On July 8, 1944, the U.S. Navy began heavy bombardment of Guam, with explosives launched from warships off the coast and bombs dropped from planes overhead.

"The primary task was destruction of coast defense and heavy anti-aircraft guns," according to an Aug. 13, 1944 action report from Navy Cruiser Division Six.  With anti-aircraft units knocked out, planes could get better photographs of targets and improve accuracy of the bombing.

The Navy divided the island into two sectors, with the center line roughly bisecting Apra Harbor from east to west. When ships were bombarding one section, aircraft would attack the other.

The report concluded the early bombardment was "well planned, well executed and proved most effective."

For the residents of the island, it was the start of a terrifying bombing campaign that turned buildings into rubble.

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