On this day in 1942, the Battle of Corregidor Island ended with the surrender of Filipino and American forces under the command of Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright. Facing intense and overwhelming attacks from Japanese forces that have landed on the eastern tip of the island, and to save the thousands of wounded soldiers and helpless civilians inside Malinta Tunnel, Wainwright decided to surrender the island to prevent further loss of life. Before surrendering, Wainwright had reliquished command of the USAFFE to Maj. Gen. William F. Sharp, commander of the Visayas-Mindanao Forces. When Homma learned that Wainwright would only surrender the forces in Corregidor, he refused to accept his surrender and demanded the unconditional surrender of all American forces in the country. On May 10, 1942, Sharp decided to surrender all the remaining American forces to the Japanese. The capitulation of Corregidor marked the Fall of the Philippines into Japanese control.

The island of Corregidor remained the last Allied stronghold in the Philippines after the Japanese victory at Bataan (from which General Wainwright had managed to flee, to Corregidor).  CLICK FOR MORE