45 Original WWII Photos Manila Philippines 1945 Ruins Aircraft Censor Stamp Lot For Sale

Original collection of 45 World War II photographs from Manila, Philippines, documenting the city after the 1945 Battle of Manila. They come from an American serviceman's personal collection.

The lot combines his own snapshots with captioned souvenir prints he purchased in 1945.

WARTIME CENSOR STAMPS: Several prints are stamped on the back "PASSED BY U.S. ARMY EXAMINER 38919." That shows they were reviewed by military censors before being mailed home.

CAPTIONED 1945 PRINTS: Many of the larger prints carry typed captions on the back from the Veterans Picture Exchange, Grand Rapids, Mich. Captions include (quoted exactly as typed in 1945):

• "Municipal City Hall of Manila was an artillery target, later became the scene of hand-to-hand combat"
• "This is Old Manila, a battlefield for 29 days where uncounted thousands died"
• "Manila postoffice was Jap HQ during their occupation"
• "Filipino guerrilla behind a captured Jap machine gun in Old Manila"
• "Letran entrance to Old Manila was the scene of bloody combat"
• "A sentinel paces the blasted outer wall of Old Manila"
• "Residential district of Manila after Japs left"
• "Abandoned Jap equipment beside what was once the Intendencia (Government Mint of the Philippines)"
• "Watch over Manila, an AA outpost"
• "Quiapo Cathedral of Manila was untouched by the war"
• "Union Church of Manila"
• "Legislative Buildings, Manila"
• "Chinatown sidestreet, Manila"
• "Carromata taxi stand, Manila"
• "Manila business district, 1945"

OTHER MARKINGS:

• "Post Office" and "Philippine Mint" stamps
• Handwritten "B-25" and "DC-3" notes
• A Nov. 28, 1945 photo service stamp from Meridian, Miss.
• A handwritten note reading "Harvey & soldier friend"
• A second handwritten note beginning "Henry had just arrived..." (partly legible)
• One stateside print with a July 1, 1940 photofinisher stamp

THE SERVICEMAN'S OWN SNAPSHOTS: These include:

• A B-25 Mitchell with pin-up nose art
• A second B-25 photographed from a wingtip
• A Navy-style fighter, a biplane, and a DC-3 transport
• A unit sign reading "Ord. Maint. Co.-A.F."
• Servicemen at their tents, group portraits, and a machine shop
• Football games and local residents
• A few stateside snapshots, including Niagara Falls

SIZES: A mix of deckle-edge, straight-edge, and clipped-corner prints, from about 2.5" x 3.5" up to about 4" x 5".

CONDITION: Consistent with age. There is yellowing, foxing, edge wear, silvering, light creases, and tape residue on some prints. One print is heavily faded. Please see all photos, as they are part of the description.

From the same serviceman as my other listing of Japanese surrender photos from the Philippines. Ships flat between rigid boards.