Battery Way Corregidor. The abandoned cannons are a grim reminder of the May 6, 1942 surrender of US forces to the Japanese. Corregidor became the headquarters for US Naval Defense forces in 1941. In the middle of Japanese assault on nearby Bataan, General Macarthur left the island by PT Boat on March 11, 1942 and flew to Australia. He later returned to the island in February 1945. His famous words to Colonel George M. Jones, the paratrooper commander were 'I see the old flagpole still stands. Have your troops hoist the colors to its peak, and let no enemy ever haul them down.'