17-6-17 Garand Picture of the Day - Phillippines mid December 1941

[13Echo]

Wonder if those young men survived Bataan, the death march and prison camp. How did life get those pictures out in mid December 1941?

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[RCS]

I have seen the photo of the two young men before, I think in a GCA publication. The men were identified and if I recall, both died as POWs

The machine gun would be too heavy to hold if 50 cal or a Japanese 13mm ?

Might be an early Browning for the P-35 or P-36 aircraft ? might also have had headspace problems

[browningautorifle]

The machine gun would be too heavy to hold if 50 cal or a Japanese 13mm ?

The .50 flexible is only 65 lbs...there appears to be no backplate or internals. That will lighten it up too.

[Mark in Rochester]

Wonder if those young men survived Bataan, the death march and prison camp. How did life get those pictures out in mid December 1941?

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was attacked by the Empire of Japan on 8 December 1941 nine hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor



Apparently the photos got out between those dates.

Below photo from the carl Mydans life photo series

[Flying10uk]

How did life get those pictures out in mid December 1941?

I would assume on on friendly/allied ships? If the Philippines was anything like Singapore there were allied ships leaving right up to almost the point of surrender. Unfortunately some ships got sunk by the Japs after departure.

[Paul S.]

I would assume on on friendly/allied ships? If the Philippines was anything like Singapore there were allied ships leaving right up to almost the point of surrender. Unfortunately some ships got sunk by the Japs after departure.

Having read a few Philippine campaign and Bataan autobiographies, including one by a USN doctor who went from Manila to Bataan to Corregidor before being captured, I believe the answer is close to right. I'll add he was not a fan of MacArthur after it all.