The Battle of Biak was a battle that took place during World War II in Biak, New Guinea from May 27 1944 to August 17 1944. It is famous for being the first time the Japanese allowed uncontested landings of U.S. troops so that they would run into a trap they had prepared inland. The capture of the island cost the U.S. 474 deaths and 2,428 injuries. The Japanese fought until the very end losing 6,100 men to death. The Japanese soldiers would use these caves as fortification and they would be stockpiled with enough ammunition, food, and water to last for months.
The Battle of Biak was a battle that took place during World War II in Biak, New Guinea from May 27 1944 to August 17 1944. It is famous for being the first time the Japanese allowed uncontested landings of U.S. troops so that they would run into a trap they had prepared inland. The capture of the island cost the U.S. 474 deaths and 2,428 injuries. The Japanese fought until the very end losing 6,100 men to death. The Japanese soldiers would use these caves as fortification and they would be stockpiled with enough ammunition, food, and water to last for months.
United States Army General Jonathan M. Wainwright, San Francisco, Ca.
Date:
1945/08/14
Description:
Center: US Army General Jonathan M. Wainwright, Commander of Allied Forces in the Philippines at the time of their surrender to Japan in 1942. Wainwright was a POW, held by the Japanese until his liberation in August 1945.
Paper Drive by Central Grade School Students, Hinton, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1944
Description:
School children gather paper to recycle during World War II. Behind them is the school, which is located on Fourth Avenue.Pictured in the front row, from left to right, is Doug Richmond; Dick Hackney; "Dink" Montgomery; and Wilbur "Buster" Halstead.In the back row, from left to right, is Bill Nichols; Lee Patton; Jimmy Harvey; Ronnie Keaton; Glen Patrick McCormick; Tommy Payne; and Garland Graham.
Technical Sergeant Kingsley Spitzer, crew member of the B-17 Flying Fortress "Situation Normal," poses for a photo during World War II. Spitzer, born in Hardy County, W. Va., was top gunner and aerial engineer on Flying Fortress "Situation Normal."
Group Portrait of Crew Members of the B-17 Flying Fortress "Situation Normal"
Date:
ca. 1940s
Description:
Crew members, including Kingsley Spitzer of Hardy County, W. Va., pose in front of the Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress "Situation Normal" during World War II.Front Row (Left to Right): Navigator (Lieutenant Harry Meuntz), Bombardier (Lieutenant Richard Holmes), Co. Pilot (Lieutenant William Overstreet), Pilot (First Lieutenant Alden R. Witt), Engineer (Technical Sergeant Kingsley Spitzer).Back Row: Ball Gunner (Wendall Vergulucz), Tail Gunner (Sandy Sanchez), Radio Gunner (Technical Sergeant Roy Baughman), Right Waist 6 (Sergeant Charles Schaback), Left Waist 6 (Sergeant Everell Lewis).
Airmen Pose In Front Of B-17 Flying Fortress "Situation Normal"
Date:
ca. 1940s
Description:
Crew members of the Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress "Situation Normal" during World War II. Technical Sergeant Kingsley Spitzer of Hardy County, W. Va. is pictured on the far right.
Marshall L. Williamson, Medic in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, at Home in West Virginia
Date:
ca.1943-1944
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson, U.S. Navy Medical Corps, assigned to the 57th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees), stands in his naval uniform at his home in West Virginia.
Marshall L. Williamson, Medic, U.S. Navy at Home in West Virginia
Date:
ca.1943-1944
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson, U.S. Navy Medical Corps, assigned to the 57th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees), stands in his naval uniform in a field at his home in West Virginia.
Marshall L. Williamson and the 57th Naval Construction Battalion at Base in Gulfport, Mississippi
Date:
ca. 1943-1944
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson and his battalion outside of their base of operations. "This was taken in Gulfport, Miss. about 30 miles from our base. We are standing by the control tower which is located on the firing range. That's me with the red cross arm band on. I am talking to Ed Clayworth."
