Question

What mistake did general douglas macarthur make in december 1941?

Answer 1

The correct answer is D) He miscalculated the strength of the Japanese and was forced to retreat.  

The mistake that Douglas McArthur made in December 1941 was that he miscalculated the strength of the Japanese and was forced to retreat.  

On December 8, 1941, General McArthur received the news about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was the U.S. General in the Head Quarters of the United States Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines. MacArthur did not prepare his troops to prevent the attack of Japan and left his combat airplanes on land. When the Japanese Airforce got to the site, most of U.S. fleet was on land and practically was destroyed. The inaction of McArthur to follow war orders was the reason for the U.S. loss in the Philippines base.

The other options of the question were, a) He failed to secure important rubber and oil supplies in Asia, b) He led a raid in Tokyo that proved to have a minimal military gain, c) He evacuated his soldiers to Australia without repelling the Japanese invasion of Guam.

Answer 2

He was recalled to active duty as commander of the U.S. army forces in the far east. A series of disasters followed, beginning with the destruction of his air forces on December 8. 1941, and the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese. His forces had to withdraw from Bataan.