Saving MacArthur

Saving MacArthur 
by Rudy Tomedi.


Corregidor is an island at the mouth of Manila Bay in the Philippines. Described as an island fortress back in March 1942, this was the then location of General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters.

Lieutenant John Duncan Bulkeley was in command of a Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron of Patrol Torpedo boats (PT's) that was down to just four in number.
Invited to join MacArthur at his HQ for lunch, he wondered what reason was behind such an offer. 

Just to the North of the island, Filipino-American forces were being forced to withdraw. Despite outnumbering the Japanese 14th Army, many of the Filipino recruits were too inexperienced and ill equipped to assist the American troops. 
How much longer before the Japanese would reach Corregidor?

Realising the growing danger of MacArthur's situation, President Roosevelt had now ordered him to escape to Australia.
Lt Bulkely was about to find out that it would be his boat squadron that the General had chosen for his escape. 
The escape plan was for twenty evacuees, including the General's family, to be taken by the four PT boats. 
Carrying these VIP passengers and the extra fuel needed for the trip, would mean that many crew members of the PT boats would have to stay behind on Corregidor. With no means to escape themselves this could only mean that they would inevitably face capture by the advancing Japanese. One can only imagine how they must have felt on hearing this news.
The near-suicidal escape run was only going to be a one-way trip totalling almost six hundred miles. Their destination was Mindanao, one of the largest islands in the Philippines. If they  could somehow reach it, General MacArthur could then be flown from there to Australia. Yet to get to Mindanao they would have to avoid being spotted and attacked by both the Japanese air force and navy.
As some of this journey would mean travelling in daylight, their chances of success were slim at best.

As well as the escape, the first part of the book describes how such an escape ever became necessary as the author covers the campaign leading up to the event.
We are also introduced to Lt Bulkely and learn his story along with that of his boat squadron's wartime service.
This really helped set the scene and learn more about those who feature.
If like me you didn't know this story, or the fate of those involved, I won't spoil that here.

'Saving Macarthur' is a really enjoyable and engaging read, clearly well researched and recommended to all.

The hardback edition is available now and published by Casemate Publishing. 
I thank Script Books for this review copy. 








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