Luzon 1945 by Clayton K. S. Chun

Author:Clayton K. S. Chun
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472816290
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2016-01-07T16:00:00+00:00

American and Allied Air Forces had overwhelming air supremacy over the Philippines by 1945. American medium bombers, like these B-25 Mitchells, could conduct a variety of missions, including airfield interdiction, close air support, antiship, and strafing activities. These missions greatly aided MacArthur. (Department of the Air Force)

Japanese opposition stifled Hall’s movements. It took time for Hall’s 38th Infantry Division to overcome defended caves and pillboxes. Japanese artillery pinned down American forces. Hall became frustrated with Major-General Henry Jones, 38th Infantry Division commander, and called his performance the worst he had seen; he would later relieve him. Heavy casualties, poor tactical planning, and intense Japanese resistance stopped Jones cold. Hall detached the 149th Infantry to bypass the Zigzag Pass and reach Dinalupihan. Instead of IX Corps taking Dinalupihan, the 40th Infantry Division occupied it on February 5. Hall’s men finally reduced the last defenders at Zigzag Pass on February 14. XI Corps killed over 2,400 Japanese and Hall suffered 250 dead. The remaining Japanese fled south to Mount Natib’s eastern side. Yamashita’s chief of staff Major-General Muto Akira commented that Kembu Group was isolated and that “we lost all track of it until the end of the war.”

While the 37th Infantry Division advanced through Clark Field, the 40th Infantry Division paralleled the push west by climbing up the mountains west of Bamban. Movement was difficult due to the steep terrain and Japanese resistance. The 108th Infantry made little progress going directly west from Bamban. Cave-bound Japanese defenders refused to surrender. Like the I Corps experience, 40th Infantry Division soldiers had to remove Takayama Detachment forces by either sealing up Japanese soldiers in their caves or employing flamethrowers, white phosphorous and thermite grenades, and other explosives. This process delayed the daily advance to a few hundred yards. However, the 160th Infantry moved southwest and paralleled the 37th Infantry Division into Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg, pushing along the foothills while protecting the right flank of the advance. Driving west from Mabalacat, the 160th protected the movement of the 37th.

As Clark Field fell, the 37th Infantry Division prepared to head towards Manila. The division’s 148th Infantry Regiment moved southwest from San Fernando and across the Pampanga River. This was a key area to control due to the Candaba Swamp, an impassable marshy area more than 20 miles long. The only bridges crossing the Pampanga River, which led to Manila and avoided the Candaba Swamp, were north of Calumpit near Cabanatuan. These were the same bridges American engineers had destroyed when MacArthur’s forces left Manila for Bataan.

To support the move to Manila and boost forces in Luzon, MacArthur sent in more reinforcements. On January 27, the 1st Cavalry Division, 32nd Infantry Division, and 112th Cavalry RCT landed near Mabilao on the Lingayan Gulf. Krueger assigned the 32nd Infantry Division to I Corps.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.