What do you think?
Rate this book
Escape from Corregidor
At a crucial moment, Ed Whitcomb, a B-17 navigator, made a split-second decision and thereby set off a hair-raising, spine-tingling sequence of narrow escapes, captures, unexpected breaks and bitter betrayals that culminated in his final extrication from enemy territory.Whitcomb reached Clark Field just before its demolition by the Japanese. He then evaded capture at the fall of Bataan by fleeing in a row boat to the bastion of Corregidor, where he was caught. Escaping under cover of darkness, he swam for eight hours to get to the mainland.After weeks of struggle in a snake-infested jungle, he sailed by moonlight down the heavily patrolled coast, only to fall, once again, into the clutches of the enemy. Facing captors, Ed Whitcomb took a desperate chance for freedom. Clenching his fists, he My name is Robert Fred Johnson, mining employee.This is the story of a man who vowed never to give up. He assumed the identity of a civilian and lived another mans life for almost two years. Neither hunger, nor beatings, nor the long gray hopelessness of prison life could shake Ed Whitcombs determination to escape the enemy and return home to Indiana.Ed Whitcomb is the epitome of the American fighting man. He has the courage and fortitude needed to defy all odds in order to bring honor and respect to his state and country.Escape from Corregidor is the story, told with simplicity and fearlessness, of his dedication to the principles of devotion to his fellow man and his country.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1958
319 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 26, 2019
A great story on bravery and the will to carry on!
What a great story! I picked this title up on a whim and enjoyed every part of it. The odds that Ed Whitcomb surviving the first attacks of WW II, to being captured, escaping, captured again and making it back to the US till he he came full circle back around to the Philippines and prevailed over his Japanese captures and enemy combatants. I'm surprised there hasn't been a movie about this.
What a great story! I picked this title up on a whim and enjoyed every part of it. The odds that Ed Whitcomb surviving the first attacks of WW II, to being captured, escaping, captured again and making it back to the US till he he came full circle back around to the Philippines and prevailed over his Japanese captures and enemy combatants. I'm surprised there hasn't been a movie about this.
January 12, 2015
Amazing
I live in Indiana and hopefully will have a chance to meet the governor, he is now 97 and still going strong. Reading this book is a great reminder of the men of WWII, the greatest generation.
I live in Indiana and hopefully will have a chance to meet the governor, he is now 97 and still going strong. Reading this book is a great reminder of the men of WWII, the greatest generation.
March 9, 2019
Escape from Corregidor by Edgar D. Whitcomb
This is one of the most incredible stories I have ever read. There are memoirs from service in the Philippines during WWII that are embellished, fabricated, or even fraudulent. Whitcomb's story seems too good to be true, but it apparently is authentic. My only caveat is that since it was published in 1958 and he endured quite a bit of stress during the war, that perhaps his memory is faulty (as all of ours are). Whitcomb's memoir is far different, and his experience far more favorable, than other memoirs I have read. It's a fascinating read giving several aspects of WWII in the Philippines, as well as China. It is a testament to the power of what one can achieve when he is absolutely determined to survive, and assisted by some miraculous fortune. Interestingly, Whitcomb went on to become Governor of Indiana (1969-1973).
Whitcomb was a B-17 bomber navigator assigned to Clark Field who witnessed first-hand the destruction of the Army Air Corps on December 8, 1941 in the hours after Pearl Harbor. (The nine hours in which historians still wonder what MacArthur was doing at the Manila Hotel when America was at war a weird malaise settled over the U.S. command in the Philippines). Conscripted to the infantry, Whitcomb experienced the battle for Bataan as the Japanese tightened the noose. One curiosity in the book: while Whitcomb describes the great reduction in rations and the malaria experienced by troops, he does not describe a scene where everyone is completely despairing, starving, or without medicine, which is often thought about when Gen. King surrendered to the Japanese. Indeed, the decision to surrender comes as a surprise to Whitcomb and others, and the surrender scenes confusing as Japanese planes begin strafing fields of unarmed American troops.
A theme from the struggle on Luzon is the shock of the U.S. troops about the Japanese military's complete rout of U.S. forces. They came to the Philippines believing they were the superior military and economic force, the Japanese would never be so foolish to attack, and that reinforcements would certainly be quick to arrive. Every rumor of a relief ship is met with wild jubilation, and the longer the battle on Bataan lasts the more the rumors must certainly be true, because by now, shouldn't the U.S. fleet be arriving? The soldiers never really grasped the losses, and the Japanese eventually jammed the radio broadcasts from San Francisco. Even once he is repatriated in 1943, it takes Whitcomb a long time to come to terms with what he calls the "defeat" of U.S. forces in the Pacific.
