World War II · Film · 1945
They Were Expendable
A squadron of small, unproven PT boats fights a losing battle in the Philippines after Pearl Harbor, and carries General MacArthur out of Corregidor before the islands fall.
Where it happened
Follow the story across 3 places.
Stop 1: Cavite Navy Yard, Manila Bay
Brick's boats fail to impress the admiral, and news of Pearl Harbor arrives during a party; soon their base is bombed flat.
Stop 2: Corregidor
Key location
In the hospital tunnels Rusty falls for an army nurse, and the squadron is ordered to evacuate the commanding general by night.
Stop 3: Cagayan, Mindanao
After delivering their passengers, the last boats fight on until they are gone, and their crews join the army ashore.
What really happened
Japan attacked the Philippines hours after Pearl Harbor, destroying much of the US air force on the ground and bombing the Cavite navy yard on 10 December 1941. American and Filipino troops fell back to Bataan and the island fortress of Corregidor, while Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 under Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley fought on with a handful of boats.
On 11 March 1942 Bulkeley's boats carried MacArthur, his family and staff from Corregidor to Mindanao, from where they flew to Australia. Bataan surrendered on 9 April and Corregidor on 6 May. The film, based on W. L. White's 1942 book, was directed by John Ford after his own wartime service; the squadron's claimed sinkings of Japanese cruisers were not confirmed after the war.
Where to watch
Checking streaming services…
Full details
- Original title
- They Were Expendable
- Directed by
- John Ford
- Countries
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Released
- 1945
- Period
- –
- Theaters of war
- Pacific
- Themes
- Naval
- True story
