Post by cbuehler on Mar 14, 2013 6:18:53 GMT 8
I have often referred to the CriticalPast site for glimpses of the battles on Bataan and Corregidor. As there are no US films surviving from this period, the short clips of Japanese footage do provide a wealth of info on how it actually looked and the time. It is surprising how recognizable the various locations on Bataan and elsewhere still are today. I many areas of Bataan, it has changed little and the dry season is very recognizable.
There are also several clips which show the massive amount of captured US material after the surrender. The clips show what is mostly Mariveles with extensive captured vehicles, equipment, supplies and munitions of all kinds, some if it destroyed, but most seems not to have been.
The Japanese actually used much of this captured material for movies they produced in the PI. It would seem that the USAFFE attempts to destroy as much material as possible before the surrender was substantially less successful than the histories would have us believe.
Particularly interesting is the actual combat footage of Japanese soldiers in action and the preparation and launching of the landing craft and barges at Limay prior to the Corregidor landings.
The Japanese soldiers themselves look to be a VERY tough and competent lot; indeed they were a far cry from the bucktoothed bespectacled stereotypes so often referred to.
Although this footage was surely censored to eliminate sick or wounded Japanese and of course no "unseemly" scenes of captured USAFFE men, what is shown is real and informative nonetheless.
Although only small format clips are free on the site, I highly recommend anyone who has in interest in the subject to access the CriticalPast website and view their extensive collection.
CB
There are also several clips which show the massive amount of captured US material after the surrender. The clips show what is mostly Mariveles with extensive captured vehicles, equipment, supplies and munitions of all kinds, some if it destroyed, but most seems not to have been.
The Japanese actually used much of this captured material for movies they produced in the PI. It would seem that the USAFFE attempts to destroy as much material as possible before the surrender was substantially less successful than the histories would have us believe.
Particularly interesting is the actual combat footage of Japanese soldiers in action and the preparation and launching of the landing craft and barges at Limay prior to the Corregidor landings.
The Japanese soldiers themselves look to be a VERY tough and competent lot; indeed they were a far cry from the bucktoothed bespectacled stereotypes so often referred to.
Although this footage was surely censored to eliminate sick or wounded Japanese and of course no "unseemly" scenes of captured USAFFE men, what is shown is real and informative nonetheless.
Although only small format clips are free on the site, I highly recommend anyone who has in interest in the subject to access the CriticalPast website and view their extensive collection.
CB