MacArthur hit’s a mine

What if motor torpedo boat PT-41 which evacuated general MacArthur and his family from Corregidor in march 1942 hit a sea mine laid by the Japanese and killing him and his family.

What would the effect be for the pacific campaign whit him being death.
 
This probably removes the central pacific campaign, or at least scales it back. More american resources devoted to the drive towards japan probably means a slightly faster conclusion in the pacific, with fewer western casualties.

Now, where things really start to diverge is postwar during the occupations of japan and Korea...
 
The war ended and will end with the atomic bomb, and it's use was upon manufacture. The Phillipines campaign would have not occurred, eliminating the Battle of Leyte, my favorite battle. Whether anyone else could be King of Japan as well is speculative, although he did have the biggest ego of any serving commander I can think of. He makes Monty seem humble by comparison. When all is said and done, what happens to Inchon? That was him. Whachagonnadoo?
 

CalBear

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I feel bad about his wife and family.

That will keep me from doing the HAPPY DANCE!

You just saved thousands of American and Australian lives.

Unfortunate, however, about the post-War Occupation of Japan & Inchon. That a a very nice bit of work.
 
You just saved thousands of American and Australian lives.

Why is that.

Is the death of MacArthur a good thing then ore will whey she a completely different pacific campaign.

And who becomes the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area ,will it be a American , British ore Australian.
 
Is the death of MacArthur a good thing then ore will whey she a completely different pacific campaign.

And who becomes the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area ,will it be a American , British ore Australian.

well, Australia's Thomas Blamey was (nominally) allied land forces commander, though MacArthur virtually never allowed him to actually command American combat troops in SWPA- but with no Mac around, would FDR have consented to Curtin's insistence of Blamey as the big cheese in charge of everything happening in New Guinea etc ? What about George Kenney as a replacement, even though he was in charge of 5th AF- would such a major command have gone to a high-ranking USAAF officer ?
 

The Sandman

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I feel bad about his wife and family.

That will keep me from doing the HAPPY DANCE!

You just saved thousands of American and Australian lives.

Unfortunate, however, about the post-War Occupation of Japan & Inchon. That a a very nice bit of work.

I don't really have a high opinion of his work in post-war Japan, given that he was the reason that Hirohito stayed on and the reason why we never bothered to install a functional democracy there.

And in Korea, wasn't part of the reason why he was successful at Inchon due to the fact that it was a horrible place for an amphibious invasion, the NKs knew this and didn't bother guarding it, and he got extremely lucky with the tidal conditions?
 
And in Korea, wasn't part of the reason why he was successful at Inchon due to the fact that it was a horrible place for an amphibious invasion, the NKs knew this and didn't bother guarding it, and he got extremely lucky with the tidal conditions?

More as a discussion point rather than well studied knowledge, was the amphibious assault on Inchon really necessary? The historical landing was a success, for sure, but by this time the North Korean lines around Pusan were already in very depleted condition. A two division force (7th US Infantry and 1st USMC Marine) might have well broken through very succesfully through the perimeter with fairly similar results anyway as the very succesfull Inchon landing was not that succesfully exploited.
 

CalBear

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I don't really have a high opinion of his work in post-war Japan, given that he was the reason that Hirohito stayed on and the reason why we never bothered to install a functional democracy there.

And in Korea, wasn't part of the reason why he was successful at Inchon due to the fact that it was a horrible place for an amphibious invasion, the NKs knew this and didn't bother guarding it, and he got extremely lucky with the tidal conditions?




That was why Inchon was so successful. It looked to be impossible, and was for most countries. Realistically the only countries on Earth that could have made it work were Canada, the UK and the U.S., with the U.S. being the one country with both the experience in planning and actual assault landings as well as the necessary lift and specially trained troops.

Inchon was a gamble, any assault landing is, but it was a good gamble.

Regarding the Occupation, he didn't really have much of an option. The NCA had chosen to leave the Emperor in place so he couldn't take Hirohito out and hang him, regardless of if he deserved it or not.

As far as democracy, I would say that Japan is a very solid example of civilian elected government. Yes it effectively a single political party with slightly different flavors, but so is the U.S. Japan's politcial system and justice system also reflect the "character" of the Japanese culture which is as it should be. The goal of the Occupation wasn't to turn Japan into the U.S., it was to make it a non-military dominated society. That goal was met.

As anyone who has ever read anything I have posted on the man knows I LOATHE MacArthur. Nevertheless, you have to give credit where it is due.
 
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