page_title: William George Wilson
section_title: Military Photography
hierarchical_section_title: William George Wilson / Military Photography
caption_attribution_description: English: Peleliu's Great White Way, time exposure photo of Japanese attack on U.S. Marine positions, 1944. This dramatic time exposure made in the Fall of 1944 records a fierce night assault by Japanese forces against U.S. Marines on Peleliu in the Palau Islands. Japanese forces were dug in behind Bloody Nose Ridge, visible below a night sky lit up by parachute flares. The long straight lines are tracer shells from Japanese gunners firing on Marine aircraft. At the right edge of the photo, a Marine machine gun is firing. The headlights of a passing Jeep are recorded. The wavy line is from a flashlight carried by a Marine as he runs for cover. The bright burst of light at the lower right is from a motion picture projector showing a movie just prior to the attack. This incredible picture was made by SSgt. William G. Wilson, USMC, a combat cameraman with the 2nd Marine Air Wing. The photo was published in over 500 newspapers and was recognized by CDR Edward Steichen, Chief of Naval Photography, as one of the best pictures depicting action in the Pacific theater.
context_page_description: William G. Wilson was an American cinematographer and Director of Photography who filmed hundreds of championship sporting events during a career that spanned more than 50 years. Wilson filmed baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, golf, boxing, horse-racing and auto racing. His pioneering work in television news-filming for WFIL-TV in Philadelphia, the first ABC affiliate station in the nation, set early standards for filming news and sports. During World War II, Wilson served as a combat cameraman and aviator with the United States Marine Corps, filming major action in the South Pacific on the ground and in the air.
context_section_description: Wilson began his film career as a combat cameraman with the United States Marine Corps in the South Pacific during World War II. He enlisted in the Marines shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and, following boot camp, received specialized  photographic training with Severo Antonelli in Philadelphia and at Life Magazine in New York City. Wilson served with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing in the South Pacific recording the activities of Marine units on the ground and in the air. He flew numerous combat missions and was a qualified tail-gunner. Attaining the rank of Staff-Sergeant, Wilson saw duty on Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Peleliu, Munda, Espiritu Santo, Rabaul, Leyte Gulf and New Georgia in the British Solomon Islands. He was personally awarded a medal by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz for courage under fire while filming a cargo drop in an exposed position from the open door of an aircraft to determine parachute drift patterns. One of his photographs of a fierce night battle at Bloody Nose Ridge on Peleliu, published in over 500 newspapers, was recognized by Commander Edward Steichen, Chief of Naval Photography, as one of the best pictures depicting action in the Pacific theater.
caption: Wilson's time exposure of Japanese attack on Marines at Bloody Nose Ridge, Fall, 1944, with dramatic tracer ammunition fire
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