United States aircraft carrier USS Yorktown participating in sea operations in the Pacific Marshall Islands. In this rare action footage, the Yorktown defends itself as returning planes land ending with an heroic rescue of one of the pilots.

[@theomgsee8217]

I like these old type of documentaries, not a bunch of effects and music, just straight narrated facts and raw footage.

[@Mr-Damage]

There are effects dubbed over a lot of the footage.

[@TheBassman28]

plenty of music...

[@hansmueller3029]

I think he means the way it's narrated. It must have been made for service men. Just matter of fact. A lot of these are the least informative videos that can be viewed. Just clipped bangs and booms.

[@chadhaire1711]

the music sucks

[@gendaminoru3195]

What a time warp. I think this is why the left wingers hate America. I'm neutral on the matter, but it does remind one of leave it to beaver cleaver or whatever that 1950's series was. Pax Americana was not a bad thing. But the aw shucks voice and the string instruments are a bit overwhelming. The war was horrible, but we need to be remember exactly why it happened and what took place before to avoid a repeat. And we are NOT doing a good job of that now. I see WWIII coming sooner than you think.

[@robertguttman1487]

This was taken from the documentary "The Fighting Lady", which was filmed in the Pacific on board the USS Yorktown during 1944. The narrator was Robert Taylor, a major movie star before the World War II who, by that time, had left his lucrative career in Hollywood to serve on active duty as a Lieutenant and an Aviator in the Navy. At the time of it's release this film received an Academy Award for best documentary.

[@hansmueller3029]

Fun fact #2 - My dad was on Robert Ryan's boxing team at Pendleton

[@mayaahoki]

One of the best WWII navy documentaries I have EVER seen

[@johnmcculloch5736]

I learnt aspects of the Pacific war that I never knew. Thankyou for the documentary.

[@IkiF83]

The combat footage are simply amazing!

[@davidh6300]

I never tire of seeing enemy planes go down in a hail of 50 cals.

[@patriot03062]

Excellent footage. Thank you to America’s Greatest Generation. Seeing the faces at the end of those who gave their lives we must remember them. RIP

[@williampatterson5067]

The sound was incredible!

[@faulltw]

My father served on the Fighting Lady during WWII as a boiler operator. I have the book each member received "Into the Wind" and his plank owner certificate. I myself am retired from the Air Force and salute all those who came before, served alongside and stand guard today.

[@Tracy123W]

K

[@faulltw]

@@Tracy123W Spoken like a true hero, back at ya.

[@utubedaveg]

have seen a lot of this footage but enjoyed this immensely. Put together and narrated very well. Many thanks to the brave men and women that served the arm forces then and now.

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

Film stock excellent quality. Wow! Thanks for posting 👊

[@elcheapo9444]

You're welcome.

[@garymckee8857]

Hard to believe at the last of the video it's been 75 years ago. That's some excellent film footage.

[@derekvinyard3670]

I watch ALOT of WW2 footage and this is some of the best. Well done Sir.

[@hbilha]

Agree. Phenomenal stuff.

[@davideck2331]

Thank you for this. A fantastic documentary with excellent video that I've never seen before.

[@wmsanders99]

Served 21 years in the Navy. Sailed on 5 ships on all the world's oceans. Veteran of 2 wars.

[@edwardwentz2280]

Sounds like ya did good William. Ya did good.

[@joeford860]

I have seen most of the U.S. you sir have seen the world.

[@davidrenaldo9429]

Thank you and all that served fought and died for al of us.

[@horaceball5418]

I dated a Japanese girl.....woman......she was 20 and I was white.

[@vmutuma]

@@horaceball5418 So, are you still white?

[@charlesmitchell917]

Always good to hear Robert Taylor's voice.

[@MrRobster1234]

He trained many naval aviators to fly.

[@wmsanders99]

Watched this video on August 30th, 2018! 75 years to the day.

[@jontillo9979]

Thank you for posting, it makes you realize how young these men were when they did this.

[@moneyandtimefreedom3352]

...And still nobody has regained their hearing. Seriously can't imagine the damage done to ones hearing, if you survived. Thanks for your service MEN. 👍

[@barrybleeker2516]

Moneyandtime Freedom =

[@Bikerbob59]

What?

