https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/ee426b72-60b5-48e1-91a1-cdb6af5e36e3 "The Last Bomb" is a 1945 propaganda film mainly concerning the conventional phase of the bombing of Japan in 1945. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film begins by describing the taking off points in Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, remarking how they have changed since American occupation. General Curtis LeMay is shown planning a daylight raid on Japan's industrial areas. A bomber squadron of B-29s then assembles and the audience rides with them through a space of ocean as wide as the US from Mexico to Canada, special attention being given to the island Iwo Jima, which is midway through the journey. The film then proceeds to the actual bombing of Japan, showing one of the B-29s dogfights with Japanese planes, and the destruction leveled on Tokyo by the B-29s' payload and subsequent strafing. When the bombers return to base, the hazards of war are assessed, particularly the problems associated with landing the large planes, which could sometimes be fatal. At the very end some color footage of the mushroom cloud at Hiroshima is shown, the narrator telling us that it saves thousands of American lives by preventing an invasion of Japan. Summary: In early 1945, B29 bombers based in the Mariana Islands launched massive, carefully planned bombing missions against Japan, targeting key industrial sites around Tokyo. Under General Amay’s command, the 21st Bomber Command improved operational efficiency and executed large-scale attacks involving hundreds of aircraft escorted by P-51 fighters on some of the longest missions in history. Despite fierce enemy fighter opposition and challenging weather, the bombers inflicted devastating damage on Japan’s war infrastructure. After months of relentless bombing, culminating in the deployment of atomic bombs in August, Japan’s capacity to continue the war was shattered, leading to its surrender and the successful conclusion of nearly four years of air warfare in the Pacific. 0:35 — Early 1945: B29 bombers begin large-scale operations against Japan from bases in the Marianas Islands. 1:04 — Guam shows signs of peace and rebuilding after months of reoccupation. 2:01 — The 21st Bomber Command, under General Amay, launches powerful bombing missions with increasing efficiency and scale. 3:03 — Mission planning begins in Guam’s war room with weather forecasts and target selection. 4:11 — Tactical plan 574 is finalized, focusing on bombing target 574 near Tokyo with precise coordination of bomber groups and fighter escorts. 6:50 — The mission timetable is carefully laid out with takeoff and flight lines tracked on the control room board. 8:14 — The first bomber wing takes off, beginning the long 1,500-mile mission toward Tokyo. 9:29 — Additional bomber wings take off from Saipan and Tinian, joining the massive strike force. 11:11 — B29s cruise low over the Pacific en route to Japan, passing strategic checkpoints and approaching fighter escort launch points. 12:55 — P-51 fighter escorts take off for the longest fighter escort mission in history to protect the bombers. 14:22 — Bombers reach the assembly point, join with fighter escorts, and prepare for the bombing run. 15:30 — The bombing formations begin their attack approach despite enemy fire and fighter opposition. 16:17 — Japanese fighters launch attacks on the bomber formations; escorts engage in fierce dogfights. 18:14 — Bombers reach their primary target near Tokyo and begin their bombing run under heavy flak. 19:17 — The mission’s destruction of industrial and military targets in Tokyo is successful. 20:13 — Bombers turn to head home; fighter escorts conduct strafing runs on enemy ground targets. 23:07 — Fighter pilots intensify attacks on enemy infrastructure, railroads, and shipping along the coast. 26:33 — Fighters return to rally point as B29s near the recovery base with dwindling fuel. 27:31 — Damaged bombers begin landing at Ewimma airfield, greeted with relief and respect. 29:04 — A burning bomber is saved by heroic firefighters; some crews are lost in the mission. 30:29 — The surviving crews return to Guam, sharing stories of the mission and losses. 32:27 — The campaign has inflicted massive damage on Japan’s war capacity by July 1945. 33:08 — August 1945: Atomic bombs are dropped on Japan, hastening surrender and ending the war. 33:38 — The air campaign that began nearly four years earlier is declared accomplished. 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. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwYa1aO6oJg Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 05:32:48 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/ee426b72-60b5-48e1-91a1-cdb6af5e36e3 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.