ussbs report 65, employment of forces under the southwest pacific command, ocr

8/6/2019 USSBS Report 65, Employment of Forces Under the Southwest Pacific Command, OCR

1/34


2/34

'fAIlL.E m'

oriP',i .. ,;.,,,

, M"rch 1f.+2""'P " " , 8 ~ ._ ro''''''......lIII "-,Iy 191';'" 1 ' 1 , 1 ~ ' i o n or """f'll'"

Kokoda T'-;L

.


3/34

t i n ~ of the campllil,'Tl8 in']'b('8k'r is ~ o m p o s e d prineoIlf'tted from the h j g l O r i

lIl'&dqUllrU-l1I, S o u t l n O " With the object il 'e ofplay of forees alld fllCtt lind outcome of ehas ~ made of Gtlle, Plans; General I I

Instroctions, outliningor a lleries of ",lUl'l1 ope

and Di\-is,ion hislOriccompleted opel1ltions; lIcommandel'5 reganlingfors, and hiswM ofcompi led by the l Ii swnatudy is esselllilllly on

lIo\l 'e\ 'er , dllta reponl i d s ehargffi ...itbaction hll"e IJe(on includpro,'ides e\, idenee up

the o.-er...U e t r ~ t i eNtain IUll'!'I of &etion c

SouUI"'e81 Pacific ga__ eoncep18 and tl.'chniq","olutioll&l)' of t l l I ' !from pre\'ious mctho.bich opened UII & n


4/34

.. . of attatokinl' uortlwrn ,\osll"l\lI.). II(Onr, It likt"lI tllal all of thl'!!(' .. . '11: IlOt ,n Iorirjc'inal war plall, hut n'llrt'lll'nl lUi


5/34

.Australian JmperiaJ FotMiddle East, 2 of which 1\treIlD armored di"igion lIlrtldy C; lind approximately 7 dh, n )I ilit llry Forces-troo

defenlie. The ei,'ilian forcmined and equipped. TForce had approximatelv fil'$t line. in some of .. hiof both pllnes and train pOO, in general, with infer

'ell limited ill! cltllRbilitiesand reconnaissance. Tthe Ro}'al Australinn NaI light cruisers.aanpol\ 'u and productive c. ted e:'(pansion of the Auand" made8uppon from ol'e

,ize of the lIir and grounUnited States oould send Wahortages ill shipping-.'hic

aeriousncas-and bl' critica""U fronl3. The War Deto hr ing to full strength the tll"1l8, two med ium bombeber group, lind three p u ~ u i '8 and to llrovide additionthe exception of field artiller( 'I l ls, no ~ \ m e r i C i n grounin the theltn, h01\'ever, tb" " . to arrive in Apri l anbeen promised contingen, pennining one of thei

in the ~ [ i d d l e East.'can and Australillll force!ient for the protection ooontinent, almost equal i, with a coast line 12,00

27 relmw'r _ _ al l Allied Coree of 'h' e e .Mel aiDe commanded by Rea.r AKanl W. F. M. Doonnan of tho Ro)'al Net1aDU Navy moTed out to intercept '-llpron"JapaDelll inYUion f O ~ I l 8 . In the resulting noiD the"'.va SM, theAllied fleet Buffered a ""ISdefeaL The . . . . .1 immediately proceededIudiDp tID "ava major resistance e011I 'Mardi. Tokyo announced that the eonqof the NMberImds EQt Indies .....as romplOn the preNding-day the Japanese cut the ~ u line to China by forcing the British in BurnUI,eneua&e RaDpon.n. ftu-JUI JOfJGrteu Dominion.-To. . the J . . .- were l'6tablished a t RaKan.c. aad GlUD1Ita in the Bismafl:k ,peIaco, and in the northern SolomOIl!!. TheyateDded \heir oontrol or th e Centnr.l Pacificthe occupation o r t he Gilbert Islands. 00.MIU'l'h enemy forcea seized Lae nnd Salnmauathe DOI'theut OOlIlIt of New Guinea. .From tpoIilioDl aDd from the Netherlands East 10 .she J sm-tened the security of .o\ustaad &be _ w- through the South Pacific.AJIitd utimau of ritlUltion.-The Alliedmande.. in AU8traiia oonsiderlld that the 0eaemy move. ""ould 00 dirlllltlld against DaaDd Port Moresby, both already under air aUThe occupation of Darwin might be d .- . 11 to dmy i t to the Allied forces or as.... il l II pneral offensive against no.rtb ...AIIItralia aDd the Gulf of Carpentanl..ttad: OD Port MOl'l!llby would eliminate the thit poMd to t il e fl ank o f lin adl'llnCe ~ u t h f.Rabaul ap imt tbe east COllst of Australia o CaIedoDia 011 the liea and air routes to thll t.:lll......laWrllipDce indicated that there ,,-ere9 Ja

~ ~ 7 , ..... . . . . . .. . , 11I .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\ 'h,ID _""'_'"Ill'" ..... . . . . . . . " ' t t l . .... , ' ,u .MMBtaa....... ' :,... ! \ .. ..DB ...-!o"'!l!!" lila f tI Ia:' of . . .--_ ...-......,-'n )' .__ __H._w,. . .....,. . __ PI : I ..._.- ."' ... ...,. ... . ,W o-.I 611" . . . . . of Ameriam :va-. il l A........ . . . . . . t.woIeId. WblJe CDIlUDulDg eiroN.. i i i . . . . . . tIInlIrIh &be l bIDdrade to. , . " )IIOriW dk.,... Ar-y "1'.". . . . . . . . on.- UaiIed. tan. ............................. ....".of 1M . . . . . Air .... wIUeh bad

... of openlJOlll InIIIl DIrwiD toa.-l lInM left A.......... to _ _ _..._. _ - ....e . - tw o . . . l . .; 7 , , . , u o,.u.. : ;. . . . . . . . . AlIDA Maio Gea. . . . . . . ~ . . . . . . nod . & - - .~ " " " .._ID_,.. , -" sf npid . . . . . . ..S2": ..- L ~ : ' =


6/34

ippine C_tabulary . ,b icb had . I ~ n Jndin'" the . . " . ~ of the amloo r o ~ ~ ofl'nitfd sea.... RNilull('(' by ,heee illOlu('I!tIInd"r lAo O..n. JOIlalhsn M. Wain\\'rightnMr rolla!*" whl'll thQ Solltlllnlllt I 'ocificWall l'tlt,aWishtd. The lurrcml{'T or Iho fOtO.taan, on 9 April, oondemllctl tho islB.Jldin Manila Bay; 011 6 ~ I . y GenC1ll1 \\'fITitrbt 1UlT'fIOlIfft'd at ( ' o ~ d o t . GrUl"JUf"rilla bandt ooo.tinuf'd to light the Jar-nAlIi#d policy in toTlu 1941.atraLfCie pobt'J appnn'eoc! for tho Pacific Th...u i'f1Ur81 d f ' f ~ l l i v ( ' , ahhough tho intent'takinjtmO l.fllVCIlIIiVtrore I t . ou ld I'('lch .....1

(or COIllMl. The only elrecltvIho Si;\.lh Ilnd Sevcnth Austra

(onn/'r minus l\\'O Itriglldl BIdil'isions. Oue lIr1r1it'i


7/34

Fourt.eel\th BriGade. [lll\(ldi_I' te mid uU' alld Salalllau"pt enemy llreparation of tloO'l('eaplucc Mid hold them for adelaying further hostile offen_t forces alld air trallSllOrt forrt ' lacking.ble for tire mission "'eredeliigand c o n ; ; i ~ t e d ofa small fonna_knowlI as the :'\1'\1' GuiRea reinforced Austral ian iu_Part WeI'C slreadJ III Wau,cellICr ill tile (ho,enStan.

Its led t o Lac IlIId Salamallaflown 10 Wau from Portpart of ),[ay. Before Kang.to strike, howen'r , intelligellce

Japanese at Lae wen' plaruung10 \'alley. Sillt'e tilt ('OmForce ..-85 responsible for theairfields, he "-lIS unable to I 'mlor o!felUil'e action. The nidsth r end of JUIll ' , and 1\0 d ~ i pined although ('Ollsidr-nblrat SalamallS. Kanp Fol'C1

Wau, under almost prohibiti"r'p and suppl_", in order to p unds and S('( 'Un' t ile creol oin du n area.1Iq'1tIUU.-Another unit, dl'S-Force and cou"ist iug of a !MIl th Brigade snd tile Pa[luan

. .as organized on 21 Junr fokoda 00 the northern slopr-lnortheast of Port :>.loreshJe,"ideoce thst the Japsllt'8lth . natil'e trail from BUlla 01Kokooll. 10 Port :\!on.':lhy, alld

thE' Allim flllPt, dRpltchl'd an /lllRek grQcruise" lUId dftluoy"n to int('rl.'('pl HllY hforcrtl that might approach Port. ~ I o r l ' ~ h ) ' ththe lomard PIUNf(f'. tilt'll mo\"('(! I lorlh II jevrit-1'lI to doee wi. . tilt' Jap"II'lll' cO\'f'ringOn lb . morning of 7 May. amI:" IlI"nl'8 I"f'IaD ('Dt'my c a r r i l ' f n u r !o.lilliml I ~ I / l n d . Aifrom lb . Lni"flmt and )"orHolNI ilnlllC'o,r. t ~ k l ' d and sank lb . SlwAo, A >l('(:onc!llPinst wps in tbf' Dtohoynl'-!o.lis,ima hland..-. . rNdiPd bu t 00 1 onll'rt."d aloft !>l'eall!ll' 0

IN'"'l'OCIt 0' othl'r l ' J l ( ' m ~ ' carnl'1'l!hMl not bfoIon Ioeatftl. A C l l l a l l ~ ' . while tilt"trUt ..-.. bftntt dtlinred, to the 8Outht""main J. . . .f'W NlrifT 'oJ'('(' bi t the ,\ment'a"group thp tallkf'r S,(#ho lo r a t'anr S#OiIio and a d"UOyH ,,('.... ""link. . \dF1etcbf'l' d id not ,..ut i I.bat Ihi" attack \I Uby t"aJ'rilor llirn'aft until t1u"k. too 111.1" 10countnaeUoo.'Thlo folknring monling after ..eal'('hWbtOO thP Japallf"lf' n.rrieN, a strikt' Jauapins t thPm Ihe SMkaku anddamaged. th r ZlIiha.h. Enl'my Illann hiLui_".,. whit'h lwnmr 1llll'OlltroUablt' and&0 bot IIUJIk. Tb r }'(If',w01Nl . . - a ~ d a m a ~ l , bma.inPd opHWtional. This eJ[('hange efT('('ud. . . .trllf1ion to Nt"b fl lgllil ' l ! folU' that hoJaparu"!'P ar d Allird n a n l t ' (l Inmallde" 0J8Pl"'tiVl' f o n - rlf.(-tO!'d alm08t ~ i n l U l t a n t ' O&f'rminaw- thP pncountt'r and wilhdrftw.wUbdnwai of th r JapalU'!!l" fol'('(' con"tilu t" " ' in itA purpMl' to seize Port :>.Ion't!by,wdhdra ...a1 providft l a strl l iegic \ 'i t' tory foAllied " , O R . ail'('raft from the Sollthwt'St. . . . ., inadditiooto n"('OlUlai,;saliceMid Ilrelimraida apinst _ m y air inslallatiOrls /Il1d ship

._ I I' t f .Al* l1ia" ' ' -,.., _ to tile.. ' .... . . ,...._ ed--:::=-."..~ I o o . " ~. . . . tl: '. r.n MoNIb1. . .A: - ' & ~ ~ ~.. ilidIitD I h 7 . - y - ...... i .. _ ...u.it.ed_..._IMi I i -. . . . . . . . . - . .-eNe lor e&eIIP' .....,...,..t .... ...- ... . . . . . . . 700 . . . to . . .atb a& TOWJIPiBco......... M r I t . - ~ .............. ..,=' ..,.n til."we. O. ai) dam baiIdiDr IIOI1JI....... y . l t P.iDMda witb .... ob;edi'ft' of.............. , . . . . . . for . ~ f ' rUd. . , . . . ' - - - ' f1IIatiiw ,. "" lhJI .'nIiI . . . .qJ.mt. . . . . . . . . . ....,. ..............Apr i .1 I Ie . . - 01 . . . ............. "...... W. . . . . . . . w-ts.. EtI' 't . .ellinnft...... ew BriWP-., .... ..men' . ., die ...,. _.................... A lWA i r F _1:=1: . : , ~ ..=-- ... .--bled.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T ~ I o n -- . , . . . . .died ..Y1II ~ f ' d.. to ... r. if Ir JIM wt.idl_ _ .. . ' 80atIa PariIk............ y...... . ., , -.._dinded al Tw.P

...... 8 ' , . " .. . . . ...,..&fo_ . . . . . . TM Y wbieb............ at B.Dto.. . . . DC J -. IIIlIIdr. 4 M.,.


8/34

pbibioUI troop', flhipping, supporting airfields,pIanea, they pointed oUI, \II'ould probnhly pI'('the ~ ~ f u l pr'OII8Culion of the dril-ClI, UlOutbern Solomotlll alone we re t nke n Iludadv_ halted leaving Rabnul in enemy hthe I'fJ8\llt would be au elrl)()S('(\ salient al:whKb tbe Japane&e could bring over" hel_tI'8lj[t.b supported by l and-based I llnnell, Uadtquat.to rolttill coulll be provided to c _ ~ e c u t ethr'f.p tasks in ORt' coDtiuuOUII movement, thecommanders u that operfltiona be lirnitinJihraUoIi through the ~ e lIebridM nndCruz bland!! and aelel'1lte


9/34

I.panese "'ern l!IItabli!l!lel'! Itth e Kokoda Trailth


10/34

tilt< sel l h llUie li t the ('ud ofqagl 'mNlt IHld takpil pll"'1" ill

8hout 6 lI'l'ek.'l, hut n U l n \ ' ' ' \ [ I ~ba d oC('urred whirh C OI lt "II ' II'er Mill anti ll(""rl'lll dr.(\ JUllonl'S(' lalHlcd r('i"fo..... r_mil fllmO!lt nightly, flud I,,"put a"hor


11/34

---_...............m oflb8 ...._. 1m approsimate datollfilII . . . . " . . IN 1M ooordinilted attadtby . . . 8eNdII1Dd T b i r t 1 ~ Divilliou. An. .t- ..... ol o - . t B -......t ?art MCInIIb1. uad 0eDeraI M ~ I P '.med _I 0MDb lo . , aKt" eoordiPattooallbe f . . - eappd in &bt campaign.Aft CIPlUl'iDl Kokoda, I . b ~ Seventh DiriBionooa&iDUNI. to puIh forwud alter quiclUy .rMdyingthP ImdiDt -np Ill" . . . by 1l.-port. .uu.rt to_ . . . RIpPy .taatiDD. Tbe " " , , - madf' J'NOhIt.e -.Dd on dw hiP ground . t rt. andCorari. WIIiW lIlto Sixtftonth 8 at-.ekrdfrontally, !beTwl'llty-fifthBrigadl.' movPd apirMtthe eIIem, ftank. and rear. On 10 Novl'IIlbl-r tht'mNDJ ' " dri' t 'PD from hiB poeitiontl in fuB I'l'tr't'Iot,_riarr ..o1Pft'd trtftlDl'ly lu F tuU&ltiN. TIN>~ I ' f ' i b e : ~ . p a n r w lIpIjl up. thf' main body m -iBc die 1Mldf'Cl KIIID_ illY,.,. by boat and ralt_ w i\bcbw iD (C rapid)y to th .. Buna-Gona amPvt __ led dOWD tbe river valli>y to tbl' roa-t IUJd.. .eotuUr Gona. Oentral Horn ""lUI. . . . II thr prKipitolla Bigbt. The A",traliaM, . . . . , . .1 Wairope and by17 Nemsr:berbolh ~ . e n ' . m . \be riVf!l' in)MIMIi& . , .. . . ~ . 'J'bp TwtoDty-fifthBripde, lDOViDlf th r trvk lumbora-Gonlo.. . . . beId lip on 19 NoVt'mbPr by eJ).l'my folWtl__ , 1 JIik> mutb of Oona. On till' rollowinMy.. . sm-tb Itripd.- OIl liMo b'&l'k SPputaBe . . . _lind b o I ~ poeiu.. III milN_.-lM . . die Gin. Rinr \be ~ V a & i O D of tbe0. haahed aDd TweotY-f!'igbth and ()np tum. . . . ad Twenty..uth Infantry RegimentAl fromPM M..a., _ completed by IIir tnDIpolt to....__ ...-......_.

MOrf'llby ready for onward mo\'emenl . DDdetennination of the J.panese re'listance an.trenll'th of th( ' ir deren"ive posi tions \\'('1'1' u'ilful. A \'irtual stalere'lult1d ..... ith r.determmation ulltil d


12/34

~ L l b o l l t i l l a l i l l g Ihl'ir ,.lTorbo

ba' ,,-ould hili, ..l'>' t o g ai n a ir ~ l l p . r i O r l t ~ ill("Quid weaken the .JtllllllI.......

"" l I l lind aerial bomhar,hnelll.ary operntions ,,-er.. cOIlIIJleled.would hCJ(in llll' cuhnll'lltiliit

ri8M. bayoMle and pnad_ l l cO!Illy proc~ . t t a e n t ' l l ." . . Japan_ , . . fmI trailll'd and el:luipi ~ l ! ' oPE'rationll. Thflr fampaign into th('. . ., Pacific . . . . I"tInfuUy plalUwd Illllily )'a d ~ , but I lOflI ' of lhf' .-\lIi("l had madep ~ l i o n s . G f f l f ' r a l M & ( " . - \ r t l l u r ' 8 ~ w 1 diDtIuding tholJlo ....hit-h p a r t i l ' " i p a ~ 1 in th e P............. PHCkd additional amphibious t bMo", IMy rould bE' employed e l f ( ' ( ' l i " f ' I ~ inlY e .,-lion_ ' " ' " 1Ihortajtl' or Iandm, crafto\her equipnlf'llt, .. hieil lIad impededtraininlt in lhe preYioUll ~ l I n m l l ' r , "'11$ allc\'.'by the . - ignmmt of thl' Sennth AmphiFort"f' or th t r n i ~ ~ " l e ! l Xnv)" au d IheEnginrer Spe


13/34

........ The New Guinea Fol't't' J't'maint'd

. . . . . . AIIW Lad Folt't'lJ, _hirh by thit! aetion". refitftd of control of American trooPB l"Xrt'pl. . 1hq . . . . tIIIigned for aJlf' adminilltration and aupply of illl own nationals. }o"or adminilltrati:m tllO>y WI'.... J'l'IlpolUliblo> to G O > I ~ l ' r a lMacArthu only inmal t t' r aof broad polr('y. Th('United Slal.l'O> Army Se,.. . irps of Supply pro\'idl'd10Iiatieal &Uppor&. f or l hl ' Amo>ri('an ground andair ioruB. bu t tbl'rt' Wall no . .ajor adminislratiwunit for t hl ' l "l li te d St.,tn Army. GO>lli'ralHeadqu.a1.frR bad ..ulMd tlUB burdl"n durill196, though i ts orpni1.at ion bad not bf'f'ndeaicned for administrali.,l' fun('tion.It waa rt'1if'ved of this administration duty inFebruar) 1943 by thl' arti\ 'alion of tb r t'nitl'd&.at.ea A"Dly Fom'l& in tbl' Fa r F_t. TJuo SixthAnny, thf' Fifth AF, and tho> t 'niled Statf'flAnny &rvi,," of Supply wert' plarrd undl'r thl"adminiaCralive OOIltrol of thl' n(ow headquartfra.I t . . . M ,",norm aliataft' dutice iru-ident to rommud, eJft!pt thoee rPlat.iufr to BtJ'aUgi(' or tal"tiraloperMioIla. O_raIl r luArthur, u Commandl"rm Q1WBouIh t P ~ i f k area, direrted duo oom

and IIlw,.ifir dllli,"" amI / ' ( ' ~ P O I l 8 i b i l i l i ..s, 'Illroordin.. t('l:!llnd ,.ont",II('


14/34

pletion of the Kiriwina an d Wuodlnrk 0lll'by tht' Sfoventh Amphibious Fol"C(',In ElJ:tma I I I Admiralllabt-Y'Q BS6Rult uN _ o.orgia Group ..... to han" b SoudIwNt Pacific, I l lI th e tailk rorpleted their pima and --.-mblN! thl'ir troo

and o thK uni u of Ihf" VnilNArmy of Supply and the AUlilMilitu y FomN Mveloped .n d improH'od .iat )fh Bay, BUD&, and GootIl'liough to pdo8e ligbt to1'l 'r and .upport for th e .mphIIlOTl'IDI'Pl8 and _u l t " . ReconnaissanwoIs, ainnft, aad l I U b m . r i n ~ , gathered inftioo landing beach('S, teTTllin.and MriaI COIK'ftItntaons, shiplling, and def lhtioDl 'Ibe s.,'enlh '\lOphibioUli~ t l ' a t e d ita tnrnlporu .n d landing eTownmDe and )lilnI' B a ~ . ,\IIiOO Xa,'al-uee and subsurface , - _ I s gUllrded Iieommunic:aUob and IlUpply rom'oys, lind al_y lIbippm,.DuriDc thia ptriod or prel)ll.l'ation, I'lcme&he Allied Air Forcea "'ere hastily movinpo.i\iobl;.t. tilt' M1riy dl','dopOO strips on )by, Milne Bay, and the Buna are .March and April many of the fighler grouobWned Jonc-raoge fitlers. Th e I' 38 h

at leust II dinrsionary llltlll'k(rom northwesti'm Austl'llliROOllrusl'{1 by Ihe simultanl'01I9liolls aa d wel'tl unl\hle 10 roll_undo or 118.'al (orc("l a!-'lIinst

TIll' initial 1lI0"l"1l1"1lt ufm.d(' ~ n l i l l l J . " a plaru,,'tl

I ' ~ ' lIud oonslrul"tion perli.",k lind Kiri";1l1 on 23 audror the arri"al or tl,l ' IIIlinI Jul,)". Gtound ant! aUli_mslllllOO on both isJ.ands ant!. kly rompleteod. The Si.",.,ron from th e South Pacificmisolions from Woodl.ri.: 011nl.\-nintb R o ~ , . 1 .\uslralulIluadron rrom Kiri,,in. 011 18&hroughout th e enlire periodreoonnaissant:l' and t ..-o Jig\lt,raids on 26 July and 2,\ugu;;;1.tions to proteet the I .ndingsbut. they h. d bft.n baseod onof tJle capabi li t ie s of the't.y of resistanee ...as . lI r ibut,

ful Allied allaeks uponaDd also t o t be fact tb.t thf large percenlage of his

of th e Solomons.ronn.lions of IUI"y

Halsey's fOl'Ce'llliithey lalld. Group, but. 101 ,,'ere de- loss of 17 Allied aircraft.daih' bUI ,,;th diminislliuj!"

~ ' e r e mllde Ulltenabl(' b..as eltemy IOS!II'S IllOUlllro.


15/34

_ ' '. were eu t by patroll and tlIelr front-. . . . . ud rear m....nationB -. .e barust'dby ainft& ud artiIkry, They triNi. to brKkdie IIowb ckrward. TIl" t"Omhillpd opl'l"lIlion WlUIdUl'l,,,,1 Ill< plaulw,l ami l.ilt' '1"18 in , \l1i"d011 16 &'pl


16/34

\Up t daf,(l bu k from I to 20 Novcmllt'r,plan w.. blSf'd upon the lI&'ulllptioll th'lt tl,droJnel in Ihe Lae, FinlIchhafen, ,lIId "h rValley area would he fuDy rl('\'c1opcd nlld ellof providing clO8f' .upport and co\,('r,Novemoor, one regimental comlmt tcnm waeiZl' an airliPld liw at Lindcnhafcn Plnntnlillthe &Outh eoaat of Nl'w Hrilnin. It wouldIdvanee by.lhor....to..'horc 1II0"l'I1ll'nt lindGlUIIIJata if Gaamata could no t be 1H'\Ilrnlh,(otbt'rm_, Th t main elrort WIlS to Ill' I"un6 day. l awr by a combined lllllphibious nlldborne attack upon Clipe G1011Ce>;ll'l".

The l'Dginl'l'nJ I'1'porll"! ill IntI' October lhatsupporting airdrom('ll in the :\lllI'kluun \'art'll would no t bf' oompletl'd on Si'hel!lllc, CqUl'otly thl' a twk 011 Lind('nlulfl'n wns posquntil 2 DeeNnber and that UpOll C"pc Gloncuntil 26 Dt'l'l'mbPr, The pUqlOSl' of the cupof thl' position on t 1 1 1 ~ south eOllst WIlS to pI'airfif'lda ror thl' protection or Allied sUl'fncl' IIIment throuab the \ ' itu .z ~ t r a i t . Genenll ](elbt'lWved that hi3 Allil "! Air Forces eOllldl"Omplieh this taIIk from e x i ~ l i l l g fi ..lds ouOuinl'a. His n>rolllm"ndntion thnt Illl' operabP eliminatl'd WIUl overruled, for nt thisUltl'Uigenco I'1'ports imlientl..J. thnt (bCl gl1l'in the Otlllmat8 an'a had hecn rclnforel '(l,wu expt!C.'Ung an a tt ack. Concurrently, ANaval Fol'Ct'e augg,'!l!


17/34

. . BIiIiIb ud Americaa armies WllI '& finn'"-.b'Wwd III. Italy. the RUIllianA bad pUBboo the0. . . . . . . . . . . the lJkn.niao plaW. HI'8VY~ l M n nre llriking dl.'fltrueuvll blowR onOermuo' :'rem iMir burs in Great Britain. In. . . PaciBc, Amencao loJ'l.'('3 bad cll'lll'f'd tbeJapu.e from the AlPutians in the nor th , andA.lImiDl imi&a hw at.ruek hie fil'llt blows atMum .... Tarawa. Tbl' Axill po.PI'll 11'(1"1" hardJW, aDd OD the nm, bu t they were 001 bt-.,wD.. . . . . ,. , driIt 10 tk PAiJippillt". DUrUlgthe eam.-,n. of lfH3. the Allied 1_ had notbeeD proP'J'tioDai to tboee of tbl" ('Demy. ),101''OftI ', AIIHd cround unita gainPd valuabJl' P:lI:JK'rilmce aa d traiDiDg. and tbl' air and naval fol'('('6emerpd from the struggle strong and oonfidl'nl.with 'rirtuJ1y eomple\e control of thE' lII'& andair. Th e plan of opl'J'ationa for the ell:p!oitatiollof theM iUtiaI viet0rie8 Willi set forth by thl'ComhinedChil"fs of St.atJ ill DI'C't'mbt>r 1943. Thl'.,..,.te lnes of advlnct" in I.bf' Pac if ic and illAsia 1I'ere ClOIllbint'd inw ooordioat1 dn\"('"to maint&iD and e.J:U'Dd UIlft'mitting pn'8&ureJ'PM with thl! pllI'JlOIII' of oootinuaUyreduciDr br military POWl't and attaining poRi-tiol:Il froD:. 'It'lrith her ultimat' IUlTNldf 'r ta n b

b n l l ~ shoulcj be- rl'gl}rdl'd nspointe-d ou t tloe- Im?,nnJ'l ofprotectetl hy c'lITil'lll Alo1le-cx:pl'rieIlCl' 'I l ~ l i d w n . \ ' .Di"ision ,,"liS I}('rrnitted to

We-.'lt Pu{'il;c nrc", 'lUd AdrnirnlIlosqlOlle,1 u ' lt i l I Fl 'hnll l l)C b i ( ' f ~ of Stnff \\"e-I"(' ~ " " k i n g to

of lId"AIIN' " long both il.X''S.on 21 ,Jul.r. s l l g g ~ t ( ..1 th"lthlar,'n isolAte I{"hll"l h.1' till'and : ' lnnus, 1hl'I) 1110", dir('tll."Iwrnl1


18/34

pressed for combinationlines of ad"anee in th e I'a


19/34

. . . 8M whiIl!I . . . . . . . . the fIfI0.-. ....... m ~ bI!' plan (8.... Ptdk l&II' , . . . . . .dIe..-;reoald nNlbnUl' ~ Rimto "'- b.- 'rum UNo r - J I I ~ ill she flhIr......... I ~ Nptuno . . . . . . MtrilllblP.

. . . . . . . . . sJwo "'oulld . - a I t ' ". . . . . . . . 90UId DOC IUpporl. ('IIJDMIIftCIt IIC'lioP III. . . . . . . . . . IbP fGtir'f' __ 01 . . . . . ., . ..'a eel . . WIW wqD!'PCf . . . . .... IT ...... 1IpOa &M -.:11,..-. . . ( '. In! hrifir F -.dd inndll Palau no t. . . . &MIt 10 ptf tD_ I " " h oadiDed

II Rabud'" .. of Man. . aadIta...... ....... et.&.fol for open in.. . _ ow.- ~ . t r a f u r a s.. :16 J_ a....boIdt .y; I A. . . . Tarumbu: Ib" ISs . , . -b f r . .lroP 'I1woutaft'o l . ~ - w & a D M " " " " " " ~m - . . . . , ~ lOuaphi '*-: tbedak'.. . '-I 15 ~ . - b _ 11M- objM'tift . . . . .... e:dftld


20/34

. . . . C.pe Cn-tin, an d lIIIIlfIult ~ r o l i l l TI'II' " '" ' bl'ld on 8 April . SW)l!' IH r t ' luk"11 10t." tea tbt' tPl'PlY tb . t Ih" attlU'k upon I[Illl01' Wtwak .M projel"tl'd" Th" ~ h i l l ~ mOIlnorth from Vit iu S.nit to lilt' A,hnimlt " ItlMon.-..t,....d fin-.Dy .,lItl. 10 th " I R l l d i l l ~ h"While tbiB roaw. ... 200 mi\(", 101lj!l'r 111diftd. m. it gayt' '- thll1('1' of rllrly d('t. . . . Pft""l"Dwd t twl 'ntmy from drfinitcly dr tinc thl' ob)ediYt. Tbl ' COII\O.\"M w('re pby the Btovl'fllh )o'Il't't l ind byeuritn from *'"' Cl'ntral Pacific. On 21. . . f . Itrutk the Wakdr and airtiHds whw thto Ydlh IIltI'fhirlemlh Air

OIl W_ak. Hallsa Ha)'. Ailapl'HoIlaDdia. 1'ht nn t dlY Allied fort'l'f! landTaMIunrnb and Humboldl H I I Y ~ . whileAnw.d toIIIbat tH m ('I.plun-d Aitall(',". _aim... , . . mati.. umll'r l'Ol,'r ofaDd air boUIhU'dPH'llt an d compl('ll' Il.('li,..1s t r a ~ eul"pl'iw was I.('hi"Hd, Xo mort'klkl!'ll was I1K"I al all." IMJint. a,...... u\"al or air Itla( 'D i ll fOlTr ('IrnrI.IIJ" dln!ol:1il:Jo, At Aitapl" Ulr 'fadji ain:lrome

Oft the liI'Ilt da,.. .\ periml'ler d"fen....w- -d and Ihl ' po5ition ( " ( } n ~ l i d a l l ' dawdiateb'. 'J 'bp troop!! a t 1I0llandia III'I"irt..o,- malTh 10 Ih" lIin:lromr__ or liar t ~ o d ro-tl." ,'alllllllil!lIham aad CycloP'l 81riJl'l , , (>1 ' ( ' ""1/ . '


21/34

during major _ault.s . 111' I I! Wl I 1 0 till' 1l11l'imlllll "'I"[I'nlbl.., and tllal th .. uow of ,'-.ri",s 10 sllilpurtIra,'lNI fittillll' a"hnTt' ~ I t , , " l d I", "voidN!.riN'," ,'(mid I,.. u'II'(1 to bdl,'r ".hllll i..Iralf'l[ic IlliooMion IIU' Admirlll " .. id Th rm..nl inw .."nllt h"I",intl'(l "ut. ,,"not consti tutc finu d i ~ with Soulhwesl P.dlic stiffani ~ l l d l . A " ~ , t l ' OIlt'rRlion"

of O..ncllll :OlncAM1,ur Indthl' u l i t i ~ 1 ill\'uion of th r


22/34

b1o\jng tire urigiuulh' bn) ) ) ... 'N IIt.wo llIontl,s.ns Wl're made ill th" I"'XI ?Chiefg of StnfT a l l \ h o r i ~ lto)launch lhe I .eJ te ft$8aule ) alau, )Iorotai, alld L'Iil"scheduled, bu t o the r ,) .tI e sclzure or Talaud Y, ap, alll i Serangllui, "'I're l'fIldi\'isions in Irnnsit for Ya"were made nailahle rO. ~

Morolai and Palau ope...tiorplanned, TILl' g ar ri io n otoo at 300 men. but Ihof reinforcing th ... island ";IlIalmchera "ithin 48 houl'lfrom lh e PhiJippineli , ,- ithiu\hese considl'llItioflll the tasof the T h i r l ~ ' - f i r s t Infa.lllrYOne Hundred T,,-eul\'-s:H

l T( ' I l f f i of tile t h i n " ~ n rting combal and l l l ' r Y the Xl COrp!!.Alli('(\ ai r power ,, 'U 1"1'0."1in support of the t" 0 01'('''

Pacifit Fon:-e oontaineo:ll'tlernb... harassing missions in I I Arm.r Ai r Forces in Chin011 t i l l " south ~ or FOhea',:," bombels of Ule Southk airdrollll'S on )Iindanao

riherlands East Indies, andf ighler s s t ra fed and bombe(1 S4-'areh o\..r Forlll051 an_.rgit"ll of .1Ith


24/34

,",n 11 '' ' not enoounlt'lintlllllno lind from llll}

tbr"w in II vlltcrlln divisionI.uroon to I.eytc, whkh hll(;th e Pllilipllin('S from .\llln-r th e enelllY ha.d mo\'('{l aL

into Leyte lIS rcinforcements.t him enormously in menping. On]O NO'ellll.>cr h the bulk of II. division fromay an l'llt ire Jnllll.n,'$C (:OIlVO)"with an cstimll.ted lOS!:! ~

air intervenlion of I'nClllyJapolll'Sll to Sl't up a burgon Cebu I slawl s lu l OrlllOO

hlollds in n IllSt dCS]leruted r ei nf or co h is Lryte gurri_efforts of Philippine guerrilla.aI units dissipstrd his IIl..lLCOffil1lunit;lItion.tbo dnily struling p"trols nndemeny nirdrorlles on Xcgros,Visnyll.s, southern Luwn,dillrll ilted Il.irdromc fll.cililies,nel !!O tllat tho numerically

f or ce nover obtuined nirobject nren for S ll ll ic ientdaJl1n.ging results. ThllY

to develop thei r Ksmiknzeing to l\ dut1b'Crously 8Ue-s hi pp ing wss then tho


25/34

fill. Pablo ud Buri 8 t r i l ' ~ IlI'nr B l I r ~ 1 I 1 ' T l J ~ i " l ' ... , bomhiDg atl.al:M /lwlll 8JuQk''srrf'{'l) . \ attack by "IWIllY ground tl'!W)l'". . . . . , . . toward Burllu"Il. " ~ /11'0 1lI,,1; 18 J)eoembEor ano(ju'r ,JlIp,Ult."!

'- in the nonb before lhe e n ~ m . _tt6l 'd and broken roree!!. J>erIP'&Dlfod, the advance "'8lI again takaDd on both sides of Ihe high"'ay,, phy si ea J oontaet Will madeSWk's eava1ry elements mo,-ing llOSo . 2. This bigh..-ay ""1lIPalo to Ormoc and organiud enemy kyle 's mon fier{"('l.r contftll! sOrmoc Corridor-wu at anJIicb..y So . 2 Will deanod the e n e m . but to l"('treat imo tbe moulltain- ' b_ "1 or tbe oorridor, lo!ling c- . .n l . l l of h is f om 'S s ti ll h ol di ngwn-ain betWf'elI the Ormoc and


26/34

u c c ~ u l _ult on LE-yte 11'88I I I tho first operationll followi,lD.tI'y inw the PhilippinCll WWi /Au

Mindoro, IICht'duled for [; DecMwe 1 tho mai n lllIlIBult on l .u zGulf, 11'88 sche,luled for 20 Dece

wasmade alllO w lIupport tho Liuit DOOelllI&J'y, by all D.88ault in Dithe east central coaat of Luzo!).operation was dellignated Mike Iwoo to tako place during theJanuary 1945. It would bo undehoetile strength in the Centrll1 P.. . 11'88 lIuch that Ihe Japanese lef

_v e to be tumed, Mort'Q\'er, Mime 8 certainty oul)' if reconnaiJ&; feaaihlo for a lar ge b od y of tr oo

the Sierra )[adrc )Iountainll beB ay a nd the Celliral Plaioll. COtb"8ll operatiOllll, all other ava

to uodertako the COllllOlidatiouMindanao, Pala-wan, and the SuluIn lIftukcuU'1// tho oonaolidationgi\'en no name, nor were s l ~ r i f i eted for any of them. It \I'llS phEighth Anny wonld conduct thethe llOuth",m l'hilippiuell \\ith ~ u c hbe obtain..d from guerrilla forcf'll.y would be r


27/34

operations, bu t on 6 January tbewas ready, 11.8 9 C h ~ d u l l ' d , to hi t'Ollll on l,u7.on.

O < l w b ~ r , K O \ ' ~ l I 1 b e t , and D ~ C lair aLrt>ngth i ll thc Philippineeomvlet;-ly destro)'l'd. The ' I ' h iFilth Air fo'otct!S combincd Lo dcala1mOllt 1,500 encmy airorar t; thn2,000. Only by concentrating hforeo eou ld tim enemy b id d refor local 8UprCIlllla and ~ l i l 1 d o r o I'yen Gul f, t hc bombardmcut l inof sbil)!! or the Sewnth Fleet, to

~ m l l a n y i n g escort e /l rr ie t8 , wereto numeroua suicide /llblcks.e January Allied wot8hips nrrinGulf o nl y t o ~ n e O U l l t e r surh IIair fotc(' that no b O l 1 l b a r d m ~ l I tlU'{'a W88 I lossihle. Thl ' Thi rdon Luzon that d ay " 'e m t he rd o\0 include NINny installations as far. Bav. Northern L'Il7.on had bC

t a . r g ~ t Bn'a but G\'neral :\llIcWd th " a,lditiollal ro\'crRge bccall!l(' ncby land-bued aircrllfl h ad n ot beu expe ct ed and i t appearcd at thll


28/34

f o .. were eeattered, r o o ~ I Z l n gof movement throughout L\ime of the landing. Contact oo

headquanerll and 80me llIUU "'llllelements WI!'J'e completely cu t off' tan fones 1rent uhore. In add

to be llOIJIe confusion in comibilities IUJIOII(t Io"'i'r echelons. ~ l e m Yamaebita', 81elf said that thelK'1 01 th e Luzon campaign "al l b

. .umptioM that tile Ameri....Ul! ,IUpeJioI'ity, that Allied .rtitlel)would ouk ' " the Japane;;e bolaDd quality, and th.t Ihe .... "ouldW aDd lubri...ants ror Japanese" hL In addiliou, the J.pa.ne>toe l'!!limNpinoa "en' i'1lIiTl"I.!o' hoslile .n d c

&0 bear .nn ; ; again"t the .'.pa. " . . .wn i ly . )o'urlbennore, General r.

BDt belie"e il "'813 plWIible for hi.. A.meric1uI occupalion of Luzon.... mia&ion as one or del.ying afrool lhi' oUUlet Ih.t hi' "'ould

.....1.yam.....i '-.iet up paUem of demabie him to take m.ximumeI terrain U coUllter 10 _\me

The followin,: Ihree ...entral defl'l- o r pn i ud ,__ conlail'ed .bout 14

. . . . c ov ne d t he mOUJ1t.in IIOCIOr~ ioclooing Baguio. B.leteJU I V1IIley._tnIJ Klmh: lM'etor, held by 30air ~ defending the .reaPiIIld ud Fort Stot8eoburg.6l' lu.h -.: toP in the 80ulh locin the mountainoUl! counlry .ro


29/34

'1 0 ml1el. Along this front the enemby roeke, artillery, dug himllClr deephilJaid-. improving natura] dden. new positioDll. The drh'e con, the remaioder of February andaU o b j e t t . i v ~ had bei-n fletured.to the north of the Shimbu area theouloatirU of the SIlobu sector !Itill

an eDemy dett"nnined to hoto &M Capy.n \alley. t'nitedfOI'ft!8 1IlO1'ed nortb along the tOJUHrilla romes.t San Fernando, ~ hfld all the ....eIlt OO&IIt of northern. . . eaemy poclceL!l jU$1 north of......was eIltabiished on20 ~ I . t ( ' h an...... Baguio 'Kere lH-gun ~ ~ b a r d- r Bau.nl' :" . Baguio, lIumm('rPlli l iPP'-.-&;1 at this t ime t he01 both the Japanf'fie .\nn,Y .n

eolI.abontioniu go"ernmellt,' unted the mOWitain city into. catme.l. i m ~ b 1 e , bu t .i r . nd

m1. 6nalIy crumbled the dl'f. , .Unuieaa infantry enterOO th1mOppoeerl. P.troIs north and eeu&hat aD otganized resiIIt.nce in th a1tbou,;b moppiog up rolltlrlUeno. mopping up was ('OuductSta&M infanlry di"ision anti fi'WIaiIe lI.DOthff .\meri('ll.Jl dil"illion mjIiD the attack in the Balett" PaM 1tlUataua.ek had bl'gun lI.!I a 2-prIWetfo P_ from Sao Jose and. . . . of February both 'Kings of thisa *oDg enemy po$itioo at D10 hft.Iougbt milefl north of S an

o. 5. Me .nwh ile, "e8&a&a iDfutry aivision had anived o


30/34

tllC Japaneea from the lIOuthemina ti tu te d d ri ve s con ti nued uuStates forees puahe,d on against all'e8iatance along Highway No.4 audon 12 July. To the northwespine IInny units wer!! t ied down, uo f J ul y, in reduc ing Japal.lCl>e fin the Mankayan area. Howeveo forces moved east from Cervan

on'lO July, both Sabangan and BBonwe theea forces pressed southway No, toward Banaue, which loIh y th e Sixth Di, ision on 20 J ul y,Illtel' contacl wss ClItablished bet\\'e'can and Jo'ilipino IIllilS, thus s!ll it t

pockel inlO two Silctora. Isolatedpoin. . maintained a determined dmoWttain positions "'ell into A u g u ~ half of thoJapanese defenses itsinto two parts when Philippine gllein from the norlheast , &Cized MIIlet. elemente of tho Sixth Dh'isioll mfrom Banaue, West of H ighwaycontinued against the other hal fpocket, a Silmiotganized defcnSil in!Tently, United Stales forces dro\'c

Highway No. I I and Philip!linc Arm80uth along the 8lI.me road from Sabadvancl.'ll met on 29 Jill}', cuttin" l88t north'80uth l inc of communKilUlgan leCtor. The same foreca_t" 'ard from tho highway to se


31/34

.w.bl& l!lltmy group W&8 t(lnt&cted. From that t ime on eeatt.!red ene::;;;.,",,';;"' bunted d()1l'n with !he aid of oII . . In mid-April t!nited Slak's p

Buuanga IAland, to the noM.heastand Palldanan bl.utds at lhe souPalawan. ~ I e . n w b i l e , air and oa,-.1

npidly eetablishtd. Allied airerafteoadueting over \he South Cbombing J . inst&llatioll!! fromIDdo-ChiDa. ),10kif' torpedo boatli otb f1Ht pat.rolW the east and ...-est rwan, fll[teDded their uti,i t ies to adilIIands. IUld rNCbed II lI far south u B"""""- at 01 the "isayan J ~ n d " 1.. . lut--moviog Of\!;llIught of tbe E.. Pamoy, in,-aded on 18 ~ l . r c b ._ or ground 0pp05itmn "'as encoun landing operatioos: 2


32/34

m'lIlly Ilo'ilh Ih,' tlri,"r' Oll DOl'Rn,nUrlt, 010111:' til


33/34

....T',

NOV DEC

.. .".oo .

,--

'"

.' ."onn,.

...... 10'1'"-,

1M BIIhth AnaY . . . no t delJuoed toIIUIDJ eeremonie. On. .. of the tJJD&ed &a\e8 andil l . . w ,0 m iIIIDds p .-d \0. . C ,.... QeDeral Sou0- eM ". . SQbontinac.e toiDe ~ . . , I'oroee WesKiP'" Asr W conducted .................. ligbt f o r e ~iD . . . II SSS . . . . IioiMbN..... F. l l d lor .. DeW......e f " Jtpueee home

.... s:r-.. , ...."lOS- of the eli"'" -' fi r ...W OD she ..

..P toeofll "Q I ... . eI j.. l ' . ~ .. the uk the IIOdhern ponioaof the ,: . ...\ely 1200 JIaJ*D I'fIIDJIDtII eI . . . . . .prNoD. \0 AaI'Te or . . . . . . . . . .". gpth ArftJIY'I ....UMl MiltlaMo _ lWIhed- .d *' L d... 1.0 -=apt the tad of I i _ .....Sueh eatiWlatioD due to .... ...., ud

, .


34/34

.. , . . ~

- -

... - -- _.- -,',.".. , . .-- -_."7"::::--

ussbs report 65, employment of forces under the southwest pacific command, ocr

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