[@pbrazor50]

My father was a Boatswain's Mate on a support ship in the South Pacific and his battle station was spotting for a 5 inch gun. Toward the end of his life he could barely hear. Once had his shirt blown off by the concussion when the 5 inch gun swung just over his shoulder without him knowing it.

[@repenney]

Engaging commentary and beautifully filmed. Fitting narration by Robert Taylor. Well done!

[@johnnyp2898]

I knew the voice , but couldn't put a name to it , I'm sure your right , Robert Taylor narrated this loud and clear

[@larrytischler8769]

The planes returning from attacking the enemy fleet at the Battle of the Philippine Sea came in after dark. Many ran out of fuel or had to land on a carrier that was not their own.

[@whammy5142]

Might sound weird, but watching this made me feel really connected to the men serving on the ship.

[@rickklein7792]

I am connected. My Dad served on an Escort Carrier 42-46. CVE-1 USS Long Island. They were not as glamorous as what was depicted here but they had their moments. Dad's carrier was the first to Guadalcanal to launch Marine Squadrons when they had little or no other carriers at the time.

[@51tetra69]

God bless all the brave naval aviators, sailors, and courageous veterans with nerves of steel who risked everything and sacrificed so much to protect our countries and preserve the freedoms we enjoy today! God bless all the souls - military and civilian - that we have lost in times of war! God bless America! God bless us all and grant us peace!

[@scottleft3672]

There is something truly beutiful in the type of coloring emulsions this footage was made from, it was an era of black and white for so long but these color reels and the ones from Europe just make the whole thing seem dreamy instead of dramatic....until the last quater.

[@jarodshuler9566]

Some of the most outstanding war footage I have ever seen.....what brave men!

[@bobkarigan4512]

Amazing, job well done.

[@lenovo3unique529]

a wonderful video..being a soldier from a different nation, i can however understand the effort it takes to win a war....and why every technician, pilot or doctor plays their own part,

[@atmg5933]

Superbe film en couleur!j'adore.

[@garyK.45ACP]

Most of them are teenagers or early 20s. Imagine that today. My father was 24 when the war started...he was one of the "old guys".

[@DavidMartin-ym2te]

My father was a wop/ag crewman in a Supermarine Sea Otter SAR flying boat in 1944/5 in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He was 30. The rest of the crew, only kids, called him "Pop"

[@charlesmitchell917]

The Antifa crowd can't even wipe their own asses. They'd be cowards in a real war like this.

[@SP-qo3pd]

average age was 28-29, so he was considered quite young...

[@humbleone6405]

Something trump has no idea about I'll bet many of these men had bone spurs and fought. Run Forest trump run

[@IvoDKCarmo]

This footage is actually insane !! Love it

[@larrytischler8769]

The multi squadrons of planes at the beginning is what the sky looked like about once every month or to when I was growing up near Corpus Christi, as they practiced going out in force. Mostly it was just a few planes of one type at a time. Thousands of Navy fliers went through training there until the fifties.

[@BigLisaFan]

Love these old film clips.

[@hitoshisawa8479]

Amazing

[@adrianluke7917]

Fallen Soldiers are brightest Star in my mind. Love them all. My heroes.

[@piggyoinkenstein.186]

What ballsy people those guys were . . big time. !

[@richardmorgan761]

Best footage i.v ever seen on youtube.

[@grandpa71]

Thank you for the nice video. I was impressed.

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

incredible soundtrack !!

[@yourfabuloushappymann5154]

Glorious!

[@WeGoWalk]

Amen to the brave men who fought here. My father was on the USS Louisville, a heavy cruiser, hit by Kimkazes and forced to limp back to Pearl Harbor for dry dock repairs. My father was a Fireman down in the engine room, and he said, “War was hell, even on a big ship.”

[@Peter-od7op]

God bless him

[@leebenson4874]

Not even one hr. goes by that I don't think about 13 sec. of a 12yr career as a Army Ranger. The Pain is there always!!!

[@miguelcroce]

Thanks to those who made this documentary possible. We have an eternal gratitude to those who fought and died for the freedom of the world.