The 57th Naval Construction Battalion with their Ambulance
Date:
ca. 1943-1944
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson and the 57th Naval Construction Battalion with their ambulance. "This is our ambulance. The first and third fellows in the back are [corpsmen]. The fellow from the right side, who is squatting down is a [corpman] also. What do you think of the road? We built it."
Marshall L. Williamson and the 57th Naval Construction Battalion on the Island of Espiritu Santo
Date:
ca. 1943-1944
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson, U.S. Navy Medical Corps, second from the left in the front row of standing men, and the 57th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) standing on a bridge on the island of Espiritu Santo, within the New Hebrides.Written on the back of the photograph is this message: "Honey: Can you find me in this picture? If you can't just put the edge of a piece of paper on the two arrows and you can find me. P.S. I am second from the left in the first row of men who are standing."
Chapel Used by the 57th Naval Construction Battalion in Espiritu Santo During World War II
Date:
1943/10/30
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson and the 57th Naval Construction Battalion's chapel on the island of Espiritu Santo, within the New Hebrides.On the back of the photograph there is this note: "This is our chapel which is located in our camp."
Marshall L. Williamson and the 57th Naval Construction Battalion at Camp on the Island of Espiritu Santo
Date:
1943/12/27
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson, U.S. Navy Medical Corps, and other members of the 57th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) at their camp on the island of Espiritu Santo, within the New Hebrides.On the back of the photograph, a note reads: "Honey, I am the fourth from the left. -Marsh"
Marshall L. Williamson, U.S. Navy Medical Corps, with an Islander at a Chapel on the Island of Espiritu Santo
Date:
ca. 1943-1944
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson, U.S. Navy Medical Corps, assigned to the 57th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees), stands with an islander at a chapel near his camp on the island of Espiritu Santo, within the New Hebrides.
Alice E. Parker, Wife of Second Lt. Joseph W. Parker
Date:
ca. 1943-1945
Description:
Portrait of Alice E. Parker, wife of Joseph W. Parker, of Fairmont, W. Va., soldier in World War II, as she writes a letter. A portrait of her husband is in the background.
U.S. Navy Medical Corps at Camp at Espiritu Santo During World War II
Date:
1944/01/25
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson of W. Va., U.S. Navy Medical Corps, and the 57th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) at their camp in Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides during World War II.A note on the back of the photograph reads: "This time I am the first from the right side. The two pouches on my side are my first-aid bags.
Dwellings of Island Natives on the Island of Espiritu Santo in New Hebrides, World War II
Date:
ca. 1943-1944
Description:
Island natives and their dwellings on Espiritu Santo of the New Hebrides. Marshall L. Williamson of West Virginia, U.S. Navy Medical Corps, assigned to the 57th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees), was stationed on the island during World War II.
Naval Base of the 57th Naval Construction Battalion in New Hebrides during World War II
Date:
ca. 1943-1944
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson, U.S. Navy Medical Corps, assigned to the 57th Naval Construction Battalion was stationed at a naval base in the New Hebrides during World War II. Williamson is from West Virginia.
Two Soldiers Standing in a Field on the Island of Espirtu Santo of the New Hebrides during World War II
Date:
ca. 1943-1944
Description:
Marshall L. Williamson, from West Virginia, U.S. Navy Medical Corps., was assigned to the 57th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) and stationed in New Hebrides during World War II.
Ralph John lived with his parents just north of the West Virginia and Pennsylvania state line. He spend much of his leisure time visiting Morgantown and hunting in the West Virginia mountains. John joined the Army just before the United States entered the war and was in the second wave of the invasion of France, following D-Day June 6th, 1944. Ralph John was killed in action near St Lo, France on August 15, 1944. He was 30 years old.
Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Unidentified Crew Member of U.S.S. West Virginia Crew
Date:
ca. 1944-45
Description:
Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Another battleship is visible in the background.
On the photo is a message reading, "All my love, Bill." Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Unidentified Crew Member of the U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
ca. 1944-45
Description:
Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.