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IPTC: Caption
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In a still from a propaganda film, Japanese soldiers of the 4th Division, 32nd Infantry Brigade, 61st Infantry Regiment, give the "Banzai" cheer to celebrate the surrender of Corregidor. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 61st Regiment landed on Corregidor 2330 Hours on the night of May 5, incurring heavy casualties from American machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire from Corregidor, Fort Hughes, and Fort Drum. The unit's casualties were as high as 1,200 killed or drowned out of 2,000. As many as 50% of the landing craft were sunk. The unit's commander, Colonel Gempachi Sato, landed in the first wave, and despite advancing to Battery Denver by 0130 Hours on May 6 he was running out of ammunition. The Filipino-American defense line faltered as reinforcements, running a gauntlet of Japanese artillery and aerial bombings to reach the front line, lacked infantry training and heavy weapons. Sato was able to land three tanks from the 7th Tank Regiment; two Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha light tanks and one captured American M3. By 1000 Hours the M3 had pulled the Japanese tanks over the steep beach and they emerged onto the battlefield, and the sight of armor approaching Malinta Tunnel enerved the poorly trained elements of the American defense. While the Japanese overestimated the effect of their armor on the defenders, the Americans, lacking effective battlefield communication and under heavy bombardment, realized that the Japanese were about to enter Malinta and the thousands of casualties and the American and Filipino nurses still on the island were at risk. Brevet Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wainwright IV (August 23, 1883 - September 2, 1953) ordered the colors lowered and burned and a white sheet signaling surrender run up instead. Later the 61st Regiment would produce their own American flag and take it down for the Japanese newsreels.
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IPTC: Copyright Notice
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Caption ©2010 MFA Productions LLC
Image in the Public Domain
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