[@russellkeeling4387]

My dad was in the navy beginning in 1943 and drove a Higgins boat landing troops. His boat was destroyed and he was missing in action for some time but survived. He told me when they landed troops on some of the beaches there were Japanese fighter planes scattered on the beaches where pilots landed and escaped into the jungle rather than drive their planes into the allied ships.

[@hazchemel]

Many thanks, battle footage is mind boggling.

[@Emophiliac2]

Lots of good wreck diving at Truk. Been on many of those wrecks. The San Francisco has tanks on its deck, along with holds full of bullets and underwater mines (full of dynamite). Less and less of the mines over the years, though, since the Chuckese use it for fishing.

[@rbjanitorialprod]

thank you

[@octane2099]

Thank you everyone on this video for sacrificing everything for me to be free

[@user-wq2mn5yt5d]

It is natural that the final stage of the match will be a one-sided battle. On the other hand, I would also like to see a one-sided battle at the beginning of the war. The attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the British Oriental Fleet.

[@351linzdoctor]

Man those 5'' guns are no joke! almost machine fire!

[@waynesmith3754]

Low Standards back then ? The Fighting Lady won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 17th Academy Awards. The film was preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2018.[2]

[@theplinkerslodge6361]

I put this one down as must re-watch. Much detail I hadn't heard before.

[@u2529]

wow this documentary is truly at its finest; you'll *never* see footage like this in modern warfare. the superb landing of some of the returning planes are extraordinary (one legged plane, or the injured pilots, or landing w/a broken tail). this is what's really called skilled aviation at its finest w/all the diving runs and dog-fight shootouts using nothing but ammunition!

[@jayelink1241]

I can't tell you how many times I've seen that "one legged plane" and "broken tail". You must be a newby.

[@seanbryan4833]

EVERY single WWII movie involving aircraft carriers uses those crashes.

[@1000rr2008cbr]

Excellent documentary. Subscribed.

[@jebsails2837]

Pretty sure I heard the voices of Harry Morgan and Robert Taylor. Great video. Thanks from Narragansett Bay.

[@DougsterCanada1]

I commented about Harry Morgan, then scrolled to see this! LOL I am pretty sure it's him.

[@punisher2229]

this is some of the best

[@shadetreemech290]

This is from when we knew who we were. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We no longer know who we are.

[@rpm1796]

You still are one nation...with a bunch of loud well-paid ratz saying your not.

[@samiam619]

Shade Tree Mech, Some of us STILL know who we are. Bad news doesn’t mean it’s fake news. tRumpelthinskin lost. Get over it, Snowflake

[@paigetomkinson1137]

Apparently, according to your measurements, we didn't know during the war, or for a while after, either. "Under God " wasn't added to the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954. We didn't even have a pledge until 1892, and it wasn't quite what it is today: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands---one nation indivisible---with liberty and justice for all." It wasn't even created to honor the country or the flag, it was written by a preacher to celebrate Columbus Day.

[@elia.almodovar9558]

No. That happened during and because of the American Civil War. Before that we were New Yorkers, Alabamians, Michiganders and Georgians. After it we became "Americans".

[@DuggageHu]

It seems that the secret forward base mentioned at 21:30 was Majuro. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[@jaddy540]

There are only 425,000 WW2 vets still alive. Be kind to them.

[@richardss1261]

Including veterans of the wehrmacht?

[@jamesmueller1921]

jaddy540,,, And my 92 y.o. dad is one... Sea Bees... Pacific theater.lied about his age, then...

[@SP-qo3pd]

@Time to make ChangesEveryone is forgotten in death you idiot. Do you think anyone gives two shits about your dead great grandmother? No! because anyone who ever knew her is already dead. Pro tip: Never feed the trolls.

[@SP-qo3pd]

@Time to make Changes Yep just like Vietnam vets.

[@getredytagetredy]

If America backed Germany, I guarantee you we would be living in a much better world ...

[@DaSnipy]

GREATEST GENERATION .. so many of these were 18 yr old like me .. but I am just from 'a' generation .. while these .. LEGENDS .. are the GREATEST GENERATION .. Salute and Respect .. Its because of them .. that we breath free.. Makes me wonder .. If such great threat befalls our nation again .. will WE .. the current millennials .. be able to show that we come from the same salt ? From The Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave ?

