PSYOP WWII Flyers: COL Greene Collection

Leaflets from the Southwest Pacific Area

The COL J. Woodall Greene Collection

By THE USASOC History Office

Published July 2023

Jump to Leaflets

Map: Southwest Pacific Area, 1942
Map: Southwest Pacific Area, 1942
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
A signed photo from General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, WWII commander of the SWPA, to his “old comrade-in-arms,” J. Woodall Greene.

During World War II, the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), a joint Allied command, fought to liberate the region from Japanese occupation. Commanded by General Douglas MacArthur, the SWPA’s area of operations included Australia, much of the Dutch East Indies, the western Solomon Islands, Papua and New Guinea, East Timor, the Philippines, and Borneo. Consisting of land, air, and naval forces, plus logistical elements, the SWPA’s ground combat units included the U.S. Sixth and Eighth Armies and the First Australian Army.

BG Bonner F. Fellers
BG Bonner F. Fellers

In June 1944, the SWPA added a Psychological Warfare (Psywar) Branch (PWB) to coordinate the theater psywar campaign, and to gather, collate, and provide intelligence to SWPA headquarters and field units. Led by Brigadier General Bonner F. Fellers, the PWB’s many efforts included the design, production, and plans to disseminate millions of leaflets and other printed products to demoralize enemy soldiers and induce surrenders and desertions. Historian Allison B. Gilmore challenges the frequent assertion that Japanese soldiers always chose death over surrender, writing: “Large numbers of Japanese soldiers did seek to surrender, and American GIs, along with their Australian counterparts, did take many prisoners, an estimated 19,500 in the [SWPA] alone.”1 Psywar played an important role in this.

J. Woodall Greene and two other members of the 117th Trench Mortar Battery, 42nd Division, France, during World War I.
J. Woodall Greene (right) and two other members of the 117th Trench Mortar Battery, 42nd Division, France, during WWI.
COL J. Woodall Greene
COL J. Woodall Greene

The leaflets on this site were provided by the family of the PWB’s Executive Officer (XO), J. Woodall Greene. Born in Denton, Maryland, in February 1892, Greene graduated from law school before enlisting in the Army in April 1917. Serving in France with the 42nd Division during World War I, he earned promotions up to captain and had been combat wounded before returning Stateside in 1919. A lawyer between the wars, Greene received an appointment as a major early in World War II. He served on MacArthur’s staff as a liaison officer to the Australian propaganda agency, the Far Eastern Liaison Office, before becoming XO of the PWB and earning promotions up to full colonel. He later served as Chief of the Psywar Section, Far East Command (FECOM), during the Korean War, before passing away in June 1959.2

Leaflet No. 10-J-1 “Key to the outcome of the war. ”

Key to the outcome of the war, front
Key to the outcome of the war, front
Key to the outcome of the war, back
Key to the outcome of the war, back

The Dornei News Agency stated on November 7, 1944.

“Japanese loss of Leyte will disrupt sealane transportation of our vessels to the Southern Regions, and it will endanger the transportation of our various raw materials from the Southern Regions to the Homeland.”

Just how accurate was this prediction is shown by the successive military developments themselves.

The entire strength of the army, navy, and air force under General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz is now able to operate freely from newly captured bases in the Philippines. The sea route which connects the homeland of Japan and the Southern Regions is gradually being compressed.

The day is not far off when this sea route, which is called the Lifeline, will be cut and Japanese shipping will be nailed down.

Soon will not there be a shortage even of the fuel that airplanes must have? Also the supply of rubber, tin, and other vital materials needed for the implements of war will fall into great difficulty.

No matter how strong a soldier may be, when even the very supply lines cannot be protected how can he satisfactorily perform his task?

Leaflet No. 6-J-1 “Abandoned”

Where are our Ships and Planes?
Where are our Ships and Planes?

(Retranslated from Japanese) General MacArthur, the supreme commander of the Allied forces in the South Pacific, recently paid high tribute to the brave actions of the Japanese soldier. We cannot help giving our sympathy to you, promising Japanese soldiers who have been forced into such a miserable condition as today’s.

Your wild eagles, upon whom you depended so much, hardly show their faces, leaving you unprotected against the never-ending bombing of our air force.

Where are our Ships and Planes?
Where are our Ships and Planes?

Also, the Japanese Navy is withdrawing its ships from their bases and U.S. troops are successively pouring into the Japanese naval bases. As a result, you are cut off from supplies and reinforcements and now you cannot even expect to be evacuated, if you attempt to establish yourself in the mountains and make a last stand there, all that can happen is that disease will eat your flesh and hunger gnaw your bones, and your plight become worse and worse.

