Philippine content: The Naval Battle of the Philippines,
12:05 - 18:15

[Transcription]: Starting at Saipan in June, then striking at the Bonins and landing on Guam, the Navy's 1,500-mile Pacific offensive drew closer to the Philippines. Then came simultaneous invasion of the Palau Group and Morotai—softening up strikes against Formosa and Philippine bases. The pounding of Leyte and first landings by General MacArthur's troops. Guarding Leyte against possible Jap naval action was the US Seventh Fleet under Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid. The larger Third Fleet of Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. was standing off eastern Luzon as protection against enemy action from the north. The only ship passages through the Philippines are Surigao Strait running between Leyte and Mindanao, and San Bernardino Strait between Samar and Luzon. On 23rd October, carriers' searches discovered two strong enemy naval moving eastward towards these passages. In spite of damage inflicted by our carrier aircraft, the enemy gained contact with units of the Seventh Fleet. Admiral Kinkaid had divided his fleet to cover both straights. On the morning of the 24th, the enemy force, which sortied through San Bernardino Straight, was engaged off Samar Island.

A task group detached from the Third Fleet including heavy ships and carriers aided in the destruction and robbing of the enemy force.

The southern enemy units, which attempted to pass through Surigao Strait, were met by rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf's force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. The Admiral himself commanded the vessels on the left flank. Rear Admiral Wyler, commanding battleships, was in the center; Rear Admiral Berkey commanded the right flank force of cruisers and destroyers. Our ships were firing on fixed ranges. As the enemy vessels were under crossfire, we could hit them with guns and torpedoes at the same time.

Our forces pursued the retreating enemy through both the Surigao and San Bernardino Straits.

Meanwhile, a Jap carrier force north of Luzon had been overtaken and defeated on a surprise maneuver by the Third Fleet. In his October 29th communicate, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz reported that at least 58 enemy vessels were sunk or damaged in the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea.

These navy films cover an early phase of the 6-day battle wherein one of our fleets east of the Philippines was under heavy attack by land based planes.

A Jap Zeke comes down in flames.

It was in this attack that the USS Princeton was hit by a bomb. The ship was so badly damaged by a subsequent explosion in her magazine that she had to be sunk. The Princeton, a 10,000-ton carrier of the Independence class, was the first combat carrier lost in two years.

Otherwise, most of the American carriers escaped damage. Here, one of our aircraft, an Avenger, returns with a missing left wheel and makes a safe landing.

The plane handling crews take every precaution.

Another pilot brings down a damaged Diver which is minus its tail hook. As the plane can't be stopped by the arresting gear, the pilot must rely on his breaks.

This ship is trailing smoke as the pilot covers the last yards to the carrier.

Losses of enemy aircraft in this engagement are reported to total more than 150.

The Navy's top ranking ace is Commander David McCampbell, here seen returning to his carrier.

Commander McCampbell's plane shows 19 Jap flags. Two more were added on the mission from which he now returns. He has since been credited with 11 more kills, bringing his total to 32.

In paying tribute to the fleet's airman, Admiral Nimitz said in his communicate, much of the credit for the destruction inflicted to the Japanese fleet goes to the Naval airman who gallantly and relentlessly pressed their attacks home with telling effect.

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