The Aussie Morotai Mutiny of April 1945
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Wildcat
Major
Yep, pretty well known in RAAF history. Basically stemmed from the disappointment of being sidelined by MacArthur..
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
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- Jun 25, 2013
Not really a mutiny, though. More of a labor action 
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syscom3
Pacific Historian
The more you learn about Mac, the more you dislike the man.
Interesting!
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I grew up hearing General MacArthur called "Dugout Doug" by my WW II veteran dad. I would get quite a lecture (unsolicited) from dad about the General from time to time. He wasn't fond of John Wayne either ("there's another telephone tough guy!")
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
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I wonder how good MacArthur's political connections were. After all, quite a few people certainly applauded his attack on the Bonus Army during the Hoover administration. Nearly 20 years later, his handling of the UN forces in Korea seems to have had some critical failings, including ignoring information because he disliked it or its source.
During WW1, he had a quite good war record, but one wonders how much dash and heroism are necessarily good qualities in a leader, even a military leader, at the corps or division level.
And paper: https://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/Lahia-Ellingson.pdf
During WW1, he had a quite good war record, but one wonders how much dash and heroism are necessarily good qualities in a leader, even a military leader, at the corps or division level.
And paper: https://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/Lahia-Ellingson.pdf
MiTasol
1st Lieutenant
I do not know about his US connections but he and the Philippines President were very close friends.
MiTasol
1st Lieutenant
Yes - miraculously Melbourne was on the front lines when he was based there and the Brisbane line was the southern end of the official combat zone when he was there. Both times he was in the combat zone even though at least 1500km from any real action - for example Port Moresby was 2,100 km / 1300 miles away from Brisbane.
MacArthur had a dim view of the Aussies, mind you, with Thomas Blamey in charge of the army, he didn't have to look far for confirmation of his stance. The entire Australian armed forces felt like they were being sidelined and it was sad that her brave men and women who had distinguished themselves throughout the war were left at the end of the Pacific War with a bitter taste in their mouths over what had transpired.
MacArthur had a dim view of the US Navy.
He didn't seem to collaborate well [understatement].
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
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- Jun 25, 2013
MacArthur had a dim view of all human beings. He also tended to surround himself with sycophants, which is, in my opinion, the sign of a weak personality and poor leader.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
In all fairness a close friend of mine, a graduate of the War College, said General MacArthur was brilliant and I value his opinion highly.
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
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- Jun 25, 2013
He had also demonstrated great bravery in WWI. He was a complex and imperfect man whose failings would have mattered little in a setting with fewer responsibilities. HST did well to fire him. Possibly, he should have been fired about decade earlier but I don't think anyone could see his failings in 1940.
From Douglas MacArthur - Wikipedia
He retired from the US Army in 1937 to become Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.
MacArthur was recalled to active duty in 1941 as commander of United States Army Forces in the Far East.
Things would have been best if he were not recalled to active duty.
That being said, who shall we appoint as commander of United States Army Forces in the Far East?
Or is it even necessary to create this command?
MiTasol
1st Lieutenant
The military do have a tendency to stick up for their own.
In Australia we have Fred Scherger. The Royal Commission into total lack of air defense during the first of the Japanese air raids on Darwin blamed him 100% for that disaster. One book on the subject has him telling the officer who came into the mess that morning to warn of a large number of Japanese aircraft incoming that the Japanese were totally incapable of mounting a raid on Darwin and that he would be court marshaled if he ever again bought in such a claim. Apparently he was not smart enough to remember Pearl Harbor, the Prince of Wales/Repulse, etc and realize that they could attack Darwin.
He eventually became Chief of Air Staff, is lauded by the military as the savior of Darwin, and has a military base named after him.
Wikipedia says Scherger was acting commander of North-Western Area when Darwin suffered its first air raid in February 1942. Praised for his actions in the aftermath of the attack, he went on....
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 4,019
- Jun 25, 2013
Basically, he was pathologically narcissistic. This isn't meant to be some kind of political hit-job -- this isn't really political. He basically fit the profile of a person with NPD.
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syscom3
Pacific Historian
A study in command. Eisenhower vs MacArthur.
