WWII U.S. NAVY & MARINE CORPS AMPHIBIOUS LANDING TRAINING EXERCISE CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. XD49464

Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website This silent, color World War II-era film combines a myriad of footage taken perhaps along the coast of California near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California and is the third film in a series of home movies documenting military exercises. The footage mainly features amphibious exercises carried out by perhaps members of the Signal Corps as they practice loading and unloading in LCVPs, Morse code, setting up a base for field operations, and scanning the sandy beaches for land mines. We suspect this film dates to around Sept. 25, 1942, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Camp Pendleton as part of a 12,000-mile military inspection trip and dedicated the new base, which was to be the Marine Corps’ largest West Coast training facility. At that time a landing exercise such as the one shown in the film was conducted. POV from landing ship as it approaches shore of rocky coastline, soldiers already onshore (0:08). Perhaps USS LSM-201 landing ship pulls to shore, perhaps LVT-4s drive along sand (0:20). Landing ship departs, caught in rough sea and large waves; Other landing ships pushed up against rocky coast (0:35). LCVPs line coastline (1:10). Weather changes - Soldiers with various construction tools in hand load onto LCVP, view of LCVP filled with black helmets, aerial view as LCVP approaches ship, soldiers scale side of ship by climbing net ladder while holding artillery like M1 Bazooka, perhaps M1 Garand strapped to packs (1:18-4:38). Perhaps Willys MB WWII Military Jeep hoisted onto ship with crane; More soldiers continue to scale side of ship (4:41). Perhaps Rear Admiral Davis wears khaki uniform, binoculars around neck as he observes drill (5:36). Soldier seen in distance on deck of ship signaling Morse code with light; Close-up of soldier operating signal lamp; another view of the Morse code signals from another ship (5:40). Perhaps USS Joyce or PC-546, blimp flies overhead (5:55). Soldiers lower themselves down net ladder into LCVP; montage shots of other LCVPs as they traverse waters towards shore and hit beach as dusk falls; Soldiers clamber off of boats and run through shallow waters to shore (6:20-11:05). Barbed wire laid out across sand, soldier tests out signal lamp (11:07). Soldier drives GMC CCKW off of LCVP (11:37). Clock face of vintage wristwatch with leather strap, keeping track of time (11:55). Perhaps Caterpillar D4 unloads off of LCVP (12:00). Soldiers help lay tarp across sands for perhaps GMC CCKW carrying supplies to drive along (12:32). Members of signal corp use perhaps WWII US Army Signal Corp Anti-Tank Land Mine Detector SCR 625-C BC 1140-E, knives, hands to search for unexploded landmines in sand; Land mines taken apart and tossed aside on sand (12:46). Perhaps Willys MB WWII Military Jeep, International Harvester M-2-4-233 drive off of LCVP (14:05). More soldiers carrying artillery, cable lines, machinery run off LCVPs towards show; Clock face once again shows timing (14:43). Tractor helps move equipment along sandy shore, other soldiers sit along sand in small dug-out trenches (16:01). Members of Signal Corps operate special machinery, telegraph, radio from small trenches in sand; Perhaps Signal Corps BD-71 field telephone (16:24). Make-shift medic/ triage center established on shore with gurneys laid across sand; Soldiers wrapped in bandages, makeshift splints (17:11). “Wounded” soldiers carried to water’s edge, loaded onto LCVP (17:28). Film ends (18:31). Motion picture films don’t last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we’ve worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you’d like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit