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N0KFQ > TODAY 09.01.17 15:33l 59 Lines 2721 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 18564_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jan 9
Path: IW8PGT<IR2UBX<F1OYP<F4DUR<CX2SA<LU4ECL<N0KFQ
Sent: 170109/1323Z 18564@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ6.0.13
1945
United States invades Luzon in Philippines
On this day, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and the American 6th Army
land on the Lingayen Gulf of Luzon, another step in the capture
of the Philippine Islands from the Japanese.
The Japanese controlled the Philippines from May 1942, when the
defeat of American forces led to General MacArthur's departure
and Gen. Jonathan Wainwright's capture. But in October 1944, more
than 100,000 American soldiers landed on Leyte Island to launch
one of one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific war-and herald
the beginning of the end for Japan.
Newsreels captured the event as MacArthur waded ashore at Leyte
on October 20, returning to the Philippines as he had famously
promised he would after the original defeat of American forces
there. What the newsreels didn't capture were the 67 days it took
to subdue the island, with the loss of more than 55,000 Japanese
soldiers during the two months of battle and approximately 25,000
more soldiers killed in smaller-scale engagements necessary to
fully clear the area of enemy troops. The U.S. forces lost about
3,500.
The sea battle of Leyte Gulf was the same story. The loss of
ships and sailors was horrendous for both sides. That battle also
saw the introduction of the Japanese kamikaze suicide bombers.
More than 5,000 kamikaze pilots died in this gulf battle, taking
down 34 ships. But the Japanese were not able to prevent the loss
of their biggest and best warships, which meant the virtual end
of the Japanese Imperial Fleet.
These American victories on land and sea at Leyte opened the door
for the landing of more than 60,000 American troops on Luzon on
January 9. Once again, cameras recorded MacArthur walking ashore,
this time to greet cheering Filipinos. Although the American
troops met little opposition when they landed, they lost the
light cruiser Columbia and the battleship Mississippi, to
kamikazes, resulting in the deaths of 49 American crewmen.
The initial ease of the American fighters' first week on land was
explained when they discovered the intricate defensive network of
caves and tunnels that the Japanese created on Luzon. The
intention of the caves and tunnels was to draw the Americans
inland, while allowing the Japanese to avoid the initial
devastating bombardment of an invasion force. Once Americans
reached them, the Japanese fought vigorously, convinced they were
directing American strength away from the Japanese homeland.
Despite their best efforts, the Japanese lost the battle for
Luzon and eventually, the battle for control over all of the
Philippines.
73 - K.O., n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
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