Rather than surrender, Whitcomb and others jump on board a ship with Marines to join many in an escape to Corregidor, where they would hold out a little longer. Even on Corregidor, Whitcomb describes a place where there is fuel for vehicles, two regular meals a day, and somewhat high morale despite constant bombardment by the Japanese. The island is relatively indefensible from the Manila side of the island, however, and the Japanese quickly take it. After experiencing several days of forced labor for the Japanese, Whitcomb and a Marine, Bill Harris, decide to escape back to Bataan by swimming at night. Once they accomplish this feat, they rely on the hospitality of Filipinos and foraging in the wilderness for food, all with a goal of finding a boat to escape to China. Once that dream is dashed, they incredibly purchase a boat and sail from Subic to somewhere near Batangas in Southern Luzon. After enjoying great hospitality from the Lopez family and meeting up with U.S. Marine fugitives, Whitcomb elects to remain on Luzon while Harris and the others sail for Mindanao and Australia. (In the epilogue, we learn that group fights as guerrillas for a while, but Harris eventually gets taken to Tokyo as a high-profile POW and witnesses the signing of the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri). Whitcomb and some American civilian mining engineers get arrested by some Japanese sympathizers near Legazpi and shipped to ancient Fort Santiago in Intramuros in Manila for imprisonment and torture. From this point forward, Whitcomb creates and assumes the identity of civilian miner Robert Johnson, which he will maintain until his repatriation. The most incredible, miraculous scenes take place at Santiago where he is given a chance meeting with the other miners to work out the discrepancies in Whitcomb's lies to interrogators. They are released to join other civilians in Santo Tomas.
Whitcomb is in Santo Tomas in the relatively good days before the starvation of 1944-1945. But he quickly realizes that he's a danger to the community if the Japanese ever discover that he's actually in the military. After other military men are exposed and deported, probably to their deaths, Whitcomb fiercely maintains his identity of Robert Johnson. He applies for transfer to Shanghai alongside other detainees with Chinese ties and is shipped through Japanese waters to a new life in a true paradise. In 1942-1943, Shanghai was a haven for expatriates and the Japanese generally let Americans live free. Johnson befriends Carl and Shelly Mydans of Time & Life magazines, something that corroborates with their known story (Mydans is featured in James M. Scott's Rampage). Mydans and others provide Whitcomb with money and he enjoys a life, even when Americans are finally interred by the Japanese similarly to how they had been treated in Manila. Eventually, the Japanese allow an exchange of civilian prisoners from America for prisoners from the Pacific, and Whitcomb finds himself on a cruise porting at other major cities around the world on his voyage home.
Once in the United States, the FBI interrogates Whitcomb and he is forbidden from contacting any of his family or friends. The risk is that the Japanese will discover they have repatriated an American soldier and will suspend further transfers of civilians. Eventually, the Pentagon decides to let him resume his identity of Edgar Whitcomb and he returns to flight school, gets assigned to fly cargo planes all over the European theater, and by the end of 1944 is able to be transferred back to combat duty in the Pacific as a bomber navigator. The story comes full-circle when he joins a successful mission to bomb Formosa from the Philippines, a mission which he should have flown on December 8, 1941 had the order ever come.
Whitcomb lives with the knowledge that most of his friends either died in combat, in POW camps, or other cruel means while he was able to live a life of relative freedom and luxury (particularly in Shanghai). He doesn't dwell too much on this in the book, but it seems to underly his determination to get back to the Pacific in a combat role before the war is over. (His friend Bill Harris eventually dies leading a command in the Korean War.) The story is remarkable, and Whitcomb got to see more aspects of the war in the Philippines than perhaps anyone else.
I give this book four stars out of five.
This is one of the most incredible stories I have ever read. There are memoirs from service in the Philippines during WWII that are embellished, fabricated, or even fraudulent. Whitcomb's story seems too good to be true, but it apparently is authentic. My only caveat is that since it was published in 1958 and he endured quite a bit of stress during the war, that perhaps his memory is faulty (as all of ours are). Whitcomb's memoir is far different, and his experience far more favorable, than other memoirs I have read. It's a fascinating read giving several aspects of WWII in the Philippines, as well as China. It is a testament to the power of what one can achieve when he is absolutely determined to survive, and assisted by some miraculous fortune. Interestingly, Whitcomb went on to become Governor of Indiana (1969-1973).
