In the early months of 1942, the Japanese Army successfully invaded and conquered all areas of the Philippines. However, the tide of the war shifted when Allied forces launched a daring amphibious operation on the island of Leyte on 20 October 1944. This was a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle for the Philippines, as it marked the beginning of a concerted effort to liberate the country from Japanese occupation. The mission involved significant strategic planning and the coordination of troops, ships, and aircraft from multiple countries, and the result was a decisive victory for the Allies that helped to turn the tide of the war in the Pacific.

The Battle of Luzon was a crucial military campaign waged by the Allied forces of the United States, its colony the Philippines, and other allies against the Empire of Japan during the Second World War.The battle lasted from 9 January to 15 August 1945 and resulted in a decisive victory for the Allies, marking another turning point in the Pacific Theater of Operations. 

The Battle of Luzon was notable for the sheer scale of the military operation and the intensity of the fighting. The Allied invasion force comprised close to 800 ships, which were used to transport approximately 175,000 troops from the 6th Army across the 20-mile beachhead of Lingayen Gulf. The landings commenced on 9 January 1945, with Japanese kamikaze aircraft immediately mounting strong opposition. The Allies suffered significant losses during the initial phase of the campaign, with the escort carrier Ommaney Bay being destroyed by a kamikaze attack, and over 47 ships being damaged or sunk in the first two weeks of the battle.

Despite these setbacks, the Allied forces pressed on, with XIV Corps under the command of General Oscar Griswold advancing south toward Manila. The U.S. forces did not face much resistance until they reached the Clark Air Base on January 23, where fierce fighting ensued and lasted until the end of the month. The capture of Clark Air Base allowed the U.S. forces to advance further toward Manila. A second amphibious landing was carried out on 15 January, 45 miles southwest of Manila, and on January 31, two regiments of the 11th Airborne Division made an airborne assault, capturing a bridge and later advancing toward Manila.

General Douglas MacArthur’s involvement in the Battle of Luzon during World War II was characterized by audacity, calculated risk-taking, and a clear strategic aim. MacArthur’s primary objective during the battle was the capture of Manila and its port and airbase, which were crucial to supporting future military operations in the region. Despite facing formidable Japanese forces, MacArthur’s leadership and unwavering commitment to his goal led to a decisive American victory.

Top photo: Luzon, Philippines, 1945. U.S. Army infantry squad advancing with Sherman tank armored support. Source: U.S. National Archives, Public Domain. Click to enlarge.

Bottom photo: Luzon, Philippines, 23 March 1945. A squad leader points out a suspected Japanese position at edge of Baleta Pass, near Baguio, Luzon, where troops of the 25th Infantry Division were in fierce combat with the enemy. Source: Wikipedia. Public Domain. Click to enlarge.

One of the crucial factors in the success of the Battle of Luzon was MacArthur’s ability to mobilize significant military resources. He urged his commanders to push forward and take the fight to the enemy. In doing so, he moved his advanced headquarters closer to the front lines than his subordinate, General Walter Krueger, and ordered the 1st Cavalry Division to conduct a rapid advance on Manila. This aggressive approach led to the capture of the city’s northern outskirts on February 3, 1945. The capture of the bridge across Tullahan River on February 3 allowed the 1st Cavalry Division to enter the city that evening, and the battle for the capture of Manila began.

The Battle for Manila was one of the most intense and brutal urban battles of the Second World War. The Japanese forces had entrenched themselves throughout the city and continued to resist the U.S. forces. General Yamashita had ordered his troops to destroy all bridges and other vital installations as soon as the U.S. forces entered the city, resulting in blockades and obstacles that the U.S. forces had to overcome. The situation was further complicated by the fact that Japanese snipers and suicide bombers were hidden in buildings and tunnels throughout the city, and the fighting was conducted street by street and house by house.

The U.S. forces slowly but surely gained ground, with the 11th Airborne Division capturing the last Japanese outer defences on February 11, thereby encircling the entire city. The U.S. and Filipino forces then carried out clearing operations in the city in the following weeks. The Battle for Manila resulted in significant casualties, with the majority of civilian deaths being caused by Japanese atrocities committed during the Manila massacre of February 1945, during which over 150,000 Filipinos were murdered by Japanese forces.

However, MacArthur faced significant challenges in achieving his objectives. Japanese Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi had resolved to defend Manila to the death, leading to a bloody three-week battle. Despite this, MacArthur refused to use air strikes to spare civilian populations, placing humanitarian concerns above military ones. Though thousands of civilians died in the crossfire or Japanese massacres, MacArthur emphasized the importance of safeguarding civilian life.

Bibliography

McManus, John C. To the End of the Earth: The US Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945. London: Penguin, 2023.

Smith, Robert R. Triumph in the Philippines: The War in the Pacific. Washington D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army, 1994.

Sullivan, Gordon R. "Luzon 1944-1945." U.S. Army Center of Military History. Accessed November 24, 2023. https://history.army.mil/brochures/luzon/72-28.htm.