RG-114 Los Banos Internment Camp Papers

RG-114 Los Banos Internment Camp Papers; 1 box (.5 Shelf Feet) Materials donated by former internees and the liberators of the Japanese internment camp that held allied civilians in Los Banos, Philippines, during World War II.

The internment camp at Los Banos opened for operation in May, 1943, when 800 male internees from Santo Tomas Internment Camp were moved there. Located on the southern shores of Laguna de Bay, south of Manila on the island of Luzon, the internment camp was set up on the 60 acre site of the Los Banos Agricultural and Forestry School. By early 1945 the camp held over 2000 allied civilians on the brink of starvation.

Map of the Los Banos Internment Camp

When MacArthur’s forces returned to the Philippine Island of Luzon in January 1945, one of the first priorities was the liberation of the POW and civilian internment camps. The 6th Army Rangers liberated the POW camp at Cabanatuan. The 37th and 1st Cavalry Division liberated the allied civilians at Bilibid Prison and Santo Tomas. MacArthur pegged the 11th Airborne Division for the liberation of Los Banos. Even though heavily engaged in the battle for Manila, the 511th Parachute Infantry was taken out of the battle for a sea and airborne raid on the camp. On 23 February, in conjunction with Philippine guerrillas, the regiment raided the camp by a sea and airborne raid. The 672nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion carried elements of the 511th across Laguna de Bay, while the rest of the regiment was dropped on the camp at dawn by the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron. The guerrillas attacked the camp just before the parachutists made their jump. The raid on Los Banos was a complete success with limited casualties and the rescue of all allied civilians in the camp. The 672nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion loaded all elements of the paratroopers and the internees on their tractors and made their escape via the Laguna de Bay back to American lines and safety.

Map of the raid on Los Banos by the various elements of the rescue mission (Paul Shea Collection)	Los Banos in flames as the raid is underway (Paul Shea Collection)

Though small this collection contains many interesting items and memoirs

Memoir of Alexander Christie, Los Banos internee, about the rescue at dawn (Alexander Christie collection)

After liberation each former internee was processed by the U.S. Army for return to the United States and received a clearance pass like this (Alexander Christie collection)

Men of “A” Company, 672nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, pose with captured Japanese item the day after the Los Banos Raid.
(Dwight Clark Collection)

Donors to RG-114: Los Banos Internment Camp Papers

Herman Beaber

Bessie M. Crim

Major Henry Burgess, U.S.A.

11th Airborne Division

Alexander Christie

Dwight D. Clark

672nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion

Jane Fredericson

Howard P. Hart

Paul Shea