Your comrades-in-arms, who were left behind in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, died hoping that friendly ships and airplanes might come to their rescue.

Why must you also die a futile death with this vain hope in your hearts?

Leaflet No. 15-J-1 “Good Treatment of Prisoners”

'Occidental food tastes good, too, when you get used to it.'
“Occidental food tastes good, too, when you get used to it.”

HEADING: Yesterday we were enemies; today we are friends.

Text on reverse: Your comrades who came over to our side are guaranteed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and recreation, in accordance with the International Law. (Eyes are covered to protect their families in Japan.)

Leaflet No. 4-J-1 “Japan’s Hour of Doom”

Picture of a clock with the different islands designating the numbers. At twelve it shows Japan will be defeated.
Picture of a clock with the different islands designating the numbers. At twelve it shows Japan will be defeated.
Hour of doom leaflet, back
Hour of doom leaflet, back

(Retranslated from Japanese)
Here are some typical statements from Tokyo, where the high authorities know in detail the true war situation:

“With the present condition, it is by no means impossible to meet with a final defeat.”

—Radio Tokyo, 19-7-31 (31 July 1944)

“I can say that the general war situation cannot be regarded as satisfactory. The nearer the enemy approaches the inner defense ring of Japan, the more difficult a position will arise for us.”

—Navy Minister Yonai, 19-9-7

“We must consider the possibility of the Allies landing on our home soil.”

—Premier Koiso, 19-9-7

What do these Tokyo statements mean? They mean that despite the futile bravery of your comrades in the Pacific Islands, the great Allied offensive continues to advance on schedule towards the Japanese homeland.

The time has come when the inordinately ambitious military leaders can no longer conceal their miscalculations. Although they know there is no chance of victory, they continue making you die like dogs to save their own faces.

Do you think this is just or right?

Leaflet No. 17-J-1 “I Cease Resistance”

I Cease Resistance

The purport of the English written above is

“This man is no longer an enemy. According to International Law he is guaranteed personal safety, clothes, food, quarters, medical attention, etc.”

“The picture on the left shows some of your comrades who came over to our side.”

(Eyes are covered to protect their families in Japan.)

Leaflet No. 13-J-1 “Ring of Ships”

FRONT: The South Seas are the South Seas Japan is Japan. BACK: Supply and Military Strength.
FRONT: The South Seas are the South Seas Japan is Japan.
BACK: Supply and Military Strength.

(Retranslated from Japanese) In a speech before the Diet on September 7th last, War Minister Marshall Sugiyama stated:

“It is most regrettable that the various Japanese front lines are being handicapped by the deterioration of our supply lines and bases.”

This statement was made before the American landing in the Philippines. But what is the situation now?

Allied planes, ships and submarines based on the Philippines surround the islands and are able to search out and destroy Japanese ships from the southern regions laden with oil, rubber, tin, etc.

What chance do vital materials such as these, which are needed in your war industry, have of arriving in Japan?

The condition of Japanese supply lines and bases has deteriorated further since the War Minister’s speech. It is still deteriorating, and as time goes on the situation can only become worse.

However hard you try, how is it possible to fight properly without adequate supplies?

Leaflet No. 4-J-1 “War of Production”

War of Production
War of Production
War of Production

(Back) Quotations from Japanese publications, Captain KURIHARA, ETSUZO, Chief of Naval Information Bureau IHQ, says:

The loss of the Dutch Indies would be a matter of much concern to Japan. It would make it extremely difficult for Japan to carry on modern warfare—the so-called “War of Production.”

Consequently, the japanese struggle to retain the Southern Regions is one of our most important tasks in the GEA War. (Magazine HINODE, Dec. 43)

American forces are now firmly established in the Philippines. How will this affect the war of supply?

Admiral NOMURA, KICHISABURO, says:

Japan’s great strength is due to her possession of the petroleum and other vital military raw materials of the former Dutch East Indies.

In wartime, these distant regions are not just a southern extremity, but the vital “heart” of Japan.

If this “heart” should be lost, Japan Would be attacked from the air; it would be the “death blow” to Japan. (Magazine Japanese Youth, Dec. 43)

Leaflet “The Need for Unity”

A Message to Every Filipino, front
A Message to Every Filipino, front
A Message to Every Filipino, back
A Message to Every Filipino, back

“In this supreme hour the great need is unity among Filipinos. It was unity that saved the cause of Philippine freedom after the surrender of our revolutionary comrades in 1901. It was unity that consolidated the forces of the Filipino people in the halls of the First Philippine Assembly, making that assembly a success. It was unity that made possible such great progress during the regime under the Jones Law, convincing Congress that the time for granting independence to the Filipino people had arrived. And independence was actually granted.

