"THE NORTHERN ROAD TO TOKYO" WWII U.S. NAVY SEABEES CONSTRUCTION BATTALIONS IN ALEUTIANS XD60144
“The Northern Road to Tokyo - Seabee Report” is a 1945 U.S. Navy WWII informational training film about the United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, which form the U.S. Naval Construction Force (NCF). It was produced by Pathescope of America, Inc. Responsible for both construction and battle, the CBs responsibilities include setting up infrastructure for operations and landing with assault troops upon initial arrival. The “Northern Road to Tokyo” consists of the Aleutian Islands, a chain of islands from the Alaskan mainland that head toward Japan and act as a base for the U.S.
(2:05) Map of the Aleutian islands dividing the North Pacific and the Bering Sea, described as a key to the U.S.’ North Pacific strategy (3:07). On the ground in the Aleutian Islands, which consists of rough terrain, active volcanoes, and unpredictable climate (3:27). Establishing bases on the island, which consist of resources needing to be flown in (3:51) Tents provide shelter while the first airstrip is built and bulldozers move dirt and water away to make way for construction (4:37) P-39 Airacobra seen on the runway. Instead of concrete, steel matting is laid by hand. Planes begin to land on the new Aleutian base after 10 to 11 days of continuous construction (5:38) PBY Catalina is exposed to squall. Fierce winds on the island require weather stations to be established on the islands (6:13) Seabees survey the land for future construction and plan construction as they look through layouts (7:13) Seabees unload construction materials on barges docked by the island, receive letters from home, and utilize power tools to assist them with their work (8:45) Construction of a building begins, and trusses are hauled by cranes and its structural support is laid out (10:48) Bulldozers tear through the island’s tundra, often consisting of frozen material and volcanic ash that can wear down the machines (11:29) Chef at work (11:58). Electricians lay out power lines, pipelines for fuel tanks are built, cooks serve meals, and communication towers are set up (12:46) Recreation on the base includes movies, bowling alleys, and religious services (14:00) Creating an enlarged water supply from the snow using dams, one of the last stages of construction (15:00) Map of the Pacific area near Japan, with U.S. attacks on Japan coming from the Philippines, the Mariana Islands, Russia, and now, the U.S. presence in the Aleutian Islands (15:48) Bulldozers and plows shovel snow away on the airstrip and planes fly overhead to guard the new base
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