Video: 'The World At War: Japan 3/5' (June 15, 1944, at 9:36)

(Thursday, June 15, 1944, 7:00 a.m. ChST; during the Battle of Saipan, part of World War II, Pacific War) — U.S. Marines stormed the beaches of the strategically significant Japanese island of Saipan this morning in an attempt to capture an air base from which the U.S. could launch its new long-range B-29 bombers directly at Japan’s home islands.

Facing fierce Japanese resistance, Americans poured from their landing crafts to establish a beachhead, battle Japanese soldiers inland and force the Japanese army to retreat north.

Video: 'The World At War: Japan 4/5' (June 15, 1944, at 0:00)

Video: 'Documentary World War 2 II in Colour The Second World War color' (June 15, 1944, at 1:24:34)