Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2009 11:49:41 GMT 8
What is the purpose of attacking or retaking Corregidor? Why did not they just bypass the Japanese like the ones the Americans did in the other Pacific islands?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2020 1:03:27 GMT 8
Two reasons: 1) though the Americans had wrecked most of the shore battery guns before surrendering in '42, the Japanese had repaired or replaced an unknown number of them, and blasted ships sailing into Manila Bay 2) mines in the bay could be detonated by a control panel on Corregidor. Mac Arthur wanted Manila Bay open for the upcoming assault on Japan.
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Post by fortman on Dec 22, 2020 3:44:57 GMT 8
I think that there may have been a third reason: MacArthur was evacuated from the Philippines from Corregidor in 1942 and, being a person with a strong sense of the dramatic, also wanted the symbolism of actually taking back the fort by force.
Fortman
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Post by beirutvet on Dec 23, 2020 0:54:53 GMT 8
Asking that question also brings up the questions of:
1) Vanity
2) Ambition
3) Guilt
on the part of MacArthur having bungled things so badly and being driven off in disgrace.
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Post by xray on Jan 2, 2021 4:58:08 GMT 8
I think it doubtless could of been and should have been bypassed, but hindsight is always 20/20 - No one knew then if the war would drag on another half year or 2, and having a large pocket of enemy in a major military hub and choke point like Manila bay might have been untenable, even if they were effectively neutralized.
Also no doubt MacArthurs ego played a part - He said he'd return and by god, he did !
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