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WWII-Era Landing Craft Videos

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Here are several online movies that provide a great view into what it was like to operate landing craft during WWII.

The USS Calvert’s Landing Craft in action:

This first video shows the Calvert’s landing craft in action from 1944 color film footage (full film is available here).

 

This second movie shows the Calvert’s LCVPs and LCMs at the Makin invasion, Gilbert Islands, on November 20th 1943. Although this free preview at CriticalPast is low quality, it is possible to make out the “32” on several of the landing craft throughout the video.

 

Other WWII-Era Landing Craft Videos: Additional WWII-era landing craft movies area available on the “Landing Craft” page on this site.

Matt Fountain – Boatswain Mate – 1943 – 1945

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Mark Fountain, son of Matthew Fountain BM1C, was kind enough to share the following information regarding his father’s time aboard the Calvert during WWII.

Matt Fountain enlisted in the Navy in Boston, MA in early September 1942. He first attended boot camp at Newport, RI and then went through at the Portsmouth, VA Amphibious Training Base and the Ft. Pierce Florida Amphibious Training School, During his time at the Portsmouth training base he spent time training with the USS Harry Lee’s boat crew (who were transferred to the Calvert when the Harry Lee broke down leading up to the invasion of North Africa).

Matt stayed in training at Ft. Pierce and he then joined the Calvert’s crew on March 12th, 1943 as a Seaman First Class. During his time aboard the Calvert he served as a Coxswain and Boatswain’s Mate (second class and first class temporary) where he piloted landing craft during the Calvert’s actions in Sicily and in each of the invasions in which the Calvert participated during the Island Hopping campaign in the Pacific. He was transferred off of the Calvert on September 8th, 1945. Matt was discharged from the Navy in mid October and returned home to Lynn, MA.

Fountain, Matt and Aleada - 1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark has done an amazing job compiling a history of his father’s time during the war. With his permission I’ll be sharing more content from his work in the future.

Benjamin “Lawrence” Hearne – SC1 – World War II Crew Member

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Sandy Waits provided the following photographs of her father, Benjamin “Lawrence” Hearne. Lawrence served aboard the Calvert from June 1944 through March 1945 and during this time he was a Seaman 2nd class, then promoted to 1st class, while aboard the Calvert.

Hearne, Benjamin Lawrence - 01 Hearne, Benjamin Lawrence - 02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally from Chatham, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, Lawrence’s full war-time chronology follows:

01/31/44   –   MARSHALL ISLANDS  –  L.S.T. 222

06/23/44   –   SAIPIAN  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32

07/24/44   –   TINNIAN  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32

10/20/44   –   LETTE  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32

01/9/45   –   LU  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32

03/26/45   –   TO THE U.S.A.  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32 – ARRIVE AT BREMERTON, WA

09/27/45   –   TO PEARL HARBOR  –  U.S.S. BUNKER HILL CV 17

11/24/45   –   TO THE U.S.A.  –  U.S.S. SCHMITT A.P.D. – SAN DIEGO

Sadly, Lawrence passed in 1988.

1944 Color Film Footage of the USS Calvert and Her Crew in Action

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I am excited to be able to post and share this color footage of the Calvert and her crew in action in the Pacific, during the summer and fall of 1944:

This video was provided by Hoyt Worthington, Gunners Mate 2nd Class (WWII). Hoyt recorded the showing of this film at the 1988 USS Calvert Reunion. He was kind enough to send me a copy to post here.

The story behind this color film footage is worth sharing. The Calvert’s official photographer was Chaplain Paul R. Elliott. During the Calvert’s time in the Pacific Chaplain Elliott took photographs and footage of the Calvert in action. At some point late in the war, or after the war was over, some of the footage was turned into this 30-minute documentary.

At several of the Calvert reunions during the 1980s and 1990s Chaplain Elliott would show the film. Hoyt was able to capture the film and narration using his video camera at the 1988 reunion. Although the original film had no sound, in this video you can hear narration from Chaplain Elliott and comments / laughter from the crowd while they watch the movie.

It it truly amazing to be able to share this footage, and to have the background narration for what would have been silent footage otherwise. The original film reels were listed as available through the National Archives and Hoyt made a valiant effort in the mid-1990s to get copies. Unfortunately he was never able to obtain the original film reels as all were lost to decay when they were opened by the National Archives staff. Had it not been for Hoyt’s work to capture this film via his video camera we would have lost a valuable glimpse into the Calvert’s and her crew’s time while at sea during the last half of 1944.

Here are the segments of the 31-minute film (some very short, some long):

  1. Introduction: 00:00 – 00:40

  2. Shore Liberty in Hawaii: 00:40 – 03:30

  3. Crew Decorations by Capt. Sweeney: 03:30 – 04:00

  4. Boarding the Ship: 04:00 – 04:20

  5. Convoy at Sea: 04:20 – 04:40

  6. Enjoying Time Deckside: 04:40 – 04:47

  7. Battle Stations: 04:47 – 04:55 (with Dr. William G. Hook)

  8. Deckside – Working Time, and More: 04:55 – 07:36 (FUBAR the dog can be seen starting at 7:04)

  9. Combat Zone: 07:36 – 09:20

  10. Landing Craft in Action: 09:20 – 11:10

  11. Darken Ship & Enemy Aircraft: 11:20 – 11:35

  12. Domain of Neptune Rex – Crossing The Line Ceremony, Oct 1st, 1944: 11:35 – 13:37

  13. New Guinea – Natives on the Water: 13:37 – 13:50

  14. Deckside: 13:50 – 14:13

  15. Island Seafarers Diving: 14:13 – 15:15

  16. Coming Ashore in New Guinea: 15:15 – 16:58

  17. Lingayen Gulft Action: 16:59 – 17:39

  18. Casualties Come Aboard: 17:39 – 16:46

  19. Japanese (& Korean) Prisoners from Saipan: 16:50 – 22:30 (with Dr. William G. Hook)

  20. Wounded US Soldiers Await Transfer: 22:35 – 24:10

  21. Life-blood of Invasion (Diving & Swimming): 24:16 – 25:45

  22. Top-Side: 25:45 – 26:22

  23. Guns Firing: 26:22 – 27:21

  24. Men & Materials: 27:21 – 27:35

  25. Mail Arrives – DD591 USS Twiggs: 27:35 – 28:16

  26. Rainbow at Sea: 28:17 – 28:30

  27. Divine Services: 28:30 – 29:05

  28. Night Guns in Action: 29:05 – 29:25

  29. AA Flak & Japanese Plane: 29:25 – 29:35

  30. Battle Wagons Pound Coast Line; Ships Hit: 29:35 – 30:20

  31. Heavy Seas, 50 ft. Seas: 30:20 – 31:26

  32. Mission Accomplished: 31:26 – 31:33

  33. The End: 31:33 – 31:42