“It was unity that also enriched and consecrated the sacrifice of our soldiers on Bataan and Corregidor and opened for Filipinos the door to international recognition. It was unity that definitely sealed our spiritual alliance.

“Founded on the basis of the same Christian culture and civilization and common democratic ideology, we can achieve victory in the struggle in which we have become embroiled between the slave world and the free world. With victory assured, our day of liberation is inevitable. The forces of desolation and brute force cannot stay it.”

PRESIDENT OSMENA
ADDRESSING THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

‘A Government of Law,’ speech by Philippine President Osmena

Audio version of ‘A Government of Law’ speech

Leaflet No. 32-J-6 “Road to Hades”

FRONT:
The New Year’s gate decorations are but a milestone on our road to Hades.

REVERSE:
Yearning for the native land,
Forget-me-not stuck on my sleeve,
Reminding me not to forget my dear old
Homeland near the Kagu mountain.

Leaflet No. 19-J-6 “Our Hope”

Think this over carefully!
Think this over carefully!

(Japanese text prepared by a POW)

I am a prisoner of the Americans, but everyday I receive warm treatment from them. With tears in my eyes I am grateful to them.

I was astonished to see the new types of tanks, warships, planes and guns. I realized for the first time that we are losing the war to the Americans. At present what hopes are left for you? Be at ease and think of the future—the new Japan.

Surrender immediately and let us wait for peace.

Leaflet No. 12-J-1 “Wild Eagles and Oil”

Where are our Ships and Planes?
Picture showing bombs coming down and destroying the oil lines from Borneo to Japan. A Japanese pilot refueling his plane with only one drop left.

(Retranslated from Japanese) Nowadays the wild eagles on whom you rely have not been showing themselves in the sky as often as before, and you have perhaps been feeling somewhat uneasy about it. But it would not be just to blame the pilots indiscriminately, for the recent American landing on the Philippines has forced them to meet new conditions.

Because of America’s advancing attacks in the Philippines, Japan cannot help being hard-hit in the matter of oil supply. The supply lines which tie together Japan and the South Pacific are being cut. Allied planes, ships, and submarines based on the Philippines, are steadily sinking Japanese ships, filled with oil and other essential materials.

When your wild eagles do not deliver any counter-blows against the relentless bombing by the Allied forces, may it not be that they are concerned with conserving oil?

Leaflet No. 9-J-6 “GOGAI”

'Gogai' (Term for Japanese newspaper extra)
'Gogai' (Term for Japanese newspaper extra)

HEADLINE: American Forces Land on Morotai and Palau

51 Japanese planes, 173 Japanese ships sunk near Philippines by U.S. Carrier Task Force before Landings.

STORY: The U.S. Carrier Task Force launched its first air attack on Sept 8. The assault was followed up by air strikes on Sept 11 and 12.

The Japanese forces were on the defensive throughout. They made no effort to find and attack the American Naval force, which consisted of battleships, carriers and several hundrer smaller naval craft. Japanese ships fled before the onslaught, but with little avail. Japanese planes took to the air over the Philippines, but only to defend their bases.

By Sept 12, Japanese air power in the Philippines was demolished, and no further resistance was made to the final American air attacks.

On Sept 15, hundreds of American ships landed combat troops on Morotai and Palau.

Morotai is 300 miles south of Davao. Palau is 550 miles east of Mindanao.

Leaflet “MacArthur Returns!”

MacArthur Returns, front
MacArthur Returns, front
MacArthur Returns, back
MacArthur Returns, back
MacArthur Has Returned, front
MacArthur Has Returned, front
MacArthur Has Returned, back
MacArthur Has Returned, back

Leaflet Flags

U.S.A. Flag
U.S.A. Flag
Philippines Flag
Philippines Flag

ENDNOTES

  1. Allison B. Gilmore, “‘We Have Been Reborn’: Japanese Prisoners and the Allied Propaganda War in the Southwest Pacific,” Pacific Historical Review 64, no. 2 (May, 1995): 196. [return]
  2. For more on the PWB, SWPA, and COL J. Woodall Greene, see, generally: National Archives and Records Administration, “Southwest Pacific Area. Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1. Psychological Warfare Branch. 6/1944-7/1944,” n.d., https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10567124; Allison B. Gilmore, You Can’t Fight Tanks with Bayonets: Psychological Warfare against the Japanese Army in the Southwest Pacific (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1998). [return]