Philippines campaign (1941–1942)
On the 6th of November 1941, General Hisaichi Terauchi created the Southern Expeditionary Army Group to seize raw materials in Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies. This force included four corps-equivalent armies with ten divisions and three combined arms brigades under Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma. The Japanese planned to occupy the Philippines as part of a Greater East Asia War strategy. Their goals were to prevent American use of the islands as an advance base and secure lines of communication between occupied areas and Japan. Five years earlier, Captain Ishikawa Shingo had toured Southeast Asia noting that these countries held resources needed for armed forces. The invasion involved the Fourteenth Army landing at Lingayen Gulf and Lamon Bay on the 22nd of December 1941. Air support came from the Fifth Air Group under Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata. Combined army and navy air strength totaled 541 aircraft including 107 A6M Zero fighters. The operation aimed to limit Allied intervention when they attempted offensive campaigns in Australia and the Solomon Islands.
News reached the Philippines about Pearl Harbor at 02:20 local time on the 8th of December 1941. At 11:27 radar posts detected incoming raids while still 130 miles out. Japanese bombers attacked Clark Field at 12:40 achieving tactical surprise. Two squadrons of B-17s sat dispersed on the ground while most P-40s prepared to taxi. Only four of the 20th Pursuit Squadron's P-40Bs managed takeoff before bombs fell. A second wave of 26 Betty bombers followed closely then escorting Zero fighters strafed the field for 30 minutes. This destroyed 12 of 17 American heavy bombers present and seriously damaged three others. By nightfall FEAF combat strength had been reduced to 12 operable B-17s, 22 P-40s, and 8 P-35s. Every other aircraft was destroyed or captured by the 24th of December. Major General Lewis H. Brereton later blamed Brigadier General Richard Sutherland for the failure. Walter D. Edmunds summarized that personnel failed to assess accurately the weight speed and efficiency of the Japanese Air Force.
The main attack began early on the 22nd of December as 43,110 men of the 48th Division landed along Lingayen Gulf. The 16th Division hit beaches at Lamon Bay in southern Luzon where they found General Parker's forces without artillery protection. On the 24th of December MacArthur invoked Orange 3 calling for five delaying positions while forces withdrew into Bataan. Nine days of feverish movement brought supplies primarily by barge from Manila. Ultimately 80,000 troops and 26,000 refugees flooded Bataan. Units held open escape routes including San Fernando and steel bridges at Calumpit over the Pampanga River. The South Luzon Force executed leapfrogging retrograde techniques crossing bridges by the 1st of January. Despite 50% losses in the 194th Tank Battalion during retreat, Stuart tanks repeatedly stopped Japanese thrusts. The American 31st Infantry moved to Dalton Pass to cover flanks while other units organized positions at Bataan. The junction was given up on the 6th of January but withdrawal remained successful.
From 7 to the 14th of January the Japanese concentrated on reconnaissance before attacking the main battle line from Abucay to Mount Natib. A critical mistake occurred when Homma relieved the 48th Division with the less capable 65th Brigade intended as garrison force. The 14th Army renewed attacks on the 23rd of January with an amphibious landing behind lines by a battalion of the 16th Division. This pocket was slowly forced back to cliffs with high casualties on both sides. Landings to reinforce surviving pockets on the 26th of January and the 2nd of February were severely disrupted by air attacks then trapped and annihilated on the 13th of February. On the 8th of February Homma ordered suspension of offensive operations to reorganize forces. For several weeks the Japanese conducted siege operations while waiting refitting and reinforcement. Both armies engaged in patrols and limited local attacks. Beginning the 28th of March new waves of air and artillery attacks hit Allied forces weakened by malnutrition sickness and prolonged fighting. On April 3 the Japanese began breaking through along Mount Samat estimating that the offensive would require a month to end the campaign. Only 300 men of the U.S. 31st Infantry successfully reached Corregidor.
Corregidor defended the entrance to Manila Bay with older seacoast disappearing gun batteries from the 59th and 91st Coast Artillery Regiments. Early in 1942 Japanese bombers installed oxygen to fly higher than range of anti-aircraft batteries enabling heavier bombardment. In December Philippines President Manuel L. Quezon escaped bombardment and housed in Malinta Tunnel. Several U.S. Navy submarines arrived north side of Corregidor bringing mail orders and weaponry while taking away highest ranking officers gold silver and records. The island was defended by 11,000 personnel including units stationed there plus the U.S. 4th Marine Regiment. The Japanese began final assault on the 1st of May with artillery barrage. On night of 5, the 6th of May two battalions of 61st Infantry Regiment landed at northeast end establishing beachhead reinforced by tanks and artillery. Late on the 6th of May Wainwright asked Homma for terms of surrender. Homma insisted surrender include all Allied forces in Philippines. Believing lives endangered Wainwright accepted. On the 8th of May he sent message ordering Sharp to surrender Visayan-Mindanao Force. Eighteen United States Army generals surrendered to Japanese forces by May 1942.
General Homma's victory was not received warmly at Imperial General Headquarters where Premier Hideki Tojo scoffed at his inefficiency. The defeat marked beginning of three and a half years harsh treatment for Allied survivors including atrocities like Bataan Death March. Thousands were crowded into holds of ships without water food or sufficient ventilation. Some vessels were attacked and sunk by Allied aircraft and submarines. For example on the 7th of September 1944 one ship was sunk with losses of 668 POWs while only 82 survived. American and Filipino guerrillas fought against occupying forces during occupation period. The campaign took longer than anticipated requiring forces diverted from attacking Borneo and Java. This slowed advance on New Guinea and Solomon Islands buying time for U.S. Navy to plan engagement at Guadalcanal. Defense lasted 105 days allowing Australia crucial time to organize defense. About 23,000 U.S. military personnel and about 100,000 Filipino soldiers were killed or captured.
The defense of Philippines was longest resistance to Japanese Imperial Army in initial stages of World War II. After Battle of Abucay Japanese started withdrawing from Bataan resuming attack in April giving MacArthur 40 days prepare Australia as operational base. Initial resistance allowed Australia crucial time to organize for its defense. Philippine-American resistance up to fall of Bataan on the 9th of April 1942 lasted three months and two days. While offensive operations in Dutch East Indies unaffected this heavily hindered operations in New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Buying time enabled U.S. Navy to plan engage Japanese at Guadalcanal rather than much further east. Japan's conquest often considered worst military defeat in U.S. history. The harbor and port facilities of Manila Bay denied to Japanese until capture of Corregidor Island on the 6th of May. Allied and Philippine Commonwealth forces began campaign recapture Philippines in 1944 with landings on island of Leyte. On the 29th of January 1945 US and Philippine forces liberated POWs in Raid at Cabanatuan.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the Philippines campaign 1941-1942 begin and end?
The Philippines campaign began on the 6th of November 1941 when General Hisaichi Terauchi created the Southern Expeditionary Army Group. The campaign concluded with the surrender of all Allied forces by May 1942 after the fall of Corregidor Island on the 6th of May.
Who commanded Japanese forces during the invasion of the Philippines in 1941?
Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma led the Fourteenth Army which landed at Lingayen Gulf and Lamon Bay on the 22nd of December 1941. General Hisaichi Terauchi created the Southern Expeditionary Army Group to oversee operations including the Philippines invasion as part of a Greater East Asia War strategy.
What happened to American aircraft at Clark Field on the 8th of December 1941?
Japanese bombers attacked Clark Field at 12:40 achieving tactical surprise and destroying 12 of 17 American heavy bombers present. By nightfall FEAF combat strength had been reduced to 12 operable B-17s, 22 P-40s, and 8 P-35s while every other aircraft was destroyed or captured by the 24th of December.
How many troops and refugees entered Bataan during the retreat from Manila?
Ultimately 80,000 troops and 26,000 refugees flooded into Bataan after MacArthur invoked Orange 3 on the 24th of December. Units held open escape routes including San Fernando and steel bridges at Calumpit over the Pampanga River while executing leapfrogging retrograde techniques crossing bridges by the 1st of January.
When did the final surrender of Allied forces in the Philippines occur in 1942?
The Japanese began their final assault on Corregidor on the 1st of May with an artillery barrage followed by landings on the night of the 5th and the 6th of May. Wainwright accepted terms of surrender on the 6th of May and sent a message ordering Sharp to surrender Visayan-Mindanao Force on the 8th of May.