Guadalcanal Then and Now - Epic Drone Footage!

Aerial footage of the Guadalcanal battlefields (Solomon Islands). Bloody Ridge, Alligator Creek, Japanese Memorial, Kinugawa Maru wreck and more! Visit www.battlefields.com.au to plan your visit to Guadalcanal, and other battlefields in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

[@leslievictorine5368]

Amazing footage of then and now. My father was in the battle of Guadalcanal, Peleliu and Cape Gloucester.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Leslie Victorine thanks for the comments. It sure is an amazing place. I have huge respect for your father and the men he served with.

[@printolive5512]

Mine was on Guadalcanal with the 164th Infantry where he was Ex Officer of C Company. He was evacuated in Jan with severe malaria and was unfit to return to the Pacific so Uncle Sam sent him to Europe in 1944-45. What a deal ??

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Respect Phil.

[@DineoMogoera]

Din eo❤❤ Rdneb❤❤

[@ConfusedAcorn-ym2qm]

A9r😂​@@MatMcLachlanHistory

[@changethetimes]

The worst part of this is that we sent our young men.. As did they to needlessly but heroically die at each others hands.. And now thier grand children play games depicting the horror.. As if it was fun.. As if millions of young people didn't die.. And as of those who survived had to live the remainder of thier days with the memory of what they did. War is senseless.. But what comes after is just astonishingly bizzare.

[@Ash_P_]

My Dad and I stood on the small white monument on Bloody Ridge in 1995. A peaceful surreal experience.

[@oregonmodding]

I'm trying to build a diorama on a p-38 crash that the pilot Parrished in. His name is Maj. Peyton Mathis Jr. He was Finley sent home after 70 years. The plane is sitting at the war museum on the island and I need more video footage of the growth of the island. I'm hoping you may have some of the location near the wreck or of the marshy parts of the island. The story of this man's life is amazing and should be told. I'm hoping if I can make a diorama that will catch some looks that we can shine some light on this man and what he did for us all. Please msg me if you think you can help me in any way. Thank you

[@rpool5874]

I’m afraid there will never be another generation as heroic and unselfish as that one.

[@4672-m9f]

You are correct Sir

[@syberpunk]

Us millennials would definitely win in a Twitter war, though!

[@otiscambell1883]

You got that right

[@itsallGudmin]

It's so sad that their children basically ruined the future of our planet for another 100 years

[@diefock]

Heriosim you call it right, but look at the brighter picture you gained the most

[@JoeNicks389]

My dad fought there in the battle of Mount Austin. He never talked much about that time. I know he would wake up at night, when I was little, and be soaking wet with sweat. He never forgot his time there as my mom would tell me later in life after he passed.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

It was a tough battle. Respect for your dad.

[@uf9309]

The pacific theatre is the most fascinating to me. It’s cool to see it from the sky. I wish the video was longer.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Jesse Newalis thanks for the comments. I’ll upload more footage after my next visit!

[@MrGreen-sk3ws]

My father was on USS Barton DD 599 which was sunk during night action against Japanese fleet Guadalcanal Nov 12, 1942. He a boatswain's mate and survived with very few other crew. All other brave souls remain on station below.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thanks for sharing. Lest we forget.

[@aprylrittenhouse4562]

I cannot imagine the terror of drowning. I almost did many yrs ago diving too deep and almost not making it back to to surface. My heart goes out to all the saiilors who've died at station. They are all honored in my book

[@robingermon4071]

I worked on the Solomon's in the 80,s and spent a great deal of time looking around Henderson field.as a CPL, i was most interested in aircraft wrecks and the airfield itself.With a guide one could spend weeks on Henderson field and the many battle field areas. The Hotel over looking Henderson Field is a great place to stay. The social life on Saturday night is amazing in so far as there are so many interesting people to talk with. ie US veterans and especially the natives evacuated from Gardner Island in early 1940. These people totally confirm that Earhart never landed on Gardner Island. A number of Jodel and other signal engine aircraft fly in from a number of near by Island country. The feeling on Henderson field is electric.The history was the most intense in the world I believe. retired CPL.

[@4672-m9f]

My buddy Tony said they saw her plane shot up,on a island,can't remember which,one dead male,no female

[@robertappleby4734]

My Dad fought here. RIP Pop

[@chriszin94]

Respect to your father, Robert.

[@1337fraggzb00N]

😢😢😢

[@LCMNUNES1962]

BATALHAS SANGRENTAS OCORRERAM ALI, MORREU MUITA GENTE NAQUELA ILHA, BRASIL CONGRATULATIONs

[@vernonslone8627]

Growing up you never brought anything made in Japan in our house....If you did it went right in the trash...

[@thornjagger850]

My great uncle Andrew Dawson died there. Buried in an American mass grave in Australia.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Hi Thorn. Interesting, but I don’t know of any American servicemen buried in Australia, particularly in a mass grave. Guadalcanal casualties were reinterred in the ABMC cemeteries in the Philippines or Hawaii. Do you have more information?

