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Monsters in the Pacific

Discussion in 'Land Warfare in the Pacific' started by Falcon Jun, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Falcon Jun

    Falcon Jun Ace

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    Guys, I came across some information claiming that the US Army in the Philippines actually used as propaganda that monsters were lurking in the jungles of the country. The info claimed that the monster, locally known as aswang, preyed on Japanese and killed without mercy.
    According to the Discovery Channel, there was a US Army unit that supposedly specialized in using such myths to destroy enemy morale.
    Does anyone know more about this?
     
    skunk works likes this.
  2. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I've not heard anything about this, Falcon.
     
  3. skunk works

    skunk works Ace

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    Never heard this one, but if it worked....why not.
    I did hear of a plan to paint Mt.Fugi RED. To prey upon Japanese superstition.
    Perhaps they had other superstitions I've not heard of.
    Hey Chupa-Cabre is big in Mexico.
     
  4. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Aquila non capit muscas

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    What if the SS decided to breed Chupa Cabras (sorry, that's the correct spelling) and release them in the Ardennes before the Battle of the Bulge?
     
  5. skunk works

    skunk works Ace

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    Then "Goats" better watch out.
    On the web page for aswang were also tik-tiks (bird/bats?) and wuk-wuks (whatever). Guess the Japanese had their hands full in the Philippines.
     
  6. Falcon Jun

    Falcon Jun Ace

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    Yes, it's pretty obscure but it would be pretty interesting if such a unit did exist, as the Discovery Channel feature mentioned. The only thing that comes to my mind are the pilots of the American Volunteer Group in China. They did paint shark's teeth on their P-40's because they thought that Japanese pilots are instinctively afraid of sharks since they come from a basically fishing nation.
     
  7. skunk works

    skunk works Ace

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    I found this as well

    Japanese Superstitions

    One persons superstition is another ones laugh, and vice-versa.
     

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