bigpigeon.us webpage WW II -  Japan  > Philippines Liberated >  Luzon, updated by RAC 15 Aug '19
Luzon is the largest and most northerly of the Philippine Islands.

When United States forces invaded Luzon in January 1945, they faced enemy ground forces larger than previously encountered in the War with Japan.

Fortunately, by now both Japanese sea and air power, except for kamikazes, had been largely eliminated. Nevertheless, American casualties on Luzon were high. The most important areas were seized within the first few months, but combat in rural areas was still ongoing when the War with Japan ended in August 1945.

 Two notable chapters from the lengthy Luzon campaign:
  • Fearing that Japanese would kill the remaining prisoners, both militiary and civilian, in the Philippines, special units staged several spectacular rescues.
  • Die-hard Japanese units made a final stand in Manila, rather than to retreat to the mountains. In the lengthy street fighting that resulte, many Filipino civilians were killed and the old colonial center of Manila was destroyed.​
January 1945 - Enemy Forces on Luzon
January 1945 - Enemy Forces on Luzon, Philippines
Mindoro
Luzon campaign preliminaries began on 15 December 1944, when United States forces invaded the island of Mindoro south of central Luzon in order to acquire airfields for subsequent use.

As the accompanying map shows, the Mindoro invasion achieved its goals on the first day by securing a corner of the island containing the airfield locations. 

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Invasion of Mindoro
Invasion of Mindoro
The Invasion of Luzon - 9 January 1945
In January 1945, MacArthur's Sixth Army landed at Lingayen Gulf on the coast of Luzon north of Manila. Over three years earlier, in December 1941, Lingayen Gulf was also the site of the major Japanese invasion of the Philippines.

The Sixth Army quickly pushed south until stopped on 23 January by stiffening Japanese resistance in the area of Clark Field.  (Clark Field is south of Tarlac and northeast of Subic Bay on the following map.)

Combat in the Clark Field area held up the Sixth Army advance for a week, until on 1 February the advance towards Manila continued.

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Invasion of Luzon
Invasion of Luzon
The Approach to Manila
The primary objectives in the Luzon campaign were Manila Bay and the city of Manila. This area, a mere 1,500 miles south of the Japanese Home Islands, was viewed as major staging area for the planned later invasion of Japan.

A secondary, humanitarian objective was the rescue of the thousands of civilian internees and military prisoners of war, mostly American, held at various camps in central Luzon. Japanese forces had already executed en masse American captives on at least two occasions, civilians on Wake Island and military on Palawan, and further atrocities were feared.
29 Jan - Amphibious landing by the 34th Regimental Combat Team of the 8th Army's 24th Infantry Division at San Antonio west of Subic Bay. This force then advanced to the southeast and liberated Olongapo in Subic Bay on.

29 Jan - Amphibious landing by elements of the 8th Army's 11th Airborne Division at Nasugbu southwest of Manila.

30 Jan - Cabanatuan POW camp raid by Filipino guerillas and elements of the 6th Ranger Battalion and Alamo Scouts free 500 prisoners.  Cabanatuan is east of Tagalog on the first map. (The Alamo Scouts were the 6th Army's special operations unit.)

3 Feb - US Army liberates civilian internment camp at Santo Tomas University in northern Manila, freeing 3,785 prisoners.

3 Feb - Airborne landing by elements of the 11th Airborne Division at Tagatay Ridge south of Manila reinforces the amphibious landing of 29 January.

3-5 Feb - Liberation of internees in Old Bilibad Prison in Manila.

23 Feb - Los Banos prison raid about 25 miles southeast of Manila by Filipino guerillas and elements of the 11th Airborne Division; 2,147 prisoners rescued. Japanese later kill 1,500 Filipinos in retalitation
Central Luzon - North of Manila
Central Luzon - North of Manila
Central Luzon - South of Manila
Central Luzon - South of Manila
The Battle of Manila 3 February - 3 March 1945
Before this battle, Manila was known as the Pearl of the Orient.
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General Yamashita, the overall Japanese commander in the Philippines, had ordered Admiral Sanji, Manila area commander, to destroy the harbor facilities, declare Manila an open city, withdraw into remote areas, and continue the struggle. 

Sadly for all parties, this order was not followed. As American troops approached, Japanese forces prepared for a street battle and began to commit atrocities on Filipino civilians, atrocities collectively known as the Manila Massacre.

The accompanying map shows the final phase of the Battle of Manila.
During the Battle of Manila, the historic walled center of Manila, known as the Intramuros, was destroyed.

An estimated 100,000 civilians died in the Manila area from Japanese atrocities and American firepower.
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The Intramuros After the Battle of Manila
The Intramuros after the Battle of Manila
After Manila fell, combat continued on northern and southeastern Luzon for months. The Luzon campaign wasn't officially concluded until the general Japanese surrender in August.
Sources for the WW II - Luzon webpage
  • The webpage header photo, MacArthur at Luzon, shows General Douglas MacArthur returning to Leyte Island on 9 January 1945. It is reminiscent of earlier photos showing MacArthur landing on Leyte on 20 October 1944. This Carl Mydans photo is courtesy of time.com.
  • The January 1945 - Enemy forces on Luzon, Philippines map is courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org.
  • The Invasion of Mindoro map was found at https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Triumph/maps/USA-P-Triumph-2.jpg.
  • The Invasion of Luzon map is courtesy of https://history.army.mil/brochures/luzon/map2.JPG.
  • The Central Luzon - North of Manila map is courtesy of www.weather-forecast.com.
  • The Central Luzon - South of Manila map is courtesy of www.seemyphilippines.com.
  • The Capture of Manila map 
  • http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html provides a trove of information on Americans held by the Japanese. A second source is philippineinternment.com.
  • The The Intramuros after the Battle of Manila map is courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_massacre.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa WW II Deaths - Luzon (updated 15 Aug ’19)
World Wars > WW II > Pott. Co. Deaths has parental and spousal information​.
  • Daughtrey, Gilbert P., US Navy; submarine USS Growler; d. 8 Nov '44, off Manila Bay, Luzon, submarine sunk, all hands lost.
  • Hansman, Jack, US Army; Battery C, 90th Field Artillery Bn., 25th Inf. Div.; d. 13 Apr '45, Luzon.
  • Hough, Charles R., US Naval Aviation; Sqdn. VT-20 flying off of USS Enterprise; TBM Avenger radioman, d. 13 Nov '44 over Manila Bay, Luzon, crew of three lost from AA fire.
  • Napier, LaVerne F., US Army; Troop B, 8th Engineering Squadron, 1st Cav. Div.; d. 6 Feb '45, Manila, Luzon.
  • Oltmans, Merle W., US Army; Co. D, 35th Inf. Regt., 25th Inf. Div.; d. 22 May '45, Battle of Balete Pass, northern Luzon.