[@ghgghgyuhkljjijijui]

My sentiments exactly!Look at all their technology and industry and of course their heroism all those years ago.take the planes & ships.No doubt the Greatest Generation were not stupid or lazy.We may know more but I have to think they are a hell of a lot smarter than us spoiled lazy brats of today.And of course heroism,they are giants.Everyday I wonder:70+years ago HOW did they DO all that?

[@InTheLifeOfAnArtist]

DaSnipy the millennials would have to learn to do what they need or be ran over. They brag they are smarter. They better prove it.

[@andyz.5431]

The greatest generation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4PJaYqcqrCee8U

[@verarapoza198]

Robert Taylor was my mother's absolutely, positively, favorite actor !!!

[@georgeroe9750]

The Millennials seem to constantly prove that they're much Dumber!

[@billbright1755]

Geez Skipper,,, why’d you have chew my tail feathers off. ( only thought while saluting) Yes Sir !

[@manoelluizteixeira8073]

Documentários que nos ensinam como era e como é hoje, a guerra, que muitas vezes não podem ser evitadas, etc. maneco - Porto Alegre-RS - Brasil.

[@timearly5226]

43:53 The pilots from the footage in remembrance looked like they were straight from Norman Rockwell paintings.

[@lorenzodunn3226]

Excellent Documentary

[@terryschnaider5374]

The Fighting a lady great doc.

[@jerrybuirski2344]

An American Admiral, I forgot which one, said after the War that when one of their carriers took a direct Kamikaze hit, it was at the least six months' repairs in a drydock in the States, but when one hit an English carrier,it was ready for operations as soon as the broom detail has cleared the deck! In order to carry more planes the US carriers had very thin upper decks. That said, the bravery of these sailors and airmen were off the scale.

[@coachhannah2403]

For all that being true, the US lost not one fleet carrier after the pre-war carriers, and Enterprise and Saratoga survived the war. Franklin survived, but never got back to the war.

[@johnnyblade4351]

Respect to All who served for freedom. We had a Lovely guy next door Called Lenny he was deafish was in the battle of the Coral Sea .. A Wonderful old guy.I still have fond memories of him . What we call in England ''A Good Ole Boy'' He made me & my bro a concrete Gnome ...... 1985 .. I was spraying my Bass Emerald Green ... I miss that Man & that Gnome XX

[@TheOldnic]

Which motor racing track did they use to get the background engine noise to slow down and muffle, and which sewing machine factory for the gun mechanism tapping?

[@karlchilders5420]

"Skipper Dixxie" was Commodore Dixie Kiefer. That dude was more banged up than someone that is dating Chris Brown... He had a broken arm when he died in a plane crash, and had been promised a return to sea duty when his arm healed. He was XO of the Yorktown during the filming of this documentary, "The Fighting Lady".

[@aldovelasco4134]

Excelente material historico... felicitaciones!!..👍👍

[@waynesmith3754]

. Initially to have been named Bonhomme Richard, she was renamed Yorktown while still under construction to commemorate the loss of USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Yorktown was commissioned in April 1943

[@arthursmith6854]

This is the movie "The Fighting Lady" with a different heading

[@robertmorris8997]

CV-14 was USS Ticonderoga. I saw the number on the stern on the ship when they were showing aircraft landing. 1:39. USS Ticonderoga was commissioned in May 1944.

[@dcmkeudnf]

These documentaries use whatever film footage looks good. There were probably half a dozen carriers in the film. According to the notes above, the "story" was about the Yorktown.

[@capie44]

@@dcmkeudnf : One of which was the CV 10 Yorktown.

[@capie44]

Ha! I like researching films too! I caught CV-10 Yorktown here as well. I saw CV 14 like you did. :-)

[@robertmorris8997]

@@dcmkeudnf Yeah, WHICH Yorktown is the story about?

[@williamsimmons152]

My uncle was hanger deck commander on the T the last 5 months of the war

[@winkerdude]

My dad was on the carrier USS Lexington. They took a few kamakazi hits. One of my first toys was a twisted burned piece of metal. He brought a piece of one of the suicide planes home. It killed several of his buddies.

