Difference between revisions 119849486 and 119849487 on dewiki

{{Coord|15|30|34|N|121|02|40|E|region:PH_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=Raid at Cabanatuan
|image=[[File:POWs celebrate.jpg|300px|alt=A couple hundred men are all facing the camera, smiling and cheering. Many have their hands raised. The men are wearing uniforms, t-shirts, and shorts. Huts and trees can be seen in the background.]]
|caption=Former Cabanatuan POWs in celebration, January 30, 1945
|partof=World War II, [[Pacific War|Pacific theater]]
(contracted; show full)ain a link between the raiding group and Army Command, a radio outpost was established outside of Guimba. The force had two&nbsp;radios, but their use was only approved in asking for aircraft support if they ran into large Japanese forces or if there were last-minute changes to the raid (as well as calling off friendy fire by American aircraft).<ref name="Breuer 158">{{harvnb|Breuer|1994|p=158}}</ref><ref name="Rottman 19"/>

== Behind enemy lines ==
[[File:Rangers
trektallgrassGuerillasBehindEnemyLinesRaidCabanatuanJan301945.jpgogv|alt=Black-and-white image of severalVideo of American soldiers carryand Filipingo guns anderrillas walking away through tall grass.|thumb|right|Rangers using the cover of tall grassin a line through water carrying guns.|thumb|right|Rangers had to cross assorted terrain on their way to the prison camp, including several rivers]]
Shortly after 05:00 on January 28, Mucci and a reinforced company of 121&nbsp;Rangers<ref name="Sides 645"/><ref name="Breuer 153">{{harvnb|Breuer|1994|p=153}}</ref><ref name="Rottman 22">{{harvnb|Rottman|2009|p=22}}</ref> under [[Robert Prince (Captain)|Capt. Robert Prince]] drove {{convert|60|mi|km|abbr=off}} to Guimba, before slipping through Japanese lines at just after 14:00.<ref name="Breuer 158"/><ref name="Bre(contracted; show full)hat the raid would be accomplished in 30&nbsp;minutes or less. Once Prince had ensured that all of the POWs were safely out of the camp, he would fire a red flare, indicating that all troops should fall back to a meetup at Pampanga River {{convert|1.5|mi|km|abbr=off}} north of the camp where 150&nbsp;guerrillas would be ready with carabao-pulled carts to transport the POWs.<ref name="Breuer 164"/> This group would help to load the POWs and escort them back to American lines.
[[File:
Robert PrinceCapt. Fisher.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Black-and-white image of a standingtwo maen in military attire facing forward and smiling. His left hand is resting on his belt.|Captain Robert Princewalking next to each other and smiling. Several other men can be seen in the background.|Captains Jimmy Fisher and Robert Prince and several Filipino guerrillas a few hours before the start of the raid]]

One of Prince's primary concerns was the flatness of the countryside. The Japanese had kept the terrain's vegetation clear to ensure that approaching guerrilla attacks could be seen as well as to spot prisoner escapes.<ref name="Rottman 25"/> Prince knew his Rangers would have to crawl through a long, open field on their bellies, right under the eyes of the Japanese guards. There would only be just over an hour of full darkness, as the sun set below the horizon and the moon ros(contracted; show full)risoners to prevent them from telling of the atrocities of the Bataan Death March or the conditions in the camp.<ref name="Sides 234">{{harvnb|Sides|2001|p=234}}</ref> With the limited Japanese guard, a small group of prisoners had already decided that they would make an escape attempt at about 20:00.<ref name="Breuer 166">{{harvnb|Breuer|1994|p=166}}</ref><ref name="Sides 268">{{harvnb|Sides|2001|p=268}}</ref>

== Prisoner rescue ==
[[File:
Northrop P-61.jpg|thumb|alt=Black and whiteP61.black.widow.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|alt=Color image of a two-seater airplane in flight|A P-61 Black Widow, similar to the one that distracted Japanese guards as American forces crawled towards the camp]]
(contracted; show full)lothes that he had been saving for the day he would be rescued. He walked out of the prison camp, thinking that he would soon be found and led to freedom. Sure enough, Rose was found by passing guerrillas.<ref name="Breuer 1945"/><ref name="Sides 327">{{harvnb|Sides|2001|p=327}}</ref> Arrangements were made for a tank destroyer unit to pick him up and transport him to a hospital.<ref name="Zedrick 198">{{harvnb|Zedrick|1995|p=198}}</ref>

[[File:P
OW March.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Over twenty men arerisonersReturnRaidCabanatuanJan311945.ogv|thumb|left|alt=Video of men walking in a line. Some, who look at the cameraand smile at the camera. They are lead by a man riding a carabao pulling a cart. The men wear assorted vests, t-shirts, uniforms, shorts, and pants. Brush can be seen in the background.|Former Cabanatuan POWs marching to American lines]]
(contracted; show full)[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Japan]]
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving the United States]]

[[es:El gran rescate]]
[[fr:Raid de Cabanatuan]]
[[ru:Рейд на Кабанатуан]]
[[vi:Cuộc đột kích Cabanatuan]]
[[zh:卡巴那图营救]]