Director John Ford and cinematographer Joseph H. August were wounded by enemy fire while filming the battle.
Many of the shots of American servicemen displayed during the battle are from footage of the Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) taken in the previous days. All 15 of its planes were shot down and 29 of its 30 men died during the battle. Only Ensign George H. Gay Jr. was rescued.
The few places where the film jumps its sprockets and goes out of frame were caused by the concussion of exploding bombs or shrapnel hitting the camera. Those scenes were left in by director Ford to demonstrate the intensity of the battle.
No sound was recorded of the battle. All of the sounds were created in the studio.
Footage of James Roosevelt, not taken by John Ford's crew, was added after the rest of the editing had been finished.
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