| In a still taken from a captured Japanese propaganda film, Japan News Number 102, American soldiers surrender to the Imperial Japanese Army on Corregidor. This film was passed by Japanese censors on May 19, 1942. The Japanese narrator solemnly intones, “Corregidor, the iron island that was said to be impregnable at the entrance to Manila Bay, overlooking Caballero Island and El Fraile Island collapsed easily on May 6, 1942. After capturing the Bataan Peninsula, our troops, who had been leisurely watching the American-Filipino Allied forces that had taken refuge in the Corregidor fortress, 1st launched an unparalleled bombing attack on the enemy’s ironclad defenses with singular precision. Preparations were complete, and on May 5, the very Tango no Sekku (“Boys’ Day”), the courageous landing forces broke through the North Strait all at once. With flamethrowers in their hands, they closed in on the enemy pillboxes. They had only the determination to die for their country. The American-Filipino Allied forces, who had been relying on their strong defenses, had lost the most important point, Malinta Hill, before the fierce and daring landing operation, and many surrendered. Unable to bear it any longer, on the evening of May 6, General [Jonathan M.] Wainwright [August 23, 1883 – September 2, 1953)], commander of the American and Philippine forces, raised a white flag and arrived at Kabukaben on the Bataan Peninsula, requesting a meeting with General [Masaharu] Homma [(November 27, 1887 – April 3, 1946)], the Supreme Commander. The enemy commander, thin and haggard, was unable to hide his true appearance, but he still attempted to avoid the surrender of the United States East Asian Army at this meeting. Therefore, we could not afford to wait any longer. On the following day, May 7, we launched another fierce attack. At 0800 Hours, in just 32 hours after landing on enemy ground, the Imperial Army and Navy forces in the Philippines had annihilated all the fortresses. This left a brilliant record unparalleled in the history of world warfare. This not only marked the end of the occupation of the Philippine Archipelago, but also the annihilation of all the American bases. When the negotiations were announced as unsuccessful, the enemy captured about 12,500 prisoners, including Wenright, who surrendered in disappointment. Prince Higashikuni Moriatsu, who had participated in the Bataan Peninsula and other Philippine sieges leading up to the capture of Corregidor, landed on the island on May 8, while the smoke was still rising, and inspected the enemy positions. In addition to the natural fortress where General [Emilio] Aguinaldo [(March 22, 1869 – February 6, 1964)] had persistently resisted the Americans for over 3 years immediately after the Spanish-American War, the modern positions built with great effort, armed with a huge 14-inch cannon and a mountain of captured goods, were truly worthy of the name of the Iron Island. Who else could have hoped to capture this island but the unparalleled loyal Imperial Army? There was a town beneath the ground, where American soldiers, fearing the devastating bombing of our country, hid, trembling, and nursing the wounds they had sustained from our artillery fire. Having achieved a great victory that will remain immortal in the annals of war, Supreme Commander Homma, who had been silently on the front lines until this point, had refused to enter Manila, was greeted on May 9 by waves of waving Japanese flags as he entered the capital of Manila with great emotion. There was no sign of the enemy in Manila Bay now. Having crushed the ambitions of the United States to pieces, the construction of the Philippines was now in full swing. The film is now in the collection of Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK). | |
| Image Filename | wwii1847.jpg |
| Image Size | 279.89 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2027 x 1467 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Japan News Number 102 |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 6, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | Corregidor |
| State or Province | Luzon |
| Country | Philippines |
| Archive | Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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