Secrets of World War II — Season 1, Episode 12: The Secrets Behind the Battle of Guadalcanal

Episode synopsis

Hundreds of sailors, eight ships and two American Admirals were to be lost in actions where valour overcame many mistakes on both sides - leading to the defeat of the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto.

About Secrets of World War II

Rarely has a war produced such clear cut reasons to fight as World War II. Suddenly, ordinary men and women found themselves thrown into fearsome, situations worthy of any Hollywood movie. The only difference in this series is that every story is true. Real people emerge as the Heroes of Telemark. Ordinary GIs and US Airforce and Navy personnel suddenly find themselves flying against the Japanese in China, jungle fighting in Burma and being dropped by submarine on enemy coasts at midnight. These untold stories can now be examined in great detail with the benefit of hindsight, newly-discovered film, maps and graphics. Each fifty-two minute story covers the background to the main action. It will give the viewer a clear view of the historical context, the strategic objective and the tactical effort made by flyers, sailors and foot-soldiers - often in the most oppressive and life-threatening situations - to win victory from the enemy.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Corpse That Fooled the Axis
• E2Adolf Hitler's Last Days
• E3Secret Mission to North Africa
• E4When Hitler Invaded America
• E5The Bruneval Raid
• E6What Really Happened to Rommel
• E7The Enigma Secret
• E8Human Torpedoes
• E9The Secrets of the Battle of the Bulge
• E10Okinawa: The Greatest Sea/Air Battle in History
• E11Above Us: The Enemy - Secrets of the Submarine War
• E13The Real Heroes of Telemark