The Los Banos Prison Camp Raid - The Philippines 1945 (Electronic book text)

In the dying days of the war as the American forces pushed through the Japanese defences on the Philippines, one of the most daring raids of World War II was masterfully executed. On the southwest shore of Laguna de Bay, near a village of the same name, stood the Los Banos Internment Camp. Held within its barbed-wire barricades were 2,147 starving American and Allied men, women and children. They had been captive for three desperate days and now as the battle for Manila waged it was feared that the POWs would either be executed or moved beyond the reach of the liberating armies. A plan was hatched to free the captives although they were heavily guarded by 250 Japanese guards with several hundred more scattered in the surrounding area. Another 8,00010,000 troops were within a couple of hours in the camp. Only 130 Paratroopers could be spared from the desperate fighting around Manila for the operation, even donning their parachutes while under sniper fire at the departure airfield. Every aspect of the missions timing was perfect. Supported by Alamo Scouts who eliminated some of the prison guards in advance of the jump, the paratroopers succeeded in seizing the element of surprise. Supporting amphibian tractors made a lengthy, overland journey and swam across a large lake in the depths of the night to provide a means of transportation for the POWs. With the escape route secured, the internees and the raiding party made it safely make to friendly lines. Astonishingly only two raiders were killed, with four soldiers and one internee wounded. It was a stunning success in the face of overwhelming odds.