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This film (originally titled as ‘The Fighting Lady’) is a 1944 documentary produced by the U.S. Navy and narrated by Lt. Robert Taylor USNR. The film follows the World War 2 exploits of the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) (unidentified in the film), in its first major operations following its commissioning in 1943. Because of war time restrictions, the name of the aircraft carrier was disguised as "the Fighting Lady". ("Fighting Lady" was the known moniker of the Yorktown, just as "Lady Lex" for Lexington, "The Big E" for Enterprise, etc.)
The life of the crew is documented from July 1943 to June 1944, from its passage through the Panama Canal through assaults on Marcus, Kwajalein, Truk and Tinian Islands, and culminating with the famous "Marianas Turkey Shoot", the aerial part of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, when American pilots downed almost four hundred Japanese Zeros, while incurring only twenty-two losses themselves.
The film includes color footage shot by "gun cameras" mounted directly on aircraft guns during combat. This gives a very realistic edge to the film, while the chronological following of the ship and crew mirror the experiences of the seamen and the pilots who went from green recruits through the rigors of military life. It contains rare footage of A-24 Dauntlesses, TBF Avengers, Hellcats and other aircraft in action. Maps illustrate the movement of the Pacific fleet and its engagement with the Japanese.
The film highlights the saying that war is 99% boredom. We see footage of everyday life aboard the ship: from sailors stuck on KP duty to the aircrews responsible for arming and fueling planes to the pilots who manned them.
The Fighting Lady won the Best Documentary Oscar in 1945.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND / CONTEXT
USS Yorktown (CV-10) is one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War 2 for the United States Navy. She participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning 11 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. The Yorktown was commissioned, decommissioned and reclassified twice during her time at sea before settling into a life of retirement off the coast of South Carolina as a museum ship in 1975.
The USS Yorktown was laid down just days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - December 7th, 1941. To this point, militaries of the world began adoption of larger project scopes and greater funding in anticipation of war. The Japanese began their conquest of the Pacific by invading several neighbors, including China, and had always considered the powerful US Navy their primary threat to completing their empire in the Pacific. Standing in their way were also Britain, Australia and other commonwealth allies. Originally named the USS Bon Homme Richard, Yorktown received her finalized name on September 26th, 1942 in honor of the previous USS Yorktown (CV-5) which was lost to the Japanese during the Battle of Midway (June 4th-7th, 1942). CV-10 was launched under ceremony with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt presiding and its first command fell to Captain Joseph J. Clark.
By the time Yorktown was commissioned in April of 1943, the United States Navy was embroiled in total war across the globe. She launched from Naval Station Norfolk in May and entered training and her shakedown cruise in Caribbean waters. She then ended up in the Pacific by way of the Panama Canal before reaching Pearl Harbor. Her first actions involved strikes against Japanese positions at Marcus Island with Task Force 15 in August. In October, her aircraft participated in similar actions at Wake Island. In November of 1943, Yorktown took part in the Abemama, Makin and Tarawa landings through her air cover.
In January of 1944, her air wing once again supported amphibious landings and raided when possible - including strikes against the enemy-held Truk Atoll and, later, Saipan. By June, she had joined her sister forces to partake of the Battle of Philippine Sea (June 19th-20th) which proved a decisive American victory at sea. The battle marked the end of Japanese carrier dominance in the Pacific with five fleet and four light enemy carriers lost in the battle.
Olipa hyvä, thanks!
Lahti vs. Emma!! Forgotten Weaporn ja Varustelekan järjestämä Suomi-tournee jatkuu:¨
Lahti vs. Emma!! Forgotten Weaporn ja Varustelekan järjestämä Suomi-tournee jatkuu:¨
Eivätpä ihmetelleet jenkitkään lainkaan, veli @tulikomento ! Totesivatpa vaan Lahden osalta että kun veti maailman raskaimmasta liipaisimesta niin koko helvetti pärähti valloilleen nokan edessä, eikä tulivaikutusta olisi itse Jeesus suksineenkaan pystynyt mitenkään mittaamaan (vapaa käännös).Aika klassiset kommentit jenkeillä Lahti-Salorannasta. Eivät ihmettele miksi suomalaiset käyttivät mieluummin sotasaalis-Emmoja.
Edelleen ihmiskunnan kiehtovin saavutus,vaikka kohta 50 vuotta mennyt.Mars menee sitten ohi jos ja kun ihminen sinne jalallaan astuu.Katselin juuri äsken tämän mainion dokumentin Nasan lennonjohtajista, jotka luotsasivat ihmisen kuuhun ja takaisin. Todella mielenkiintoista tarinaa. Suosittelen.
Forgotten Weapons & Varusteleka saavat Suomi-sikermänsä loogiseen päätökseen... Peltiheikki, Maxim, Pystykorva, Suomi-kp, RK92S, Sako TRG-41 jne !
Mainiot dokkarit Viggenistä ja Gripenistä:
Hurrit ovat dokkarien tekemisen aina taitaneet . Harmi, kun täällä koti-Suomessa ovat erityisesti kylmän sodan aikaiseen sotilasilmailuun liittyvät dokkarit vähissä. Kysyntää varmasti olisi.On muuten hyvä sarja ! Pääjehuna tuossa esiintyy juontajana Melker Becker, jonka käsialaa ovat myös mainiot sarjat "Om kriget kom" (löytyy Ruotsin puolustusvoimien Youtube-sivulta) ja "Svenska hemligheter".
Hurrit ovat dokkarien tekemisen aina taitaneet . Harmi, kun täällä koti-Suomessa ovat erityisesti kylmän sodan aikaiseen sotilasilmailuun liittyvät dokkarit vähissä. Kysyntää varmasti olisi.