[@zdzichus.3264]

And....??? R u proud? Really?

[@tomhernonjr]

do you still have it?

[@chopchop7938]

@@zdzichus.3264 You got your answer pal.

[@zdzichus.3264]

thank you guys, I can understand it, after all...

[@rolandolabid9556]

guyz do you fell from his unreal comment or what??!!

[@lunaticfringe8066]

Great color footage of WW2.

[@rohitmishra9517]

The best naval war documentary I have ever seen. Russia-Germany WW II land army fight was the most massive one and US-Japan naval war is the grandest and bitterest one.

[@blogengeezer4507]

-Japan was very small, in comparison to the Force' against individual Freedom we now face. From Within.

[@johnwadsworth7086]

You got em

[@dhss333]

I can't see the orchestra-where is it?

[@hvyopratr]

I love these old movies, no apologies back then for being american and fighting for freedom. I thank them for my freedom!!!

[@billywray4524]

free? u r brainwashed

[@andrewtaylor940]

So given the Skipper “Jocko” and the specific assortment of aircraft, particularly the brand new Curtiss SB2Y Helldivers mixed with the Dauntless’s, I’m going to guess that this is footage of CV-10 Yorktown’s shakedown cruise. Where her mission was to attempt to Carrier certify the Helldiver’s. She failed at that, the planes needed major improvements. Yorktown departed for Pearl with Dauntless’s instead.

[@tommyvictorbuch6960]

And young people today want safe spaces, because words hurt. Let that sink in...

[@batmandeltaforce]

yup... you can not offend someone unless they want to be offended. For some unstable people it gives their life meaning... in some perverted way:)

[@dhss333]

What's your point here? Why shouldn't they want safe spaces?

[@scottleft3672]

Self hate will do that....they all end up saying regretfully....if only someone had been stricter when they were young..

[@batmandeltaforce]

The only safe space is solitary confinement.

[@leona7522]

Words didnt hurt back then? Come on.

[@evilchaosboy]

I am left...awestruck. \m/

[@financialwolf4123]

I will advise you to invest in crypto now the market is favorably with the help of my account manager mr James carter and earn good profits like I do

[@financialwolf4123]

+ 4 4 7 8 8 1 5 6 2 5 7 9

[@financialwolf4123]

CONTACT HIM ON WHATSAPP

[@surf7lakemich1]

Colonel Potter i.e. Harry Morgan doing the voice over for the carrier's skipper!

[@351linzdoctor]

Had a chance to visit the Fighting Lady in Charleston SC. very cool to see some of the planes on display in hangar bay in this film and to see the Plot Room too!

[@351linzdoctor]

@dražen g CV-5 is but CV-10 is in Charleston SC!

[@outfield1988]

TBF Avengers,Hellcats,Hell divers awesome

[@michaelgmoore5708]

Roy Cronsell , Gruman Hellcat planes wing flap motors were made by the A. C. Gilbert Co. The same motors used for American Flyer toy trains in the 1940s and 50s How about that?

[@louisavondart9178]

in one of those ships being bombed at Truk were 7,000 Japanese soldiers who were supposed to go to Tarawa to re-inforce that island. They're still in the ship......

[@gruglet]

Ive noticed a reoccurring set of comments that state that this generation youths don't compare to these guys. Are you forgetting that at this moment there are youth of this age serving in war zones giving it their all? I cannot take away the heroism of these pilots, nor should I, but people are giving up their lives to defend what these people fought for. Times have changed but dying for your country and the pride that comes in service should never be disparaged. I may have long hair but I live on a Vets pension and get sick of people denigrating the youth of today, Lest we forget

[@carolecarr5210]

During the VietNam war our Pilots were not allowed to blast enemy aircraft on ground. Insanity prevailed!!

[@SteveBrownRocks2023]

This is a GREAT film! 👏🏼😁🇺🇸

[@abin2112]

43:43 moment to salute

[@beebop9808]

God bless our fallen warriors and God bless America.

[@scottriley1913]

This was narrated by Hollywood A list actor Robert Taylor. Can you imagine in that day many of these actors stepped up to the plate, deferred their careers and went to war and nearly all of them supported the military and war effort. We were all on the same sheet of music in those days. Today’s actors wouldn’t be worthy to be in same room as these people.

[@Joe-kb1sm]

Yeah, brave men like Jimmy Stewart and others.

[@jeanmeslier9491]

Many of them made training films. John Ford was the cameraman on Midway, he shot the films shown in the documentaries. Photographers and newspaper reporters joined as correspondents. Non-combatants, many of them were killed. Don't forget the Salvation Army soldiers who served the servicemen. A great-uncle was in the trenches in WWI. He said the Salvation Army soldiers brought them food during fighting. Many were killed. He had the greatest respect for them. You didn't want to ask him about the "other" support group.

[@herbertbachenheimer1191]

Amen to that, things have certainly changed, its such a shame how today's society is trying to tear this country apart into socialism just look around the world where its gotten other places that believe everything is free

[@badmasis]

hope NO WORLD war 3 for coming generation .those pilots mainly dive bomber are bravest man ever lived in this earth

[@scottyfox6376]

You thought war was hell.. welcome to KZbin comments..😂

[@erikhertzer8434]

Remarkable that much of this video contains much footage that I and im sure many, have never seen...

[@rahkinrah1963]

Seen a bunch of this before...in "The Fighting Lady".

[@leondillon8723]

2:19)The ship's Officer Commanding(OC)would have been commissioned a 3rd LieuTenant(O-1)with 1 cuff ring. 2nd L.T.(O-2) had 2.1st LT(O-3) 3. Captains(O-6) had 6.The 1919 Class was the first Ensigns(O-1). 13:04)Kwajalein took 6 weeks. Before ending, US Army operations to the west cut off some supply lines.The battle became a sideshow. 31:20)USS Penn.(BB 38)(Class)was 1 of 2. USS Penn. and the PT 73 was transferred from Alaska. 42:50)This footage was used in "Midway". The movie pilot died.

[@josefkopacz1144]

The unmistakable voice of Robert Taylor.

[@duncanmaclean1001]

This is really good!

[@rickyhenry4958]

Amazing footage!

[@alphalunamare]

Impressive!

[@goldbell1972]

35:15 The torpedo bomber didn't missed the ship, it's from a Kamikazi attack footage

[@benjamimavaroma5601]

Tenho maior admiração por esses filmes da 2° guerra

[@thomasedin9342]

I'm just in awe of the sacrifices the sailors, airmen, and soldiers gave in WW II. God bless them all.

[@scottleft3672]

Harry Morgans voice (mash series) is awsome as the carrier commander...lol.

[@SuperCarcher]

scott left sounds like Ward Bond

[@thebonesaw..4634]

4:36 - I was a submariner. We were coming in to Holy Lock through the north channel at night. The sea state was 8 (30 to 45 foot swells)... and our sail was only 16 feet above the deck. Because of the swells, we were not standing watch in the very top of the sail, we were in an area just below it, called - fittingly enough - the "weather deck". We had two plexiglass windows we could look out of... but they were completely useless because you couldn't see out of them even on the brightest sunny day. So, we were lashed to the inside of the weather deck, looking out of those "windows" at these completely amorphous black blobs swirling and rising in front of us. About every 20 seconds or so, a wave would break over the top of our sail and we would be floating, suspended underwater inside that sail for about two or three seconds... then the water would drain out and we'd wait another 20 seconds or so for the next wave to hit. For four hours, I stood watch like that. Eventually, I was relieved and able to get back inside the boat. I don't believe there's been any moment in my life where I felt warmer or where I was more exhausted than after that topside watch. The only enjoyable part was, after it was over, we were rewarded with a half-hour shower (a rare occasion on a submarine), and I got that water as hot as I could stand it. I slept like the dead that night. We could have been rammed by a carrier with the collision alarm blaring in my ears for 5 minutes and it wouldn't have woken me up.

[@paigetomkinson1137]

Submariners are a special breed. My grandfather was one during WWII. I don't know if it's still true, but back then the sailors who volunteered for subs ( it was only voluntary for submarines) had to take special psyche tests to make sure they wouldn't crack up inside the boat. They did get paid more than sailors on other vessels, though.