Whitcomb was a B-17 bomber navigator assigned to Clark Field who witnessed first-hand the destruction of the Army Air Corps on December 8, 1941 in the hours after Pearl Harbor. (The nine hours in which historians still wonder what MacArthur was doing at the Manila Hotel when America was at war a weird malaise settled over the U.S. command in the Philippines). Conscripted to the infantry, Whitcomb experienced the battle for Bataan as the Japanese tightened the noose. One curiosity in the book: while Whitcomb describes the great reduction in rations and the malaria experienced by troops, he does not describe a scene where everyone is completely despairing, starving, or without medicine, which is often thought about when Gen. King surrendered to the Japanese. Indeed, the decision to surrender comes as a surprise to Whitcomb and others, and the surrender scenes confusing as Japanese planes begin strafing fields of unarmed American troops.
A theme from the struggle on Luzon is the shock of the U.S. troops about the Japanese military's complete rout of U.S. forces. They came to the Philippines believing they were the superior military and economic force, the Japanese would never be so foolish to attack, and that reinforcements would certainly be quick to arrive. Every rumor of a relief ship is met with wild jubilation, and the longer the battle on Bataan lasts the more the rumors must certainly be true, because by now, shouldn't the U.S. fleet be arriving? The soldiers never really grasped the losses, and the Japanese eventually jammed the radio broadcasts from San Francisco. Even once he is repatriated in 1943, it takes Whitcomb a long time to come to terms with what he calls the "defeat" of U.S. forces in the Pacific.
Rather than surrender, Whitcomb and others jump on board a ship with Marines to join many in an escape to Corregidor, where they would hold out a little longer. Even on Corregidor, Whitcomb describes a place where there is fuel for vehicles, two regular meals a day, and somewhat high morale despite constant bombardment by the Japanese. The island is relatively indefensible from the Manila side of the island, however, and the Japanese quickly take it. After experiencing several days of forced labor for the Japanese, Whitcomb and a Marine, Bill Harris, decide to escape back to Bataan by swimming at night. Once they accomplish this feat, they rely on the hospitality of Filipinos and foraging in the wilderness for food, all with a goal of finding a boat to escape to China. Once that dream is dashed, they incredibly purchase a boat and sail from Subic to somewhere near Batangas in Southern Luzon. After enjoying great hospitality from the Lopez family and meeting up with U.S. Marine fugitives, Whitcomb elects to remain on Luzon while Harris and the others sail for Mindanao and Australia. (In the epilogue, we learn that group fights as guerrillas for a while, but Harris eventually gets taken to Tokyo as a high-profile POW and witnesses the signing of the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri). Whitcomb and some American civilian mining engineers get arrested by some Japanese sympathizers near Legazpi and shipped to ancient Fort Santiago in Intramuros in Manila for imprisonment and torture. From this point forward, Whitcomb creates and assumes the identity of civilian miner Robert Johnson, which he will maintain until his repatriation. The most incredible, miraculous scenes take place at Santiago where he is given a chance meeting with the other miners to work out the discrepancies in Whitcomb's lies to interrogators. They are released to join other civilians in Santo Tomas.
Whitcomb is in Santo Tomas in the relatively good days before the starvation of 1944-1945. But he quickly realizes that he's a danger to the community if the Japanese ever discover that he's actually in the military. After other military men are exposed and deported, probably to their deaths, Whitcomb fiercely maintains his identity of Robert Johnson. He applies for transfer to Shanghai alongside other detainees with Chinese ties and is shipped through Japanese waters to a new life in a true paradise. In 1942-1943, Shanghai was a haven for expatriates and the Japanese generally let Americans live free. Johnson befriends Carl and Shelly Mydans of Time & Life magazines, something that corroborates with their known story (Mydans is featured in James M. Scott's Rampage). Mydans and others provide Whitcomb with money and he enjoys a life, even when Americans are finally interred by the Japanese similarly to how they had been treated in Manila. Eventually, the Japanese allow an exchange of civilian prisoners from America for prisoners from the Pacific, and Whitcomb finds himself on a cruise porting at other major cities around the world on his voyage home.
Once in the United States, the FBI interrogates Whitcomb and he is forbidden from contacting any of his family or friends. The risk is that the Japanese will discover they have repatriated an American soldier and will suspend further transfers of civilians. Eventually, the Pentagon decides to let him resume his identity of Edgar Whitcomb and he returns to flight school, gets assigned to fly cargo planes all over the European theater, and by the end of 1944 is able to be transferred back to combat duty in the Pacific as a bomber navigator. The story comes full-circle when he joins a successful mission to bomb Formosa from the Philippines, a mission which he should have flown on December 8, 1941 had the order ever come.
