Awesome! Please thank him for his service, and ask him if he knew my grandfather, Henry Garrou! He served on the BW after being on the Ranger in the Atlantic. I believe he worked in supply/aviation stores, and was a bofors loader during battle stations.
Hey gunny, Long shot here - could you see if your grandfather knew an Aviation Ordinance-man Joe Duffield? Would have been a tall guy - over 6’ which seemed less common in the 40s. My family would love to know anything - he unfortunately passed away in the 70s.
My Grandfather served on the USS Belleau Wood. I remember him showing me this footage when I was a kid, he told us stories of the day the kamakaze pilot hit. My grandfather passed away in 2015. I got a tattoo of this ship in his memory. Miss the old man. Respect to him and everyone that served in WW2!
My Grand Dad served on the USS Belleau Wood. I remember him telling me about the Kamakaze attack when I was a kid. He passed away Dec 7th. 1997. Who knows Joe, they may have been friends. Never know
My uncle John Freitas died on the Bell eau Wood that day about 5 years before my birth... My grandmother would never be the same after the telegram arrived....so I learned My Mom’s favorite sibling of 4 he was killed by a kamikaze plane! Thank you Sir for sharing this footage
So glad i found this footage! It deserves to be historically updated with narration. My grandfather served onboard the Belleau Wood as a meteorologist and medic. Occasionally he would tell me about his time in the pacific and help me understand more of why he was such an incredible individual.
My uncle, Herb Logsdon, was a radioman on the Belleau Wood. He perished in the forward ready room when the kamikazee hit. He was my father's only brother. My dad served on the USS Toro in the South Pacific. Dad grieved for Herb the rest of his life.
If the original film still exists it should be donated to the National Archives, US Naval Aviation Museum or similar for proper preservation. I suspect a better digitization than this is possible and should be done - it's priceless!
my great grandfather served in the engine room on the Belleau wood and i even got his name crazy cool to see this he always told me to never forget the sacrifice of his fellow soldiers
Thank you for uploading this! My grandfather was a ventral gunner on an Avenger from USS Belleau Wood. I believe this was before his tour, but I’m not sure. I think he was on board even later than this in ‘45.
My father, Dan Harrison, was a young 19 year old Gunner's Mate (from Eastanollee, Georgia) on the Belleau Wood. When the Kamikaze hit, The fire and explosions destroyed every gun mount till it got to his. If one more plane had caught fire, I would not be here! His gun position got so hot from the inferno that they had to abandon it. About 94 Americans lost their lives that awful day! I almost cried when I thought how Dad would have loved to have seen this video! Dad was the one that fired the 10 gauge shotgun that sent the initial line over the ship that they would use to then attach larger cables to transfer material between ships at sea. He said it kicked like a mule!
My grandfather Joseph Bubenick was abroad the Bellawood that day. I ultimately joined the Marine Corps in honor of the Bellawood and the pride I have for where I live.
It’s so good to hear from everyone my father Olin Hopkins also served on her as a Pharmacist Mate he would have loved to see these. He was a great father. Glad to hear some are still alive. One of my greatest privileges was knowing the veterans from WW2. May Heavenly Father continue to bless all of you.
My grandfather was a pilot, Edric Mason, was on the USS Belleauwood. He would have loved to seen this. His plane was the only one on the ship the didn’t get hit by the kamikaze attack.some of the planes fell off the ship, Some of the planes fell in the hole were the kamikaze hit. That was why they had a big fireball showing.
My paternal grandfather Marion Wilkinson served on the Belleau Wood. Earned his nickname “Tiny” and was known by that name the rest of his life. Enlisted at 17. Discharged as a Coxswains Mate 2nd Class.
Thanks for posting this! My uncle (and godfather) served aboard her during the war as a yeoman. I have his insignia and knife with a scabbard that he carried. He didn’t like to talk much about the kamikaze attacks.
Avenger was a very big plane at the time, Belleau Wood was built on a light cruiser hull. The pilots had nerves of steel to bring them down on a pitching deck. They flew the same planes off CVE's even smaller decks, Naval aviators earn every dime of salary
I was thinking this while watching them land in this video. 1944, no fancy gadgets helping. The ship undulating in the ocean. Odds are you probably just went through some sort of living hell prior to coming back to land. Flying through AA fire, dogfighting a zero...something. gonna set my plane down on that moving, small landing pad in the ocean. Seriously, these guys were freaking amazing.
Burial at sea….wow. I don’t know if I like it or don’t. I’ll bet the families would like the body back but in war who can get that done logistically. I am sure it is well thought out.
You can definitely tell the age and condition of the film. I agree with jkaposi that at least half of the footage is in reverse. I wish my father was alive to see this footage and tell me the background.
Thank you for uploading this. My grandfather served on the Belleau Wood and he's still alive. I'm going to show this to him this weekend.
Awesome! Please thank him for his service, and ask him if he knew my grandfather, Henry Garrou! He served on the BW after being on the Ranger in the Atlantic. I believe he worked in supply/aviation stores, and was a bofors loader during battle stations.
Hey gunny,
Long shot here - could you see if your grandfather knew an Aviation Ordinance-man Joe Duffield? Would have been a tall guy - over 6’ which seemed less common in the 40s. My family would love to know anything - he unfortunately passed away in the 70s.
My Grandfather served on the USS Belleau Wood. I remember him showing me this footage when I was a kid, he told us stories of the day the kamakaze pilot hit. My grandfather passed away in 2015. I got a tattoo of this ship in his memory. Miss the old man. Respect to him and everyone that served in WW2!
My Grand Dad served on the USS Belleau Wood.
I remember him telling me about the Kamakaze attack when I was a kid. He passed away Dec 7th. 1997. Who knows Joe, they may have been friends. Never know
My uncle John Freitas died on the Bell eau Wood that day about 5 years before my birth...
My grandmother would never be the same after the telegram arrived....so I learned
My Mom’s favorite sibling of 4 he was killed by a kamikaze plane! Thank you Sir for sharing this footage
Thanks for your uncles service!🇺🇸🇺🇸
My grandfather was on the USS Belleau Wood CVL 24 thank you for showing this I wish he had lived to see this. 👮♂️
I’m sorry...my Mother’s closest sibling died aboard that day, Oct 30, 1944
this is unbelievable. I'd give the world to be able to sit down with my Grandpa and watch this.
So glad i found this footage! It deserves to be historically updated with narration. My grandfather served onboard the Belleau Wood as a meteorologist and medic. Occasionally he would tell me about his time in the pacific and help me understand more of why he was such an incredible individual.
My uncle, Herb Logsdon, was a radioman on the Belleau Wood. He perished in the forward ready room when the kamikazee hit. He was my father's only brother. My dad served on the USS Toro in the South Pacific. Dad grieved for Herb the rest of his life.
If the original film still exists it should be donated to the National Archives, US Naval Aviation Museum or similar for proper preservation. I suspect a better digitization than this is possible and should be done - it's priceless!
my great grandfather served in the engine room on the Belleau wood and i even got his name crazy cool to see this he always told me to never forget the sacrifice of his fellow soldiers
Thank you for uploading this! My grandfather was a ventral gunner on an Avenger from USS Belleau Wood. I believe this was before his tour, but I’m not sure. I think he was on board even later than this in ‘45.
My dad was on fantail when hit by "divine wind" thank you for video.
What up Ryan, I’m Ryan. Great video btw 💪🏻💪🏻
My father, Dan Harrison, was a young 19 year old Gunner's Mate (from Eastanollee, Georgia) on the Belleau Wood. When the Kamikaze hit, The fire and explosions destroyed every gun mount till it got to his. If one more plane had caught fire, I would not be here! His gun position got so hot from the inferno that they had to abandon it. About 94 Americans lost their lives that awful day! I almost cried when I thought how Dad would have loved to have seen this video! Dad was the one that fired the 10 gauge shotgun that sent the initial line over the ship that they would use to then attach larger cables to transfer material between ships at sea. He said it kicked like a mule!
My grandfather Joseph Bubenick was abroad the Bellawood that day. I ultimately joined the Marine Corps in honor of the Bellawood and the pride I have for where I live.
It’s so good to hear from everyone my father Olin Hopkins also served on her as a Pharmacist Mate he would have loved to see these. He was a great father. Glad to hear some are still alive. One of my greatest privileges was knowing the veterans from WW2. May Heavenly Father continue to bless all of you.
My grandfather was aboard. Henry Garrou. 40mm Bofors gunner.
Amazing video! Absolutely amazing.
great film...thanks
My grandfather was a pilot, Edric Mason, was on the USS Belleauwood. He would have loved to seen this. His plane was the only one on the ship the didn’t get hit by the kamikaze attack.some of the planes fell off the ship, Some of the planes fell in the hole were the kamikaze hit. That was why they had a big fireball showing.
My paternal grandfather Marion Wilkinson served on the Belleau Wood. Earned his nickname “Tiny” and was known by that name the rest of his life. Enlisted at 17. Discharged as a Coxswains Mate 2nd Class.
My Husbands Uncle was killed that day. I wished the video had sound, as I am curious as to the funeral footage. THANK YOU for sharing this
Thanks for posting this! My uncle (and godfather) served aboard her during the war as a yeoman. I have his insignia and knife with a scabbard that he carried. He didn’t like to talk much about the kamikaze attacks.
My father served on the USS Belleau Wood CVL4 during World War II John J Ippolito Sr
air force pilots were a crazy lot , but marines & navy pilots were just crazy !
Avenger was a very big plane at the time, Belleau Wood was built on a light cruiser hull. The pilots had nerves of steel to bring them down on a pitching deck. They flew the same planes off CVE's even smaller decks, Naval aviators earn every dime of salary
I was thinking this while watching them land in this video. 1944, no fancy gadgets helping. The ship undulating in the ocean. Odds are you probably just went through some sort of living hell prior to coming back to land. Flying through AA fire, dogfighting a zero...something. gonna set my plane down on that moving, small landing pad in the ocean.
Seriously, these guys were freaking amazing.
Yep, thats pretty fantastic. Half the footage is in reverse though.
Dam them planes hit hard when landing
Sold for scrapping 21 November 1960
24 fighters & 9 torpedo planes.
My Father served on this ship during wwll, he also served on the uss boxer -
What was the purpose of the tethers between the ships? Also, where was this footage taken?
The USS Belleau Wood served in the Pacific Fleet and participated in some battles in the Phillippines.
USA Pilots YEAH!
WHAT IT MUST HAVE TAKEN TO LAND ON THAT LITTLE CARRIER WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE SIZE OF MY ENGINEERING PLANT ON MY CARRIER...
Burial at sea….wow. I don’t know if I like it or don’t. I’ll bet the families would like the body back but in war who can get that done logistically. I am sure it is well thought out.
You can definitely tell the age and condition of the film. I agree with jkaposi that at least half of the footage is in reverse. I wish my father was alive to see this footage and tell me the background.
My Father's brother served on her, thru the end of the war.