THE SIEGE AND FALL OF CORREGIDOR MAY 6, 1942

Corregidor And
Manila Bay

The fortress of Corregidor with its 23 gun
batteries and 56 large caliber seacoast guns.

With the surrender of Bataan, the Japanese forces brought up more large guns and intensified its shelling of the fortress. It was continuous, never ceasing. With over 100 pieces ranging from 77mm to 240mm howitzers, the Japanese were able to fire amost steadily. Japanese fire from Bataan on May 4th was the heaviest of the campaign and totaled 16,000 shells of all
calibers. So intense was the bombardment, so continuous the "drumfire of bursting shells," that it resenbled machine gun fire in its staccato regularity. They destroyed gun emplacements, shelters, beach defenses, buildings---almost anything on the surface--at a rate that made repair or replacement impossible. Casualties were heavy. Temporary beds were constructed in the tunnel area to care for the wounded. The water supply was almost gone. The power plants were on their last leg of operation. In addition, the Japanese Air Force was now using Clark Field as a bomber staging area and the planes flew consistently over Corregidor dropping their deadly bombs. The final assault by landing barges was on the night of May 6. Beatween half and two-thirds of the landing craft approaching Corregidor had been put out of action. Their casualties were fro 50 to 75%. The final blow was the arrival of tanks on the fortress. Corregidor faced complete annhilation, therefore General Wairwright decided to surrender, to sacrifice one day of freedom in exchange for several thousand lives. He had concluded that there was nothing to gain by further reistance. General Wainwright then on May 6th offered to surrender. However, General Homma would not permit Corregidor to surrender without all the Philippine forces surrendering, therefore, facing anhilation, General Wainwright sent out orders for all forces on the vaious islands to surrender to the Japanese forces as of May 10, 1942.

The destruction on topside of the fortress of Corregidor.

The final assault on Corregidor.

General Wainwright broadcasts surrender.

Troops on Corregidor forced to pose.

May 6, 1942
Publication
Of
Manila
Tribune