Whitcomb lives with the knowledge that most of his friends either died in combat, in POW camps, or other cruel means while he was able to live a life of relative freedom and luxury (particularly in Shanghai). He doesn't dwell too much on this in the book, but it seems to underly his determination to get back to the Pacific in a combat role before the war is over. (His friend Bill Harris eventually dies leading a command in the Korean War.) The story is remarkable, and Whitcomb got to see more aspects of the war in the Philippines than perhaps anyone else.
I give this book four stars out of five.
August 21, 2021
Although I liked this book and would recommend it for anyone who is interested in the Philippines and those men and women who served there during the 2nd World War, I cannot give it more than three stars for a few reasons: the editing of the Kindle edition is not very good; there are numerous typographical errors throughout the book; and the story doesn't flow well - some maps would be very helpful - although I have a basic knowledge of the geography of the Philippines from my studies of the battles fought there during the 2nd World War, there were times when I had to use Google Maps to find places to which the protagonist refers and to get a sense of the scale of the area in which most of the action occurs - since the story is a narrative in the first person it seemed as though it was not written at a very high level - maybe 5th or 6th grade, so an editor could have helped upgrade it - and doing so would have aided the flow. Finally, as one reads the book one gets a sense that the writer is attempting to justify his actions, leaving this reader with the question 'why?'
December 5, 2021
During my genealogy research, I discovered Ed Whitcomb. He was 3rd cousin to my father. After reading the book, I reached out to him and he graciously invited me to visit - and I waited too long to accept the offer.
This is an amazing book of fortitude, determination, and tenacity from a man dedicated to country and family. His career in politics is also an amazing story as was his 10-year solo voyage around the world.
As a member of the Southern KY Film Commission, I reached out to Hollywood trying to get their interest in making a movie of Ed Whitcomb's story. Many of the people he encountered were also mentioned in the book and movie "Unbroken". It's still worth pursuing, especially since so few of WWII vets are alive and American needs to be reminded of their sacrifice for our country.
This is an amazing book of fortitude, determination, and tenacity from a man dedicated to country and family. His career in politics is also an amazing story as was his 10-year solo voyage around the world.
As a member of the Southern KY Film Commission, I reached out to Hollywood trying to get their interest in making a movie of Ed Whitcomb's story. Many of the people he encountered were also mentioned in the book and movie "Unbroken". It's still worth pursuing, especially since so few of WWII vets are alive and American needs to be reminded of their sacrifice for our country.
December 13, 2017
Outstanding read
I remember when my dad and other family members came from the war. my dad had fought in Italy but many other family members were in the Pacific. I remember how good the were in fast pitch softball and often as went to them when they were grouped together in deep conversation they immediately stopped and picked me up. I new then , at a very early age, how good they were and I felt very proud and safe.
I remember when my dad and other family members came from the war. my dad had fought in Italy but many other family members were in the Pacific. I remember how good the were in fast pitch softball and often as went to them when they were grouped together in deep conversation they immediately stopped and picked me up. I new then , at a very early age, how good they were and I felt very proud and safe.
June 11, 2021
Hard for to hoe!!
Well written, must read. Experiences of the men horrifying and dificult . To endure so much, and still willing to return to the war front spoke of loyalty to their brothers in arm. One never knows what to expect, and when you experience the effect of real war and see reactions, time after time, leave all of it behind you and feel need to return to it is inspiring . The comeradery, the family that is created is for a lifetime
Well written, must read. Experiences of the men horrifying and dificult . To endure so much, and still willing to return to the war front spoke of loyalty to their brothers in arm. One never knows what to expect, and when you experience the effect of real war and see reactions, time after time, leave all of it behind you and feel need to return to it is inspiring . The comeradery, the family that is created is for a lifetime
April 26, 2018
This is the last war book I buy by a non-writer. The book meandered around, built little suspense and pretty much bored me to tears. I wanted to be wowed and the subject matter seemed promising, but this book proved that writing is an art, and just because you experienced something doesn't mean you can tell the story well.
August 25, 2019
One the most incredible stories that I have read. I later learned that the author went on to become the Governor of Indiana. Coincidentally, he writes about Roy Bennett, who was the editor and owner of the Manila Daily Bulletin. My late uncle, H. Ford Wilkins was also interred in Santo Tomas and became the managing editor of the Bulletin.
March 21, 2021
I picked this up at my local libraries book sale as local history. I believe it is actually a first printing hard back. The subject lived about 50 miles/ two counties away as the crow flies. I was interested because I had family who served in the Philippines. I feel this book could be easily turned into a movie. It is a great first account telling. Anyone interested in this genere should read it.
October 9, 2017
Very interesting tale of escape and adventure
This book is about the wartime adventures of one American officer who escaped from Corregidor and the adventures he had while constantly trying to get back into action. Really good read and.