[@thornjagger850]

@@MatMcLachlanHistory we have a letter from the military stating his death and another where his buried.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

I’d be very interested to see those letters. My contact details are at Livinghistorytv.com

[@johnbowler395]

Hi. I am Australian and have been interested in the Pacific war for many years as well as having served in a unit in the Australian Defence Force that took part in a lot of commemorations and ceremonies. I have never heard of American mass graves in Australia, and to me it seems out of character that we would leave the bodies of our fallen allies in such conditions without giving them a respectful burial. Could be wrong though, and if so would be interested to know where it is.

[@trucktalkvideos]

Seen it on newsreels so nice to see what's it's like today the three armoured vehicles could be Boffalos

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

Was not even born during these battles, never the less , all war veterans living or deceased deserv3 all reverence and respect for all the sacrifices they have given. God rest there souls. Might the walk in his light forever. Amen.

[@olentangy74]

Tremendous footage of a landscape where heroes walked.. Most of us here in america will never see these places with our own eyes. Thank you for showing it to us.

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

My pleasure!

[@awesomefailarmy7727]

I'm from Solomon Island.. all the places in the footage,, I've been to already.. history of WWII Guadalcanal

[@4672-m9f]

Be Strong,Semper Fi, Louis Puller says Attack,Attack,Attack

[@sophalsem8669]

Thank You for this Video....Very often , when I am Not sleeppy...I mostly watch....War historic Vidéo....For me , these historic images of the War are the Proof of SACRIFICES paid by those GI's and other soldiers of Allies Forces...!!! Some People that do not known about these battles....may forget that Without these. SACRIFICES , ....South-East Asia would bé under the Military Japanese Empire....and even thought..... thé USA and the Allies , who are the Winners of the Pacific War... had left...the South Pacific like before the War.....that means.... as International Properties...!!!! It is a shame for Humanity... and especially for chinés People when Communist China government ( The RPC ) claims that the South China Sea and every Island of this Sea belong to China....!!!!

[@chiefexecutive]

Murica !

[@jdevine42]

Excellent footage woulda loved to have seen alot more juxtaposition...too short

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thank you! The weather limited the amount of filming I could do, but I’ll shoot more on my next trip.

[@4672-m9f]

Semper Fi Dad

[@aprylrittenhouse4562]

Thank you your channel has given me visual to a battle I didn't know much about. I'm gonna read bob leckiesvbook

[@gone547]

R.I.P. Lest We Forget

[@noonespecial9629]

I believe in a time of peace there are no need for heroes but when the world seems dark they'll always be those that will stand against the darkness and hold the torch for others to rally around

[@miked1765]

What’s the venomous snake population like on Guadalcanal?

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Mike D I’ve never seen a snake in 10+ trips, but I’m sure they are there.

[@miked1765]

I expect so. Kind of curious about how much of a problem they were for the troops during their time on Guadalcanal. Did we, and the Japanese, suffer causalities due to snakebites?

[@elzycalors1654]

@@miked1765 as to date there is no venomous snakes recorded although in myths youll here tales ..

[@miked1765]

Elzy Calors Are you saying there are no venomous snakes on Guadalcanal?

[@scottthrower7637]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. :)

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@raffboss33]

"Bloody ridge" is the real place of "The red line" in the film?

[@GodOfWar221]

No, I don’t believe so. As that was Army in Thin Red Line. And Bloody Ridge, otherwise known as “Edson’s Ridge” was held by the Marines. And the Japanese launched several consecutive assaults to force the Marines off the ridge, and retake Henderson Field.

[@raffboss33]

@@GodOfWar221 ok thanks for the information .

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Thin Red Line was set on the ridge known as Galloping Horse (renamed ‘Dancing Elephant’ in the book), fought by the army in January 1943. You can organise a guide and visit it on Guadalcanal - it’s a tough climb, but worth it. One of the most interesting battlefields I have visited. Bloody Ridge was the scene of a famous Marine action in September 1942.

[@michaelangelo8139]

What happened to all the Palm trees ?

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Michael Angelo Michael Angelo many of the palm plantations were never replanted after being neglected during the war years. They have now reverted to jungle. There are still some though, as you can see at 1.07.

[@miked1765]

I recall that after the war the government had to pay Lever Brothers, who owned many of the Coconut groves, for all the trees they destroyed during the war.

[@AsiaMinor12]

@@miked1765 wierd how you never think of coconut business ventures during a war even though the battle took place in a tropical island. Interesting stuff.

[@defendkebab797]

What is that sunken ship at the beginning?

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

It's the Kinugawa Maru, a Japanese transport ship that was sunk by US aircraft on Nov 15, 1942.

[@ALPINA527]

Wow amazingly surreal

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

SuperStormtroop thanks! It’s an amazing place. 👍🏼

[@darklord1134]

Superb thanks for the upload .

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

Dark Lord my pleasure.

[@wanderingaround4175]

nice video congratulations

[@MatMcLachlanHistory]

canal do mula Thanks! It’s an amazing place.

[@dsbond8048]

Annoying music. I didn't turn it down because I thought there might be some narrative presented.