This book is about the wartime adventures of one American officer who escaped from Corregidor and the adventures he had while constantly trying to get back into action. Really good read and.
October 11, 2017
World War II Story
Certainly an unusual tale. The author describes his successful efforts to hide his identify as a military man and to get home from the Philippines after the defeat. He did make it home, and returned to fly against the Japanese.
Certainly an unusual tale. The author describes his successful efforts to hide his identify as a military man and to get home from the Philippines after the defeat. He did make it home, and returned to fly against the Japanese.
November 18, 2017
Great story and good reading
It is very close to my 5-star book. The missing star represents some long details that were not necessary. Otherwise, a great book with much details that I identified when I was there.
It is very close to my 5-star book. The missing star represents some long details that were not necessary. Otherwise, a great book with much details that I identified when I was there.
August 4, 2018
Interesting sidenote concerning the US Forces in Philippines Occupation of WWII
A full tribute to the extrodinary efforts of one man's efforts to survive the brutal effects of war during WWII
A full tribute to the extrodinary efforts of one man's efforts to survive the brutal effects of war during WWII
December 7, 2018
A crazy long trip
5 stars à very interesting story for a man who had an adventuring life. The life in Manilla before the WWII is interesting, and the life in Shanghai during japoneese occupation very interesting
5 stars à very interesting story for a man who had an adventuring life. The life in Manilla before the WWII is interesting, and the life in Shanghai during japoneese occupation very interesting
May 8, 2020
A "Must Read"
Edgar Whitcomb has presented us with one of the best war time escapes ever written. The story is engrossing, sad and joyful. The plight the men and women of that generation went through is heroic and one of the reasons folks can read and enjoy being an American.
Edgar Whitcomb has presented us with one of the best war time escapes ever written. The story is engrossing, sad and joyful. The plight the men and women of that generation went through is heroic and one of the reasons folks can read and enjoy being an American.
August 29, 2020
Great story
Truth really is stranger than fiction. This is an unbelievable and amazing story of perseverance and fortitude including internment as a prisoner with the Japanese during WW II
Truth really is stranger than fiction. This is an unbelievable and amazing story of perseverance and fortitude including internment as a prisoner with the Japanese during WW II
July 16, 2021
Outstanding read!
Can’t imagine how these brave individuals could continue to fight, live, survive given the conditions they faced. I salute them and all who gave so much for their country!
Can’t imagine how these brave individuals could continue to fight, live, survive given the conditions they faced. I salute them and all who gave so much for their country!
October 21, 2017
This book gives as good an understanding of fortune, fate, luck, karma, etc., in a time of war as one will find.
November 11, 2017
If this were made into a movie no one would believe it. Strongly recommend this to anyone with an interest in WWII.
January 27, 2018
This is the most exciting and remarkable true story I've ever read! I can't believe I had never heard about this amazing escape before. I couldn't put it down till the end.
February 6, 2018
Great book!
February 7, 2018
Book
Great book really enjoyed reading it. Exciting and fast read. Great history lesson. Learned so much about this area. You will enjoy.
Great book really enjoyed reading it. Exciting and fast read. Great history lesson. Learned so much about this area. You will enjoy.
February 10, 2019
Courage
Engrossing from cover to ending. Can t over state the admiration felt for all of the characters of the book.
Engrossing from cover to ending. Can t over state the admiration felt for all of the characters of the book.
March 17, 2019
Amazing
Unbelievable the things these people endured in fighting for their country. Would recommend this book to anyone, especially history buffs.
Unbelievable the things these people endured in fighting for their country. Would recommend this book to anyone, especially history buffs.
September 25, 2019
Riveting
A very small interesting book, that kept my attention throughout. Amazing story and an amazing officer. It recommend to all.
A very small interesting book, that kept my attention throughout. Amazing story and an amazing officer. It recommend to all.
January 9, 2021
Woo baby! What a good book!
This book shows that can happen e energy in the worst of times! What a thrilling adventure this guy had!
Well written!
This book shows that can happen e energy in the worst of times! What a thrilling adventure this guy had!
Well written!
February 20, 2021
Interesting read
His was a very unique situation. Story well told! This book kept your interest and had several unexpected turns! Well done!
His was a very unique situation. Story well told! This book kept your interest and had several unexpected turns! Well done!
January 13, 2023
Incredible story from the early days of WWII. Whitcomb later was to become the governor of Indiana.
July 21, 2020
It was shocking to me that so many Americans were told to surrender, then abandoned to the cruel marches and deprivation of the enemy. This made me see General Douglas MacArther in a whole new light.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews