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USSBS Report 65, Employment of Forces Under The Southwest Pacific Command, OCR
USSBS Report 65, Employment of Forces Under The Southwest Pacific Command, OCR
USSBS Report 65, Employment of Forces Under The Southwest Pacific Command, OCR
E m' CONTENTS
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of the campllil,'Tl8 in the
']'b('8k'r is princi_
eoIlf'tted from the
lIl'&dqUllrU-l1I,
With the objectil'e of il-
play of forees alld fllCtOIli
t lind outcome of eseh
has made of Gtllenlll
, Plans; General
Instroctions, outlining Ln
or a lleries of ",lUl'l1 opel1l-
and Di\-is,ion hislOric-a1
completed opel1ltions; lIa'-
commandel'5 reganling the
fors, and hiswM of the
compiled by the lIiswncal
atudy is esselllilllly on th"
lIo\l'e\'er, dllta reponf'd
lids ehargffi ...itb the
action hll"e IJe(on included,
pro,'ides e\,idenee upon
the o.-er... U
eNtain IUll'!'I of &etion can
SouUI"'e81 Pacific ga\'e
__ eoncep18 and tl.'chnique8
","olutioll&l)' of tllI'!le-
from pre\'ious mcthod_
.bich opened UII & new
DlJ. I t should be noted
t.t.ctical i(leas n'glllliing
were dYllllmic r'alller than
ool\8idcl1Ibly duriug the
e&nee emc'l.'CS from an
ptligns in the Sout!l\l'e8t
afk'r ti,e ('lIrIJ' dt(('[lsiye
I On' Ilrime objl'l'li\ll of
fOTell!! jll their lI,h'allce
yair bases or of Slrll'
ill which IWW air
for the purpose of
of Allicol llirernft. It
$ !he ehoiee of ground
objllC'til'"l'4 and tilt range of th_ objl'eti\'ell were
dietilted by consKlcratlOn of Ihe subsequent value
\I'hlch th_ objl'Ctin!1I would &slIum(l &II bue.
from ..hi..h to extend air power. In IIttaining
lhe g('neral oIJjl"etivt two important oollllidel1l-
tion!l gt)\"enJt(1 th... employment of the Allied air
forcelJ:
I rustonuory "-lI!I 10 gain lit /e&st
locrol &Ir befo", Iauncbing auy 1arKe-
_Ie &lIack, &nd it "'&11 continuously Ihr
to Upllnd lill' of air supt'riority as rapidly
&II MW" b&seI could Iw eapturrd Of' coll!ltmctOO.
2. The &ir t!Cheloos well' upon to
Ncb !M'p&rale enl'my ebjt!Ctivt prior to th...
1i1l&1 -.-ult by the surf&('e forcelJ, all "'ell lI!I to
pro\'ide &ir cover and dinet IUPPOrt. for thesfo
Iurl&('(! unil.il &II they mo\"ed in fOf' the kiD.
During t1"" nmp&igm in the P&cific
prior to lIollandia th_ .....re follo"'elI,
making U!Il' of I&nd-hued an-tion uclusi ..e1...
At 1I0llandi&, beealJ'e of di!lWlCell in..oIved,
by CYE' &nil ll&nk lIUpport. by the fast
nmu tQk fol"Oell W&ll utiliz.ed .ftC'\'" t"'" ...n...m'l" &ir
h&d J.wn sufficientJy reduced by air to
allow of &('tion by the CYE'a.
In the iD\"uion of ...hen inulligenCfl esti-
mlltts indiealtd an Japanese air "-e&k-
ness, it "'&8 dlleided to' omit the pllnned prein...
sion of ,,h...re land-buO'ld lighten could
h.ve been d... ployed. It "'&8 planned to furni!lb
.11 air IIUPPOr\. from carrier b&se9, except Ihllt
.. hidl could be furnished by the long-r&nge
bombers of the Fifth AF, until 5 No\'ember 1944
when the required land bues \I'ould be a\-ailllble
for operatioos.
Ilindllight showlI that intelJib'l'nce upon
this jll.n "'lIS bllM(1 underestimated Ihe capaeity
or the JapMIll8(l air lIod IllH-al fOTell8 to rellCt.
JApanese UMVIII gunfire Slid Kamikaze air attacks
ffiluced, to a dangerous degTN', the ClIpacity of
the IIvAilable eVE's to fumiJJh both cover for the
Inndings nnd elOI!8 support for the ground opera-
lioll. On 27 October 1944 thi. reduction in
CIIJllIeit.,Y of the CVfo;'s nece8llitated the IIMl!ptallC8
by 33 1'-3&1 of complete I'llIIponllibility for &ir
,
Ilrollihitil'e1y cOiltly l'or " J ' I '
( t ,Ie IIJIHru;se, 180 al,on
o t 1(1 battll'field .... M virtllally lI.11a'l\l'(1
J The dt'l"ndel'll. or 1,IIzon .....rt thllll (ioouJ.ed by
naplI.nt'lle ,ulll"riority ill every drpart-
I ltllt, Their .urr('llll could be measured by the
I'rlgth of lime lhl' tnelnY ,,u dl'l.yOO in t.king
Luzon.
The Jallllle&e lir .trength on l.uwn ....u not
to Ita (ulll'llt in IlliU> of illl compltle
dornrnat,on of thl' lir_ Fighter support of front-
hne troopa "'1lI unwonhnatal .nd inelJeeti\'1'
pra-ision bornh!11g f.ill'(l. to IffOrnplish reaulU:
COllllllf'.1l!lIrate 'nIh tlJort. OnIy.m bomhing
(rom high .ltltudl'lll("hi....1'(1 reaulta btc.wse Allied
targl'lI ,,'tre IltC_ril}" coIU'l'ntrated In certain
.I'll-definfd .l1'lII>.
,b hostilt: control of the nd air
. lOuth 'and I'Ut, Allied .upport of the Philippines
bamt Impolllilbl.. suppliea had to come
o\..r linl'll of rommllni<-ation tbousand5 of miltA
III length. From bollIf'A ill th..ir ;\landated Islands
.nd hy thl! earl}' caplU.... of Guam .mI W.ke
till' J.11I1W'II' bloxked th" liN lallftl of the
CentnJ. "."Ifir. TrooP'> .nd supplil'll lIIupped
from the rnitt<1 Statl'll h.d to 1001"1' lbrol' the
South I'.dfie to Austn"ia, thf.n on thl' isl&llds to
tbe north .Ild nortll"Nt; .\lIstralia thus btume
III imporl.nt ,\m..rit'Ion t-.
By Ih"l'nd of 1941, lbe defeDdera of
IAlwn ...ere ...ithdra,,ing W B.taan j'eni.ll:IIIula and
Conq;idor, To Ihe IOUth the Jllpallt'M ...ere
tlItablishcd .t D...o on )Iind.nl() .nd had
I.ndtd in IJrit;'h Sorth Borneo &lid Sara"'ak,
tncirdinl; tiM' )111111. n.y are.. The British
garrison .t IloIl{:kollg h.d .ummderl'd, In
)1.la\'l the cnemy ad\.11 "... ull(:becked and
.Ire.dy "itlun 100 mllea of E'ingapoJ't'.
AUWl dfJtlt#ic Ilra/fflll alld orgonizoticR.-
Allitd .tratq;y .....'1 diJ'l'Cltd at holtlill{: tl> )Ialay
Barri..r, defined liS ,he line )1.lay Peninllul.-
SumBtra.Jl\'a-Xorthern Australi., .nd It re-
ClIt.blithing collllllunications ..ith Luzon through
tht N"ethtrl.nds East Illdit'S, Bunna .nd Aus-
tralia I'tl8Cnlially were aUPllorting positions, aud
the retention or the former .... doubl}' inlllOrlant
bcCftuilll through it ran lhe SUllilly route to Chinn,
In ord!'r 10 ('arry out this slralrgie policy. the
AlIs(ralilltl, Hriti!!h, Dutch, awl America]) GO\'
n IIllifi.'t1 control oler the
nr"ll. Thc milial boundari"" of (he ABl)A Com-
Illlllld incillMd lhAjl:elu'rnl rrgioll Burrllll., )Iallt}'s,
Netherlnllds Indil'll, ami the I'I,ilippilll'll.
{len. Archibllld P, \\'l\I',,1l of thc British Army
'('an air sln:ngth loc.ted ini
.Imost. entil't'ly destroyed by
... lIir aLlackJI (rom lIOth
and land Illllnrtl bllsed in
OSIl.,
hl'n\'y bombers or Ot'nt'l'lIl
"l'f(-" flown 1.0 lJu,'Win ....illo
l,(>rt lines or COllllllunicllliOIl,
th.. PhilippiUI'-!I, Ilnd COOIII'rlltl'
Aliii'll fOl"c<,s ill AlIslrnlin lind
t Indies,
MntTOI of tll(" nil", t'olnbillcd
in 1\1"'111 nrpuij:lh, IUlIdp
pply 1.0 our 1,117.011 go.rri!lO
... <,lfort wldeh she could
Wlll'l furtll<,r limited by .,
j) '1 Ie
1"1'81( <,.ut lIud Prime
ill, llI<'<'Img III WllIlhin,ton '
..... I d ill
Qt"CII <' to eonc<,ntrate fil'llt 0
Y
1'1 I'j "
. I<,y (Ie not h.\'1\ Lh
bolh the widely llI'llllrat....1
necellsary to ad,i<"e d.....isile
O<,nnnny considered to lJ('
DlOrc dangerous eIlNn,)'. llu86i.
FOund IOn:<'S iiI the fitld
bP and k('pt in tile '.... r.
ilion III EuroP't', oprratiol\lI ill
. "': ?irI'Cled .t cont.ining tbe
t'l/ung prt'tlliure upon tl>m by
oft'ens:h'e actions as "tre JI'08I!ilk
..'ail.ble,
lXImpaig"-l.-At Ptarl II.rbor
of tile l:niled Slatea !'Icilk
01' d.m.b-OO. T",o d.ys I.tl'r the
PriftU oj lI"olu .nd the batt!t
_I'"' !!ent. W the bottolll orr the
. There remllined in N"tthtr-
IlOme Amrrican, Dutch,
, dl'fitro....el'!l, ami .UbUU,rilll''',
upremac,)" "'Ill lS6ured Thc
o\(' .......helming superiority
..fUlI ...i1.ble .l ....ell denlolled
'll to Fonnosa .nd the
. The [niled Stales .\ir For
....Imost completely de'otroyed,
ks in tlle p.th or. south\1'll1'd
Aml'ri('an Bnd fo"ilipino fofC8
of Gen. Douglas ;\r.cArlhur in
the British Imperi.1 III COI1)11
, and tllC concentration of
lan, Thl'!lC wt're not caplhle of
action without .ubatantial
&n,1 Ol''''lIliOI1>1 "1I""inst Ilul'IIl', "lIrr'
out at ,lilll<' hi "lit I!u' Alli,,j >1111'
mult. t.. (111118. :-i'Jlj..'llp",",'. OO\'l1d",y",
Manila wI'n' ..1(1".... If> 1".,'ulll!' mllj"l" 1'11_.
In a<t,hti<m (.CI taklllJ: n'J:iorul whid,
patu...J n'flOur<"'Il IOU('II II" oil, till' ')"1'"11''',- pl,ltl
to and d",,loII ""1"18in outWl!ll J>OHiti(
&l'I h.mpl'Il aplll"t an .\II..d "OIlIlI,'rolh'lI I
Japanl'8f' fortll partil'il,alNI in offl'II";'-,- ""111pili
whith took th...m 8S (ar IIfil'ld liS th \I,ut,.
Midy bland, fo'iji, till' RololJlons, :", Iln
and SI'W Gum... ("illl Ilrobttbll' inlt'lIlioIL_
on,- Ilmf> of attatokinl' uortlwrn ,\osll"l\lI.). II
(Onr, It likt"lI tllal all of thl'!!(' ...'1'1:' IlOt ,n I
orirjc'inal war plall, hut n'llrt'lll'nl lUi <'Xllllll.'KlIl
rolM't"pl .hith ('&IIU' about aft"r th..
eaknNt of .\Dial OllJlO!lition made furlllf'r
v.n('(OS profitabl... jlll.. .. tll)ll of Irsd
J'plllll"!lC' military .ml nft.--I III,
....n-fd t.o dNT "I) poilll. sinr. tlll'lr
mollY bas ..... id.. lliH",,""1I''' of "1"
among l.JwoIt- m(,-Il,
.\1 .ny nlA', il .. \ thllt most ,Ill"
Ittal.eplU bopMl to fore.. Ill .. Stll... I
to PNrl n.rbor, th.. Urill,h bllrk w hMhll. I
to China'lI lif(' linl'. This ,,'ould
J...-l'mpll'l' control of ra'" m'lA'rillti ill,ffir
to puntUl' WI' .....r for !W\'eral morc y....,.... ,Ill
..hHob tim", ('ennlln \il'wry in Eul"Of'" (Or
OVl'nrhelmmg Japanl"\l' IIft\1l1 \ In
PM"ifk might 1'1Ig.:'nd"r su('h ....lIr W('I,rllll"'" I'
tJw "'""-'" thallh.. "oul,1 LO lll101-",UI
a-'t' Ie-\'ing J.pall in control of tilt' t<llOlls (Of"
lor tror. In ... I>.
lwr 1941, th.. J"18n"'W struck !'.'ul lIarhor.
.tta.tkfd W.kl', GUlllll. Hong )111-.
and tJw Pbi.lipplll'"'j. 1'11. timl' Ildllll'"
Wb"11 Ih.. lirlit ,JIlI18IU"Il' blo"s f,11 f
M.lay. on th" IIlninllLud to th, i,lalld,
tJw ('..nlral Pacili(', G,"'1I1l111 8rJ)li,'ll "N't' ,I
into RUlllIia Oil II b/'Qf\d (ront. lIlIll, ill tllf' )hl
Eut, Grnrra.! Irwin HOlllnwl's 1I1']llor('<1 ('ohull
wrl'f' IIoP('kiJIK to d."tl'O." tht, British 11'001'" ,
ff'lldiJIK Egypt. TtH"U' ""N' s(
gIN, RUllIli. pn'f,rr"r1 Ilot to ""glll;r ill h..... I'1I
1
with J')nn .t tlllit', lll'itnin could nol !of
.I,r()ng n,infore<'/ll!'lIht til Bur,'guol'll IH'I" Iii
lIiulllI in th.. Ori"1ll Th!' hll",I,'1I "f t
II
' I I"
Japatl<'flt' ......"',,1 IM!!"I\, "IH)Jl (I ... ,\ I'"
.In..ly in till' 1"1;1("; at
upon til(' .dditiQlLlLl Lhllt, til!' lill
Slaktl couW pron,I('.
Tbe L'nikod Stah'll, ho"cvl'r, lIvL 11I"1
d .
Tl:1Pg crntef!l, &nd the beet pol13 ....ere 1ol.'ated
he area "as IU-important to the oounlry's .....;
effort,. it.! defense ""as tbe first ool1ilitleration of
lhe Illliltary planners.
,Small forces stationed in Tasllllnia Ind
"estem Australta and It Dar"..in, POrt )Ioll!l!hy,
Island, Ind T01\'1 ville. Because of
relati"e oolltion, the retention of these
POIPU on. the perimeter depended largely
upon their none of which "'IS at.rong
to oppose successfully a major lISSlIull.
file return of the Sixth and Se\'enth Dil'isioua
from the East Ind the expected 1T!'i"a! of
.\merkan di ... isiolll\ouid allow &Omeatl'l"ngtben-
mg of th.e forces It Danoin, We.;tem Australia, and
Tasmaml; oo1l\"e"er, the .'\lI!'tralians planned to
retain t,..o of these units to increase the r ""e in
the Brisbane-)lelboume Wile,
Allied orgalliWlion, Morch 194.-Coordinll.'
tion of the American IUld Auslralian forces ,,-Ilich
manned tbe defenfll'S a'as achieved through
eration and a system of joint commiuee6 esab-
Ii,;hed eltly in January 1942. .U long III tbe
conlintont had uot br!en directly tbis
was adequate, hut 001\' the con!lOlidation of the
Allied force!l under a single directing aUlhority
Willi a mflUer of urgenlncce&;il)'. Early in )Iarch,
negotiations begsn between the Australian, ...
7..ealand, Engfu;b. and l:nited :,tatea Go"emments
concerning the organiz.ation of a DI'.... I!"I"a com-
mand. By IS .\pril the Soulh'cst Pacific Area
Command 1\'18 coNtituted with General )fac.
Arthur lit its heatl. General bl.'adquarters Wlls
f'Slnblished at :\Ie!bourne. The forCl'll lUllligne<1
to General MacArtbur'S control wero organized
into fh'e subordinate commands: .'\Ilied Land
Forces. Allied Air .'on:es, .\lliOO X.,al .'on:es,
l:niled Stat Forces in Australia, and l:niled
States Forces in lbe PbilippiDell.
In the meantime, by agret>ment bl't"'een
"lIfiolli go\'Crnment.! collcemed, the Pacific Thea_
ler was designated an area of United State!!
IItralegic fi1Ipoll5ibility. The British and Amen-
Combined Chief, of Staff \\"Quld tJ[er\':is.$
jurisdiction 0'"1'1' grand straU'gw: and the
ractors nece8!!lU)' for its implementalion. in-
cluding 11IOtatioU of fol"C('S and mlterill!!. The
Ullitl.'d States Joint of Staff l\'ould ba"e
jllrisdictioll o\"{'r all lIlatll.'r!llII'rtll.ininjt to opera-
tions] slraU'g,Y and direct control of the Paellc
COlfimaluls. ..
The Pacific Thl.'atl'r ..-as n<lrganiud and dl-
"ide<! into the l'lI('lfie. SoIJlh""e>t
,
'WM Murch 194t.--The
tb(' of thl.'ir forus
Brisbane-- Ic1bourne l\ here
the prineipal food-pro-
. Australian JmperiaJ Foteell
Middle East, 2 of which 1\tre to
IlD armored di"igion lIlrtldy in
C; lind approximately 7 dh'i_
, n )Iilitllry Forces-troops
defenlie. The ei,'ilian forces
mined and equipped. The
Force had approximatelv 16
fil'$t line. in some of ..'hich
of both pllnes and trained
pOO, in general, with inferior
'ell limited ill! cltllRbilities to
and reconnaissance. Tbll
the Ro}'al Australinn Navy
I light cruisers.
aanpol\'u and productive ca-
. ted e:'(pansion of the Aus-
and" made 8uppon from ol'er-
,ize of the lIir and ground
United States oould send Wlls
ahortages ill shipping-.'hich
aeriousncas-and bl' criticaJ
""U fronl3. The War De-
to hring to full strength the tll"O
1l8, two medium bomber
ber group, lind three
'8 and to llrovide additional
the exception of field artillery
('Ills, no ground
in the theltn, h01\'ever, tbe
"". to arrive in April and
been promised contingent
, pennining one of their
in the East.
'can and Australillll force!l
ient for the protection of
oontinent, almost equal in
, with a coast line 12,000
Be road and rail neta'ork of
Imited capacity and did not
ernenl. of troops. Prillcipnl
..,.ueled the OOll8t and were
ioUI attack. Darwin po&-
, II ""ith the re&l of lhe
1 and Tasmanil depended
of oonununieatioll. These
le lhe rnpid concentration
aI9" area to OPllOllC JlIlIIUlcse
27 relmw'r __ all Allied Coree of 'h'e e .
Mel aiDe commanded by Rea.r A
Kanl W. F. M. Doonnan of tho Ro)'al Net
1aDU Navy moTed out to intercept '-llpron"
JapaDelll inYUion In the resulting no
iD the "'.va SM, the Allied fleet Buffered a ""IS
defeaL The .....1 immediately proceeded
IudiDp tID "ava major resistance e
011I 'Mardi. Tokyo announced that the eonq
of the NMberImds EQt Indies .....as rompl
On the preNding-day the Japanese cut the
line to China by forcing the British in BurnUI,
eneua&e RaDpon.
n. ftu-JUI JOfJGrteu Dominion.-To
.. the J...- were l'6tablished at Ra
Kan.c. aad GlUD1Ita in the Bismafl:k ,
peIaco, and in the northern SolomOIl!!. They
ateDded \heir oontrol or the Centnr.l Pacific
the occupation or the Gilbert Islands. 00.
MIU'l'h enemy forcea seized Lae nnd Salnmaua
the DOI'theut OOlIlIt of New Guinea. .From t
poIilioDl aDd from the Netherlands East 10 .
she sm-tened the security of .o\ust
aad &be _ w- through the South Pacific.
AJIitd utimau of ritlUltion.-The Allied
mande.. in AU8traiia oonsiderlld that the 0
eaemy move. ""ould 00 dirlllltlld against Da
aDd Port Moresby, both already under air aU
The occupation of Darwin might be d .
-.11 to dmy it to the Allied forces or as
.... ill II pneral offensive against no.rtb...
AIIItralia aDd the Gulf of Carpentanl.
.ttad: OD Port MOl'l!llby would eliminate the th
it poMd to tile flank of lin adl'llnCe f.
Rabaul apimt tbe east COllst of Australia
CaIedoDia 011 the liea and air routes to thll t.:lll
......
laWrllipDce indicated that there ,,-ere 9 Ja
di....ill Dureh Ne1\'" Guinea, Ambon, )11
Timor, and Ja\'a. At least 2 were I
able to Ieize Dar....in and the attack could
eupported hy about 4 aireruft carriers MId l
......... plana from Koopang, Ambon,
..... AD aUmlted I dil,3ion "ith 2 S"
airaalt eurien and lbout 90 aircraft f-:o
rn
.
BIitaiD _ a.ailable for operations arUl!ll
l.toNIby, . I A
.Allied dfjtMiN The forces wI
UC
;."
tn1ia pu riled to ollJXlSC II further &out I
. I' lind n'
...... __ weak, particular y III aI, . t
.......: &biI weakness haa proved dlsa' .
10 she Allied callie elsewhere in the ,tll!
...... eommoIlweallb'a first-line troops consa>
7 , ....
........., 11I .
................. \ 'h,
ID _""'_'"
Ill'" ....
......... " 'ttl ..
... , ',u.MMBtaa.
...... ' :,... ! \ ...
.DB ...
-!o"'!l!!" lila ftIIa:' of ...
--_... -...... ,-
'n )' . ___ __H._
w,.. .....,
.. __ PI:I ...
_.- ."' ... ...,. ...
.,W o-.I611
".....of Ameriam :va-. ill A.......
....... t.woIeId. WblJe CDIlUDulDg eiroN
.. iii ...... tIInlIrIh &be l bIDdrade to
.,." )IIOriW d
k.,... Ar-y "1'."
........ on.- UaiIed. tan. ...
.......................... ....".
.. e.w-, ...
............,.....
,,"' Mae-
... _....
_M .....
10_"",..
_...
_..
_W......
............ 10
'trt,.'a..
,.d.&na7
lo_
a-
ippine C_tabulary .,bicb had Jnd
in'" the of the amloo of
l'nitfd sea.... RNilull('(' by ,heee illOlu('I!t
IInd"r lAo O..n. JOIlalhsn M. Wain\\'right
nMr rolla!*" whl'll thQ Solltlllnlllt I'ocific
Wall l'tlt,aWishtd. The lurrcml{'T or Iho fOt
O.taan, on 9 April, oondemllctl tho islB.Jld
in Manila Bay; 011 6 GenC1ll1 \\
'fITitrbt 1UlT'fIOlIfft'd at GrUl"
JUf"rilla bandt ooo.tinuf'd to light the Jar-n
AlIi#d policy in toTlu 1941.
atraLfCie pobt'J appnn'eoc! for tho Pacific Th
...u i'f1Ur81 ahhough tho intent'
takinjt mO l.fllVCIlIIiV<111elion 11'118 judiCllt",!.
JOilit ('bi t. or Staff tlirc:ct.cd GCIlCrIll :MBCA
to bold the k..y military regions of Aust,.j'
'-- for .. ruturll OffC1l1lh'1l lind cbed!.
lOutb...rd Ildvance by destroying
llbippinlr, a.irn1lft, and '-_ in the
),1...,.-80100100 lsI.nds area. lie ...u
directro to maintain Allird ])OlIitionl in the Ph
piRM, prow.et OOIlllllunicutiollll /lml ship
lupport tho operation. or friendly forcCfI ill
Southw",t Pacifk al't."R IlIlU ImlilUl TI,eller,
"t economic IlretMure on the enemy by Uf'Il
me v-'a transponing nl ... Illaterills from
territonl'fl of JalHlll.
Admiral Simitz .1lS uirected to hold tile
po-itiona !w-t.('f"n Ihl' lJlliloo Sials and
8outhw",t P8l'ific 1lI'('('tIMry ror tho 8t'CUli
lin.... of ClImmlllliclltion 11Ilt! for 8uPflorting fu
opl'T1Itioll1 .inst the JnpRllCfle. Olher
.. hill ("Ommaml 'APre to conti in the en
aid thl' dNftlM of Korlh A.merica, llrotecl
_ and air rout.... , anti SUPllOrt. the opera '
(;l.'IIf'NI MItC'Anhur's fon... Bolh Oellera!
Arthur and Admiral ",'ere 10 Pft
lab the oII'_i"e the initial Siepi of ...hicb
to be lauru-hl ;roll) 1100 South and Soulh
Pacifie aTl'U.
OtJtnTJl MtUArlhur'. oPJllicOlil"}fi oj 8
poIity.--Gl.'IIf't'IIl considcl"C(l n()/l
the thnolo f'Itoments of hi,
or pound adtqulte 10 cany out tbe III
The' nl",1 rororo .'811 too .,ea
k
Iackf'd Alfiril'nt air slIllport from e,lhu
bufd or rarril'r-ball('d aircrdl. It ",'u, lil ,
. ,'1
aul"-ble only for Olll'ruioll' of f\ mlllo
r
.
lidiary naillI"(-"". Till; Iloyul AI!Slmlillll Air
r
' lo,'do
woldd nquirc m.ny months or 118 (
IIDd would bto abeorlx"<lllrgely in the dcfell
9t
_tenaiVl.' Auatnlian cout line. The i
UICI hainina: of tht Americall air ((JIll
..nt .... 1>,,10., lhl'
. Fo.ur mOlll!ls of illll'llIlill'
!>trore It .ould I'('lch .....1...
(or COIllMl. The only elrecltve
Iho Si;\.lh Ilnd Sevcnth Austral_
(onn/'r minus l\\'O Itriglldl BIld
dil'isions. Oue lIr1r1it'i<llllll
lhing eomlJat condition but
in a \'l'ry indifferent of
Ind could P/'('pIlretlfO!'"
It ami illtcn,i\-e dTorU_
in chief belie,'cd thal the
in the J'ueific dClIlllnd{'(1 a
ill tho fOrCCflulioulcd to hi!J
COllIlPSl\ of Illll.jor rflSist'!l('c ill
lea.st 1""0 ellclllY dh'ision!J and
......Ill;ch in thOlW iBIlll1ls !H'f.t'IIl'
_"1011
Md lW"-l'rel)' UCfl-"'aloo the Allitd
allu ....ere Ilushing complete
eouiliry. Tho lroollil ill .\llIrl)"
" Jndil'!) CQuid he re-
'QIlB else....ll('ro Binre lurgo gllr-
,.,..,uired in tllOlIO territoriCll.
er ""ai1 8.'1 yet un('hllll'nj:'l'<1.
ous l'nC!II)' thu ."Ould bf
ofl'cl18i\o moH'S "'hidl ..ould
lie Jlullched in the WCillml
theast Asia, In their lIOulh
_ hnu C8tabHshed IlllCriCll 01
allow II continlled lldvllrl('6 in
Mllndntc<1 Isltliids jll'/)vidcd
IeIt flunk.
lU' dl'Crned il of lhe ulmost
. e seeurily for
Pvifie Ocl'8/l lrel, Ihus lIl.in-
fronl.8l uerell!l'! Ilnd f1.nk
r hostile nUI'.nce. Thi!J,
ho follo....ed Ill. the edrJit'llt
b7 Offorlili,'o Bction or Il 811/1i-
t of Buell Ilction to IIlfeel
&Del disllOllitions_ I[e llgl'l-'('(I
bl\Id io W8!lhinj:'lon tbll the
pn'<:lominant illll)Orl.1l('f' .nd
.......ent its Illllfimum .lllllllOrL
Lalu:e COliltI bl'
for 1\ lIC('{)nd fronl II"I!J IIClf-
MacArthur believed thllt Ihi!J
ifl(', bllCIl1l8ll in his o!linion
k 00 10 SUCCC!l8flltly 11I1I1l('hod
, Oy /'('Ieasing the ,11'8-
concentralion of JlpaOelll
it .ould permit Ihe So"itt
,
l'llioll !o utiJi;a:o IlC'r Sib"riln ttmIIn:l.'S in furo....
It "ould Iso to
/ /
' I tlltetl\'dy Ilroltet Au.. t,.lia .ntI
III .a from invasion,
In order to develop the re<luired strength both
to ItOp further JaJIllnese ofrcrtllive action Ilnd !o
dele,loJI a powerful ofrensh'e, Gcrtel'll!
wn...dered it _nti.1 that 1'''0 .inrart camers
he ,UOtIted !o 111O"ide bal'"rM n.nl
dill. til" Allll.'ri...n air force bl.' doubled from aoci
10 1,000 rront.line pl.nee; Ind lhat In American
C<lf'JlIl or thre.e finll..e!1lII dirision!J bl.' sent to
l\u!Jtl'llli., This would give rea&Onlble llIIul'lInee
of a SUCCftl8ful detellllll Rnd &eeum _o\uul'lIli" as Il
helle for colinterolTensil'c Iction.
The additional rorell8 te(luNte<1 II em 1I0t rorth-
cornillg The derision made by Roose-
Hit and l'ri'ue _\Iini l.er ClIurehill to defeat
Genailny fil'St IlIo.-ecJ only minimum fortell 1.0 be
dh'"rud from operatiol1!l apill3t tbe :\uu to
protect ,ital intereslll in othcr thNtt....
The upaMtd Japa1Ufe Empirt-,-\\l."n tbe
Jllpanese, following the eaJlture of Lae lind Sa18-
mllUII, teillpornrily ltllited their adl'lInee towllrd
Auscl'lllill, the)' controlled the entire chain of
island hich lie 'cmes illl nonhem Ipproa.ch(!l!l,
.ith lhe sillJ;le ulY,ltion of lOutht18Um Xeor
GuinCII. Thl'llC for....rd po;;itiollll fonmd a froot
3,000 miJ(!I!I long uttndiog from Jl\'a to
"ill". Inurior Ha and air lims of communication
I1ldi.ting south.....rd from Jsplln through inter-
rnedilile slIpJlOrting ha_ from Fonn081 find
Sillgllporo to Trllk in the "lllndated lJdsuds per-
mitted tl.e easy concertt.Notion of forca for further
olTensil'e 11lO'(!I!I. Til" Jspsn_ had t!ae great
of bting in che JI(llIition 10 c'- the
point of aUlCk.
'Ill dtparllUl poiltt}or II/lWf OifIUiN. -Geo-
"ral concept for futull' offen.5ive
a('lion in the Southwest Pacific 11"18 bllsed upon
the ptogre:ll>;iI'e forll'ard rno,'ernent or air edlelons
to prolide fighter dud boml!er co,'er for surfllce
e'cruenUi .nd U[IOI) isolation of each ..parate
IlOililion prior 10 Ihe fm.1 _ult This concept
depended upon gaining loeal air,luperiority .nd
expanding the sphere of !Jupenonly III !N'W bueti
.tl't." roM!rUCCed III each clplllred al'N.
The ,\Ilie;' IIIOi!t .dI'anced poolllion in th" CIIlIlem
SCl'lOr WlllI Port on the south of
/
' '" Grnerlll "lllc,\rthur plllnlll'<1 10 N>Irlfon:e
"Il ' . . b /'
it Ind t1el'clop it Hi II ftlT. llIIC, .orL
_\loi'l"lby ....1.1I (!I!Ij!('ntial for I.r operatIOns "'lIIRt
K.baul and otb"r enemy baMs to the north Ind
b
, , "..-erful bul' Ibell' IlOt only .'ouId
nort eu
COlnpUny, plUll r.nginccr lind antiaircraft units
oecullicd the site in the latter P/lrt of June snd
begaa itl development. Unlike Kanga /Ind
"-I/I.roubra Fol'Wl which were controlled bJ New
G.umea Foree, the :\rilne forte "'IIS initially placed
under Allied Land Fol"(:f'll. For protee-
hoa .of the \I"elit flank, in addition to thal afforded
b)' air fOrce8 at Da",'in alld on the York I'eninsula
eomtruction of an airdrome was begun at :>.h:rIluk;
Oil the 5()ulh eoaal of Dutch Sew Guinea. ..\J_
though the project "'IIS ttmporllrily IlUspended in
August 'Irhen the engineer effort WIIS requin-d else-
y.. a garrison of onc infant/) oompaDy plus
auxiliaries "lIS kept It :\1r-rIlukr- to denv it to the
JapaDell!. .
Hatlk oj JfiJn,.-While the South'est Pacific
II'!!S ...as tbUll engaged, in the Central. Pacific
a na"a! bfottlr- -.ras fought that drastically changed
the atngetk situation. Soon afkr tbe retire-
melll of tbe Japa.nC!ll' from tile Coral Sea, a
powr-rful conceotration of enemy nna! in
home -.ratf-'1'Il -.ras reported. Thf' t:nitftl States
Pacific F1eott. aeting 00 the bl'lil estimate of tbe
situation, prepsred to meoet an attack r-astward,
On 3 JWIf' the r-Dtmy ..as sigbte<l !IOuth...est of
:\lid\l'8\', and carrier IliJ'cnh from lhr- rori:Wtr:ft,
Erdlrprl.", .nd I1Qtrtld I'('pelltedly !MIllered the
Japsnese ship!!, .tlnking fotlr ain:nlt carrier!! and
ODe hl't"')' crniser. One CTUwr and aevr-raI. de-
lltroyr-1'Il wen' damaged. American 1058t'S -.rere tbe
rOrklotm and one dl'lltroyer.
The deeisi,'e ,"iclory n't!tored to tbr- Allies lIU-
in tbe air onr the Pacific. Thel'!!Sfter,
exeept for Ihr- Alr-utians -.rere Ihe landed
on Attn and Kiska Opl'lrlllIOWl ...ere
eonfined to the South andSoutlrtl'l"It Plcific. The
Joint Chllf, of StafT \I'cre immooiatr-Iy eosbled
to /ldopla more actil'c
Rlri.w.IINed StrultgJ/, July George
C. :\la"haU. Chief of StalT of tile Army of the
Unite<! Stllll'8, and Gellerlll ,\laeArthur
10 exploit tht' changed situatiOll b)' concentrlltrng
forCl':l iii the Southwest Pacific to
bl
"", d,h'e the t')\r.I1\)' back to Truk, In tbe
cnse,.v . '"'
'
" I """"ak 011 l\cw GUl1lca. A, nllr/l
Caro 11\('11 an' .. . ed
J. Killg, t'OllIllIander ill chief or d.le Umt
St tl'8 Flcel lIud Chid of NIl"al Operations, pro-
pa:erl lWO siruuhll1lI'OUS drives, Olle by
cOllunalul to Timor or !lOllIC ot. er
'. I Illlce in (he Eaat llllhe5,
8ml"b (I ItI rr iuto Ihe BOuthrrn under
nnrlthO,' ""b'" L Ghormk)'. commander of
Vit'(' .4. Ill. v ,..
the South I'acific /lrea.
,
Fourt.eel\th BriGade. [lll\(ldi_
I' te mid uU' alld Salalllau"
pt enemy llreparation of tloO'l('
eaplucc Mid hold them for a
delaying further hostile offen_
t forces alld air trallSllOrt for
rt' lacking.
ble for tire mission "'ere deliig.
and of a small fonna_
knowlI as the :'\1'\1' GuiRea
reinforced Australian iu_
Part WeI'C slreadJ III Wau,
cellICr ill tile (ho,enStan.
Its led to Lac IlIId Salamalla.
flown 10 Wau from Port
part of ),[ay. Before Kang.
to strike, howen'r, intelligellce
Japanese at Lae wen' plaruung
10 \'alley. Sillt'e tilt ('Om-
Force ..-85 responsible for the
airfields, he "-lIS unable to I'm
lor o!felUil'e action. The nids
thr end of JUIll', and 1\0
pined although ('Ollsidr-nblr-
at SalamallS. Kanp Fol'C1'
Wau, under almost prohibiti"r-
'p and suppl_", in order to
unds and S('('Un' tile creol of
in dun area.
1Iq'1tIUU.-Another unit, dl'S--
Force and cou"istiug of a !MIl-
th Brigade snd tile Pa[luan
..as organized on 21 Junr for
koda 00 the northern slopr-ll
northeast of Port :>.loreshJ.
e,"ideoce thst the Japsllt'8l'
th. natil'e trail from BUlla 011
Kokooll. 10 Port :\!on.':lhy, alld
direeted to pre"ellt all r-lIl'.l\l)'
mollntllins ll.long that routr-.
BaUalion, /lboUI 250 lIath'l'
omt'ers, WlI.!! alread)' nortl, of
pany of the Australian bat.-
O\"ll-r1rllld in Jul).
talion temaine<! ill the PorL
. till tl)(' imllrtl\,em(')ll of the
Kokoda trail, but. rt"llily to
d('\lIchmeut if
tile east llnnk of Iho Now
\0 pro\'id(l addilionnl forwnrd
e air IIction, 1Ir./ld
.tablishl1lent of lin lIirdrolO(l
Bay. A reinforced infnntry
thE' Allim flllPt, dRpltchl'd an /lllRek grQ
cruise" lUId dftluoy"n to int('rl.'('pl HllY h
forcrtl that might approach Port. th
the lomard PIUNf(f'. tilt'll mo\"('(! Ilorlh IIj
evrit-1'lI to doee wi.. tilt' Jap"II'lll' cO\'f'ring
On lb. morning of 7 May. amI:" IlI"nl'8 I"f'I
aD ('Dt'my carril'f nur !o.lilliml Ai
from lb. Lni"flmt and )"orHolNI ilnlllC'o,r
and sank lb. SlwAo, A >l('(:onc!
llPinst wps in tbf' Dtohoynl'-!o.lis,ima hland
..-.. rNdiPd but 001 onll'rt."d aloft !>l'eall!ll' 0
IN'"'l'OCIt 0' othl'r carnl'1'l!
hMl not bfoIon Ioeatftl. while tilt
"trUt ..-.. bftntt dtlinred, to the 8Outht""
main J....f'W NlrifT 'oJ'('(' bit the ,\ment'a"
group thp tallkf'r S,(#ho lor a t'a
nr S#OiIio and a d"UOyH ,,(' .... ""link. .\d
F1etcbf'l' did not ,..uti I.bat Ihi" attack \I U
by t"aJ'rilor llirn'aft until t1u"k. too 111.1" 10
countnaeUoo.
'Thlo folknring monling after ..eal'('h
WbtOO thP Japallf"lf' n.rrieN, a strikt' Jau
apinst thPm Ihe SMkaku and
damaged. thr ZlIiha.h. Enl'my Illann hi
Lui_".,. whit'h lwnmr 1llll'OlltroUablt' and
&0 bot IIUJIk. Tbr }'(If',w01Nl b
ma.inPd opHWtional. This eJ[('hange efT('('ud
....trllf1ion to Nt"b fllgllil'l! folU' that ho
Japaru"!'P ard Allird nanl t'(lInmallde" 0
J8Pl"'tiVl' fon- rlf.(-tO!'d alm08t
&f'rminaw- thP pncountt'r and wilhdrftw.
wUbdnwai of thr JapalU'!!l" fol'('(' con"tilut
""' in itA purpMl' to seize Port :>.Ion't!by,
wdhdra... a1 providftl a strlliegic \'it'tory fo
Allied ",OR.
ail'('raft from the Sollthwt'St
....., inadditioo to n"('OlUlai,;salice Mid Ilrelim
raida apinst _my air inslallatiOrls /Il1d ship
IIUppOrted the artion or 110(' rlfl\'al force!! Ii)'
IOIDll 45 IIOrtiM .in81 the el\em)' ('OI\\'Y,
tile r-altA wen" ditoappoiuting. SlIlall nunll
bich levt'l bombel1l flying in IUlfn\'orable y;
eoDdi.$ioDI ft'ClUd thl' I'lTceti"elll'Sil of thr-atl
A emiller, a _plane t..nder, lind lL hltgl' tl'1l
1
..... e1aimed damag('(1. Ul'[lelLted efTorl.$ to
the crippled SMlraku whic1, retirr-d 10 lla
f.ned beea_ of tile ':ad weal her
FinI AlliMl o.ff,nt1'l't.-Thl' rt'polsl' of tI,1'
aateIIe pve Port MOr<.'llhy fl "ow lM.'lll Oil
"I
and t.b! development of the 110"( ,eutl'rIl I
"" GuO- an'll t'ontillul'd. Tho ('O"sl
01. ail'dromea at CainUl, Cookto
wn
, C(){'u'l
1tiIDd, and Po", MOl'l'llb)' Willi accel.'l1lted I
-).. .....
...-..
._ I I' tf.Al*l1ia"''-
,.., _ to tile
..' ...
....,...._ ed
--::: =-."..
.... tl: '. r.n MoNIb1
...A:
.. ilidIitD I h7.-y - ....
.. i .. ...u.it.ed_..._IMiIi-
... ......- ..-eNe lor e&eIIP'
..... ,...,..t .... ...- ..
........ 700 ... to .. .atb a& TOWJIPiBco
......... .......
....... ..,=' ..,.n til.
"we. O. ai) dam baiIdiDr IIOI1JI
....... y.lt P.iDMda witb .... ob;edi'ft' of
.............. ,...... for rUd
..,... '---' f1IIatiiw ,. "" lhJI .
'nIiI ....qJ.mt. ......... ....,. .
............. Apri.1IIe..- 01 ....
............ "...... W........ w-ts
.. EtI' 't .. ellinnft...... ewBriWP-
., .... ..men' .., die ...,. _
.................... AlWAirF_
1
1:=1 .. =-- ... .--bled.
.................
-.,. ... .died ..Y1II
.. to ... r.ifIr JIM wt.idl
__ ... ' 80atIa PariIk
............ y.....
..., , -.._dindedal Tw.P
...... 8' ,."..... ...,..&fo
_ ...... TM Y wbieb
............ at B.Dto.
.... DC J -. IIIlIIdr. 4 M.,.
--_ .......
...................... \be
pbibioUI troop', flhipping, supporting airfields,
pIanea, they pointed oUI, \II'ould probnhly pI'('
the pr'OII8Culion of the dril-ClI, U
lOutbern Solomotlll alone were tnken Ilud
adv_ halted leaving Rabnul in enemy h
the I'fJ8\llt would be au elrl)()S('(\ salient al:
whKb tbe Japane&e could bring over" hel
_tI'8lj[t.b supported by land-based Illnnell, U
adtquat.to rolttill coulll be provided to
thr'f.p tasks in ORt' coDtiuuOUII movement, the
commanders that operfltiona be lirnit
inJihraUoIi through the lIebridM nnd
Cruz bland!! and aelel'1lte<1 ainlrome COllst
tion in Sew Guinea
The Joint of Staff, howel'er, felt Ih
wu to procffd ,,;thout delli,\', A
_1 in the Tuillgi nrea
IIUpport a further 8Outh"'anl lId'-lince, and
6dd1l on Guadalcanlll would hampe
not Jl!'l!"eIU, Allied occupation of Sant..l Cruz
Espiritu Santo. Admiral Ghonnle,' made
accordiDgIy, and i .",ugmjt ,,"lUI IICl as
ampbibioM attack!! on Tulagi and Guadalen
The Soutb..-e<t Pacific area prepared to sup
1be operationa by air interdiclion of hostile sir
MTal ac:tirilieti ........1 of objectives and by
particip-lion of illl na1"81 elemen18.
.")owUttr\fM PaciJe MraUgJI.-J>tallil ror
oontiouatiou or Ihe offensi,-e under General
Arthur hued II pon I he IlrogrCSlih'e fo",
IDOve_t of air echelons culminating in the'
tioD of RabauJ prior to an assault upon il.
driVtlll were to be made \\;Ih one 11lIIk force
ceedm, along the north of
GuinN !If'CUring in auccession Lne-Salama
0-&&, Ca!l@
alld the olher 1I101l1:" the
SoIomooe-S_ lrelnnd to seize Faisi.Kietll.B
UMl. Kamng. Botb 11IIIk forces were to COll
l
lor the Npture of Rllbaul. Since tho Soul
h
..
Paeifie area Iac:ked Ibe tNlined unlphibious I
aDd speeiaIiud ailliplllcnt Ill'Ce8llary for Inll(!i
the UIMl 01 tbe Marine forces frol1l lhe ."0
P&cific area wu a prer('{luisitc,
The lirat phue or the Il/'Ojeeted n,h'nuN!
TOlved ltD amphibiollsnttuck Oil LuI' Ill1<lShhll
Jl
ll.
In orde.r to provide fighter cover for the 1Il0l'ell
l
01 tbe convoy aDd the nl!llu\llt n prelilllinM)' s
, , lro
... directed ror the conatr"dion of 'Ill ,"rf
at Bnna. A Iigbt force of fOUT inf"ntr,\'
ptDilIlI wu to mOI'c Ol-erlnnd from PorL
ria Kokoda to occupy Bunn prior to tbo arn"
'Wata"bome elt'lDllDtlI including antioire
rtlft
,
around tmila, The operntioll
under cover of the Inndiugs
by the Jnpfl_
olfellsi\'o ill the
llud aWfiY.
o./faU/l'ft. for KoJco4o
an cnemy COnvoy of SCHill I
ips WllS sigiJted on the nonl,
l'a and that night la.,tled
at GOlla, !lCI'enll md(1lnonh_
ail' lltulcks Suc'('ef'ded in
I'l. These Japanese troollS
IS of the Xrmhi Detach-
undcl' coillmand of Maj. Cen
They quickly proceeded "';111
area and sent a small spear-
Kokoda. ..\.J.lied ullita Ihat
lufantry Battalion and an
or the :\Ja/'Oubra Fo/'{"(',
air ....as plalUled, but only 30
Wore tbe Japanese, in lighting
Kokoda and its landing
dclcnders back to Dcniki.
ubra FOr'8tarted for.-.rd
Moresh)- to insure the
&be Owco-SIlU\lc)"S. In I'iet'.-
difficulties impo;ed b)- the
Ii .rl$ believed probable that
t would be linlilal 10 Ihe
air base only, although Ihe
d on Port MOl'l!5by
for o.ffuuire.-\\Tbile ,\lIied
as originally planned was
sl(!p'_ preliminary 10 tak-
WNe oniered. Ke... Guinell
was e.'I'tended to include all
ell' Guinea, in a/Mil ion to
directed to place at II'8!lt two
koda Trail at the ellrli('lll
hCllpture Kokoda airdrome.
&0 infiltrate along lim north
overland movement from
NellIOn. On Iuter orders lind
pha.ae or the olTensil'e, both
coDtinuNl to seize till' Bun"
with a projcch/I amphibious
f'or,:e W,lS llugllll'nted to
t it. mission. 'fll(' SCI-cuth
(-' forwflrd frOIll AllSlr"liu
Eight{,(,lllh Brigade b'Oing to
ty-/irst lind Tw('nl.l'/ifth
Moresby,
II
air {J!orl TI " I
the AU' " .' 'I' 1IlI!lIlion 0
I
'I'd "\'1' dUring thia IlPriod .... as
(P8tro" tl '. v
. Ie a,r rOl'(:(', 1"8 air field instll!-
lllt't"
ll
, lind 10 pro,id.. dose support
to ocsl, ground fol'l:(' Oll<'rstiona; snd 10 prm-ide
of bOlh land and !le. IIreu. .\ir
(\1'(:(' mO\'illg into IIII' York Peuiusula
XI'''' GUlIIeR,H. rapidly &II the oompletion or
.IHI lumtl'fl allillping Te!lOUI'lll'lI per-
IlU!tNI.
Prior to Augual 1942, tJ,e llCaie or ,\Uied air
re8t.rielord. b,' lhe ....il.hility of oper-
.lIonal lIr atMps 1l1tl.i1l range or ("1lemy
lati?lls. Strill8 had be-en l'(lllStructed 011 tJle
of ilt anticip.tion of .Japa-
nese tlnl'e lIOUll1 rrom n.baul. Tllelle aU1Jl!1
"'r/,\, 1I0l ll;tJ.ill f'l:hter ranj.,'"C of tbe wile 01
f'b'1,tillg in Xe.. Guinea. Uomloer<. lIurting rrom
,\ustralia for tl,e task of J.pllll_ fitlds
UI the I-saJ.m.u. UN in IIUpport of SoUtJl-
"'Nt Pacilic troops .111 tJ,e H.b.ul-Xorthem
SoImIIOl arta ill support of P.cilic IClion
Oll GUAlI.ICIlla!, found it IIl'('lC8Sl1.ry to stage
tlIMUf!:h Port 011 rad, rtlll. To add to
Ihe opel'81ing dilflCtlltiea 01 t!lese earl.- lIOrtiea.
the nalig.lional bazanl of Cl'O:!"illl! the Owe<>-
Stanlr," tt.88 illtetJlOS"Cl bettt.eell the
au.!ing field and tJ,r oo]t"Ctin' ..-eas.
.h of 19 ,\ulI'!>!!. four airliMJs ha.d been aom-
Illel....1 at I'or\. -('Ill#' for htll\"Y bornbe ,
one foc nlooium .",1 lWO foc lighter'S.
-r-.o mure hr81"\ bnllllxor lirlds .nd OIle malium
lH)tllhrr li#'l<l to be ",_.I_I' 1,1' 5
l;eplrUlber.\1 Ollt firM_ in operation
for pursuit pls,l"", tt.... l'JIJN"Ctoo to be reMiy for
heal'" bomber.! 2,j .\ugust, .nd t..-o otJ,er
helll')" hOluber \IIl'rt" under oonstrtlction.
011 th.. York I'e"illsulll l"O bomber 6ekls
IIml one fij:hter lie\,l tt.ere ooll1plded, with three
iUlditiollal 11I"U'I' 1H)lIlber HeMs to be
rl,,,,II' in Sel)t':mber, AdequaLe fseilitil'l! ilMi
bl>e,; ...... ill the Towllsl"iIIe-Clolleurr:r .rcll.
26. furlh{r /lrlparotiolUl. TI,e Thim--5eCQlld
Illld Forh'.linlt Dh ,,-hid, were to lak"
pllrl ill liw </frell,il'c 01",rlltioll9, werc ..d tQ
.. IIml to
und,'rgo Rlld to fonll inlo II fot
,rhieh IRtt,'r p"rl'os<' 1.1. G"iI. ]{Ill)('rt L.
bl"):l,r, ('OIlUUR"dill" 1 1119
'
Rff" 'f1' 8l'ut from Ih(' Generlll
.' '11,from
IllS URI' el'il .
to IJrisl.llllll', "I",nt It "ould be ,Ill
'I ,',,""'1' to Ille hcsd'llIHt.. rs of Allll:otl
c 08l' Ilro;\:
..
,
8Crvice troops h b
fe'tl"er t an t e nonnaJ, there "'811 actUIU,.
nan nanna!.
order to deal more effeetivcly with logistic
pro. ems, Gellt'rlJ lleadquartel'li dll'l'Cted tht' for-
mallon of the Combined OperationaJ Senice C
u,nder,Brig. F. Johnn, Un::;
" \rmy .. TIllS OrgBlllzatlon functioned di-
rect) under Ne,, Guinea fon::e as a "'. .
agenc be' . coo mating
y the Australmn snd America))
Stpp1r Its major responsibililies were
1111 reCell}t, sud distribution of SUI}I.liCll
!le8 trBlUillOrt ID the New Guinea wllt-era; operatio;
the dGl:ks; coustruetion of docb, roads, and
and el'acuation and bospitaliution.
Inthall)' ,,t're established at Port )Iores-
by.nd :\Iilne Ray.
The fiJ'St drivt' to gtl under ,,-ay W83 that bv the
Seventh Di-.ision batk ICroS!! the Kokoda Trail
The ad"nce btpn on 26 Septembt'T and
spearheaded by the ""'enty-fifth Brigade I'l'in-
forced. The I)j,'ision was retained in the
Port M(lresby area for defensc against scsoorne
attack. loribsiwa feU to Ihc Auslrnlialls 011 28
September sfter the lIlsin enem)' body e"M:ull.ted
its defenses lind withdl'l'''' rapidly northward.
Pursuit was ddayed b)' the bad state of the trail
and lI'eather canditiollB lI'hich interfered ,,'ith air
dropping of supplies, but. by iO (k-tobt'r. fOM\"ard
elem('nts "'en' in ('()IltaCI with the enemy on top
of thl:' range in the Templeton's
Cre-ek lrea. HeTC fought tenaciously
from a lM'ries or well,pl'l'pllred positioM ou high
ground dominating the trail. The lut of th....e
was Ilot cleared ulltil thc end of the mouth
the enellt\' Ilc.d loward Oi\'l. 011 2 NO"ellther the
Sel'euth Di,'ision occupied Kokoda without oppo-
silion.
troops of Ihe Thirt)"-Seeond Divi-
,;siOIl had been lI!lSigned the task of operating
onr the mountains east of Port :\loJ'f$by. 1"A'0
routes ,,'ere ronsidered, one from Rigo to Jauro
the otller from .\bau to Jauro. While the One
Hundred and Infantry. on its
arrival in Xe'" Guioea, "'1lS temporarily aJIocated
for defense of Port under tbe Sixth
Di"ision the One lIulldred and ""enty-@inh
Infltlltry'disPlltched II I'l'inforcro battalioll o"er
the trail from lligo. The problem of sup-
ph' pro\'ellte<l Ihe movement of .. lnrger force
ul;lil the route coulll bl' furlher de,'('lop('<I and
dUllll)S I'!Itublislled. The One lIuu.dre<1 and
Twent\'_I'enlh !ufantry Wll.$ to be slllVlJerI from
A1l5tl'llii. lind lltilWld 1I10ng the !M"COud route.
I.panese "'ern l!IItabli!l!lel'! It
the Kokoda Trailth<,y rould
from tlit' north and,
ng strength o,'er tile moun_
coast, endanger PorL .\Ioresby
TIlt' S{'curil)' of these bases
t'Il!live to regain the C;l'llt of
and eventually to .-It'ur aJi of
entif'l!l for Kododa.-Sinec a
necC9Sllrily would be skl1r be-
and difficultil'B of Bupply the
, f!d for three a.les of
lhe Kokoda Trail. a wide
ov('r the Owen-8tan]('\'"li
inn tbe enemy lillt' com-
lration along the north coast
General hcadquarters Bet tbe
of the first two as the l!eCuring
umusi Hiver from the Oll'ulamn
. of the KokodaBulla Trail
the third as the occupatioll
and tbe Dorth eoastof
All v.ere to be COlltinued
capture the Bun",..oolla area.
ed to Port :\Iol'l':!lb)' during
ent the coulllerolfl'DBi.e
Brigade and tl\'O regiments
Di,'isioll, tbe One Hundred
Infantry and a detllchment of
and Twent)'-abi:th Illfnntry
ernl BIallley nrrind nt Port
tho OIJeralions, lind Ll. Gell.
repillclng General Itowell.
of Iline brigades alld 'regi.
taxed the shipiling resources
to the utmost. Base ill-
s for bandling sllips, roads
of supplies to depots, and
and the prot<'Ction of stores
bl'4t and rain were aJmo;;t
Moresby. non-
Ba,., nnd entirely 11lCkilig ill
fllcilities hlld to he de-
with th(lo/rensl"o. Shipping
, Jlllrl iculurl,r ill tliD early
; only units nurl storrs
the ellelll}'
11"II" GUUINI. Under caudi-
a gn'",ter IJrollOrtion of
defMt III eamPr lircn.h oombiu('(1 I\;th
t...d planN from Guadlllunlli to inDict
damage that tbto Hl!!'my tumed bllck. The J
0-. bow!!'vPr, Wl'", able to land 1l(lIIitionll.l
on Guadakanal by mesns of thc "Tokvo
pnM" ruQby dl"5troyers from the
The Marines defending the a-
faced incretlllil1jl' prt'll8Ure.
The campaign became a contf'!lt to sce 10
tide could build lip the grelltegt weight of
fOl'tffilenlll ami supplies, the outcome depe
upon oontrol of the S{'1l. and nir.
JfJpGrltM (lftrnnn (In K(lkoda Trail.
t.aJwOuely ..-jlh tJlt'ir oounter blows in the
1DOOlI, the Japan<'!!e den'loped al\ olfen5i
N_ Guines that thrt'$tened Port )[oresbv
MilDt' Bay. During th".r reinforoed
U'OOprI in the Bune b.r lauding the I'l'ma'
of the X"ankai Dt'tachment, almost two
Allied lir attacka IJn!venlcd
devt'lopment of an Ollerating air baw at
but the enemy ijteadil)' built up thc.ir forces 0
Kokoda Trail lIud continued to pllsh 1\
They held the ad"lIntage in that they were
t.o move up m('l1 an,1 supplies consideralliv r
than th(' Australians. "'Icrea! the Owen.sl
!:Jet1l"t'f'n Port )Ioresby lind Kok
madl' up of Ill'('CipitoulI ridges cui
ing in lDOWllaillll 8,000 to 9,000 f('(:t high,
KoIr.oda 10 Buna the ground slopes gently
northHn foothills Ind the COIIlItal plain.
AlIjEU81, whPn O" ..r 1,000 JllpllnC!M' llt
Of'niki, th(' Au;otraliallll had onh' 1111 underst
in position lind werft to wit
to l.surava ""bl're IJI<'y llrell/lred 10 mllke
n('xt nland.
On 18 Augunt, 1,1. Gen. Sydu<'y F. J{
I"l"p'-l. Gen. 881lil .\1. :\Iorris in oomTllll
N_ Guu- "'orce, and the Se,'c.tlth D'
uno:lfr lollj. Gt'n. Arthur S. Allen wu
1'I'lIpODlIiblf' for the operation on the Kokada
1'bf' troos It t ura"a, by 26 ,\ultl!st, had
rftnforced b,. three- Australilln battalions..
of til...... unilll was effecteo:l in
mot.or u-ansport from Port :\IOTC8by to III
paek borII' to t:beri, thence forwlIrtl
eamef. ThiB "as by the air
ping of .suppli..., II IIt'W t<,chni'lue "'hich hsd
dt'veloped und"r Ol.rrutionnl conditions. [I
many difficuhi... such ns the c.xtrelt1
d
y
naw", of the l('rrain, the IIl:nrcity of trill.
ain:nlt, and the unfa\'orablr "'cather co
ndi
\ha.& fnoqut'ntly p.... niled o\'cr tho O....en-S
.AIr _ .. .dill ........ -. ito
....11 .......... -. 0.. .... I,
............. 0--1 iD conm
md
ollJahei s.a.......,.:r iD wIIidI
WI nd UaMI &.- Amq s.n- of
_ .,.a. ,,-C. ",",,",""""
o.eraI Bmt commander, AIW Air
B1. _ AlqfUIt, plana and preparatiooB for the
.... had pMClll8dfld t.o MIdI paiDt that
0.-1 MaeArtbur fIIl..-..J the JoiDt CbieIa of
swr be would aWP t.o eeeaw dHo an. JIb-.
tile CIII*n (J B W. SeI,mau_ -.I 0_
...iII....i....,. .n.er the ClIDd..-m
III .u.nl OI.ormIf1' opatioo it' dte marinP
_....... Iorft- UId IbtV .........t wiUl
eurilIr IJPPOrl- availaWP.
.4IIW ..,__ ,a s-t.-u.-n.t' Allif'd
.u.ek ilt.o !be _tb_ .soaomon. ... taunebfd
OD 7 AJIIIH wheD the FiM Man- Divitlion,
NiDforotd. WMt Mbo", on Tulligi and OuadaJ
eaul, Thl'flll aimdt earrimI "1'", among tilp
DaYal unit&. whith abo included
__ eruiIrn aPd dtlltroy.... temporarily as-
to Admiral Ghormiry'l _troI from
.... ani P_. Tht' SOUUl.... Pari!k
.. SlIppOItaI till' laadinp by d"qt: 1IUb-
___ Ihoat Bahaul. ftying .-.n.i-,"N".
... ..,. -m.c .u Mba ... -,. air-
AD pIaD.N t'apabk of til..
... _ dinded 10 Rabt.ul, Bub. md Kif'ta.
........ hit'" _&1....UI.
"fte .-,. prriIom _ takf'R by SIU')H'iBrt,
1Ild.. :he end of the iIelll'Hld da,. tbf' Marines Wl"f'f'
m_1Iet.e control 01 Tulagi and tbp airfi!!'1d on
hdlbeal, the immedia.... objet'tiv. of tJw.
... ti Ihll theH...-atnIdr. bM:It lItrorldy
., _ .. .u r.-. __ ill .... IJOI1IHona
8' A..:hq:dap. On \ht'
-",d .bp-.m' ..
......._ OubhM' UMlI'1orida
....... 1'J' &a.-
IIII&f a...ar.... I.......... btopD
................... md adjaceot
-:- ' dayIiP' boun.
i Mtm the Ameriean
..;., I "o.&IDD. llDd al DiP' enem,.
:=r IIban iIINDaticlDI virt.ually
=': $. I!eDiIr ...... COllver 01
.................
cllplI.bilitiMl for IT' '.
PlIr'fi I 0 rnBI"e nct'OI) m the &ulhll'ClIt
I r I Ie, tie Ilillu thrt'll [Ihllllllll from
thr hill) of thl' Owen-Stanley '!iange
-DUL lind p..... l'llmtion to with-
II 11Ialor eITort to knock \ , ,.
Wllr, liS ra l/I Ollt of tho
1111111,_. oj Su"',, (Tllz.-Qn 18 October Vice
,\<111,1, F, lIal.'ltey Admiral Ghorm_
ley 111 the :;Outh Pacific 'ff". 011 the nigbt of ')3
Octolll'r Ihe JallAllt"lll' bepn a ground offelllli;e
aJ.:llmot thl' Guad_leanal airfirld, al\d 2 nighttllater
.."IK"II th(', a!\o.llult l'('ael\('(l 'l.!I peak, moved
Ill"'al umta south...ol in foln', In the hattie
""hwl! follo,,'t'd on 26 October aircra.ft from the
Aml"rt('lli ll/)l'tId and f.'fIU..-pri PilL LW'O
rrK'm," r.rTM'r.I out of achon, and four rnemy .ir
l!t'Oulll> lI,rrt rIlL 10 I'l('l'('!I, but the llar1l6 "as lIUnk
alld Ihe forcing the American
to !'t'll"" AsIMJI'(', fOf' a bf;(>f ",riod that Mmp
da,', thl" qu,...lioli of .. llPthrr or nol the .irlicld
coukl fttainC<1 ill thl' balance. ,\ OOIIntet-
auad:, II01Io'l"\'('r, rl"Itor{'(1 thr situation and
infticlf'd cas"alllf"l \\1ulr this COMlituted
the last "Crious thrrat by hOlitilO!' ground forces on
Guad.II'III.1, the Japan_ slill coouol
the adj8l'ffit
11<11/11 oj G,,,lJalnllttll, In an rlfort 10 break
the dl'lldlock, ubmarintll.nd motor torpedo boats
cut into bostilP communications and reinforce-
mrntll "'eft ruolllfd 10 Guad.lranal during 6-12
l\'o,'('mbl'!", !',mtlltallPOu!l1y till' J.paneee COlKell+
tralNI large ftf'l't of in the Rabaul-
Buin area and began mo"ing <lOuth "ith rtinforce-
ments. Ina 3-<1.y battle bl!'ginning Ibe night of 12
:-IO\'em],cr, thl' .\menClllS, in spite of heavy 10!lI!!ell,
j;lIilll'd a \ictOf)'. Onr half of the eoem)'
transports \l'l're sunk, and the troops I\'hich tho
.lapBlIC!'ll au,"""l!'d ill landrng ..el"l minus lDuch
of th!'ir l'(lllIpment Blld oppliCll, Control of lhe
""a Bnd .ir in the !lOuth('m Solomon! IIII;lsed to the
('1Ilt('(1 SUI('!<, and on GnadlllcaoaI Ihll marinCll
and 111''''1" "rrin-d anu)' uniu begtln 8 stronger
'10 I'hrnillate the I'llI'm)' lC8rrison, The
crilic.1 lll'riod \l'as BllfrlJ' Illl8t, and thl' J.panC80
were not ahl6 to S('noll<;lJ' thff'aten agaul.
IJutw.-G01lU, III the New Guinl'll area,
1\lIwrirllll Mnd J\II;1lrt1hun Irool'8 ,,"ere llIo"ing into
lIoilitioll for Illl MlllIllult 011 lhl' BUlia-Gona area,
Ol'1l1'l1l1 dle;jlrillg I.lI l'!ltllb1i.sh "n air
ba.'lll 11I,'re [,I'foro lim enelll,\' could land strong
l'\'inforfl'IlII'rlh"l'nrly in NOI'('lIIber had tho
decision to eXOCIlU' lhe flnnl ph[l.llll of the hm,ted
efrensi\'1' and clear )'lIpua of lhe J8pllnese.
"
tilt< sell hllUie lit the ('ud of
qagl'mNlt IHld takpil pll"'1" ill
8hout 6 lI'l'ek.'l, hut
bad oC('urred whirh COIlt "
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<' rno/'t' thl'lll a di\'i!tiol;.
IlI'l'r(-' llgain AlI8CmlJling to Ihl'
.... night of I I Ql'tolll'r .n
dcstro)"('r groulJ illt(' .....CIJWlI
('al)(' Espclllllce, sinkiuK or
r of \'CSSCS and Cfllbing tIll'
Illll', DC!lpi((-' thill
.-trt'lIIel)' critica1.
I'ntrntions ill the nabolul_
doo lh-(' or six boIttlcships
tarri,'rs, while the .\memnll
hil);< and two cal'T'it'rs com-
ler This IUl\'al supt'riority
Olll of surface ll\O\"em('nt
8cti\'itv
Illl'nl and resupply to th'e
incf('l.Singl" e,-wellt th.t a
unminent.
Pacific an:ea was doing eWI)"-
\"c the pn'SSUTe on Goadal-
in Xe,, Ciuinea was, in
thal Tweh-e BUb-
....1 l"on:cs II ere a35ij,'Iletl to
fU('8 for temporary conlrol.
ploying its long-range equill-
urn e81l8citr in sirikes on
air and suppl, installations
northern Solomolls, using
only in llUpp'Ort of Ih(' XC""
GCII('1'1I.1 Ml'le.\rthur IItl!1 in
lions lI'itl! Admil'lll Ghormley,
'Iy WlI.ll gin'll hill rNtueslS
attack,
diHastt'r 11.1 GUlldll.kllllal
and
whkh would then faC(' the
,Generfll :-OlacArthur uTg('l1
of lIle Cnitl'(l Stull'S bo
kl nWl't the CritiClllsilUlltioll,
Jl: 1)1' lllndl' lI.\'ailllblc from
11(\ displ,tdwt! illlllledi-
Tailllhl,;, hell"y bornl",rs
at once, Cellt'nll Ilead-
outline phlll for the ft,(listri
('y('nL of II. JlIpund(' viotory
pl'nd"nt 1I1lou Ihc dl'greo
(llid ('lItinull('8 of his
and .orteoed othen, The grcBt ditTerCHfll i
ability or the JeplUJ('lIl" to n'!fIullply lind rt'i
\heir units in the
pall'd to that 01 the AIIi('lj is attrihulilble to
air inwnlictiOD of tile Dllti\'" rllrri"r Ilnrt)' a
w.e.. The Japanese did !lot nir drel
UIOIively and the nativl"I did not have tloe 00
oor the inteDllit10f porpol'e to nd"nncc
lace 01 Allied 8U'llftml,
tIG"'" oj Goodellough Ill/Hid
ewrendy wi.&h the .dunet' from Wanig
in force of Goodenough I
wbieh lay 08' \b@ nortb('Ntem COl'IsL of
OuiDe&, ... oooduded to dear iL of In
aDd to de\ermioe tbf! suitability of the
101' airiieId _U'UCtion. On the night
QI:&ober a unall cuk. lon:e lanl.led at
TaMba Baya. 00 tbe i.Jand near Killia :-or
.... appnnimawly 300 trool19 \\ho had
-.nded there in .\ugust "'hen Allied ai
ca.uoyed bugM in ....hich they \\ert m
from Buna lor tht' _ult Oil Milne H.),
Auatn1ian5 sod after indecisi"e fi
on 23-24 Oet.ober the Japanese evaeu.t
ialaad, the talk for remaining in occu
Altbougb pIam had f'nvlsionf'd the establish
01l1li air ta- there. a gt'neral o( ga
WoO.. Ill!JCNSitated polItponclllcnt of fhe proj
....... """'...
..., tlGpab&litiu.-,\.lthough ellem,'
\ion to &he OpentioWl .Iong the north COa8
limit.ed to the minor f\':lIistance at Good
1IIaDd, pft rilllul 'A'ert' iJl\'oh f'd ber.u.
ClOIIIroUing the 8C8 norlh of
Gw.e-, oouJd cut the .\.Hied lille of oomlll
boM at wiI.I and bring o,el'Vo'hehnillg fo
bear apiDK tbe 8"'''.-1)' II 011 bases, The ad
Ud 10 proceed with the idea of I
wtthdn.... For this fCll9On, lIirstrips
deued inIaod at Sapia and Killjaki lIud
ea\ablished at ('ach to aid ill tlie 0\
l'MiftmeD.t of OOlllltal troolJB if the eneUl)' /It
in force.
The eutire lorward mO\'Clllcllt in Nell" G
look adV1Ul1ap of prooccuP/lti
dae 8oJomoDa 1ihf.'h' till' grl'"ll"r of .
...., and (p'Ound 8tn:'llgth W'\ll ,'ngl'j.:('(l
inWDie o8'eDliVll action nguinst Ouudal
The of t.lJat Btruj.:l>lu IUld II diree
Tital beuiDg oot only on progrellS townl
11
bu., 1110 OD lobe defen8l> of thll 11'11010 Nel" 0
poeiUOD aDd the lfllCurity of Auslrll!ill.
.. adwn: lMlla oj
......_ ... : st ..... k .......
....... 7 h'" .. sal hi. I'.nd ..
_ .1".' crI
k8' dl
YlltllQ
---_..............
..m oflb8 ...._. 1m approsimate datoll
filII ....".. IN 1M ooordinilted attadt
by ... 8eNdII1Dd Divilliou. An
..t- ..... ol o-.t --
......t ?art MCInIIb1. uad 0eDeraI
.med _I 0MDb lo.,aKt" eoordiPattoo
allbe f..- eappd in &bt campaign.
Aft CIPlUl'iDl Kokoda, Seventh DiriBion
ooa&iDUNI. to puIh forwud alter quiclUy .rMdying
thP ImdiDt -np Ill" ... by 1l.-port. .uu.rt to
_ ... RIpPy .taatiDD. Tbe"",,- madf'
J'NOhIt.e -.Dd on dw hiP ground .t <>rt. and
Corari. WIIiW lIlto Sixtftonth at-.ekrd
frontally, !be Twl'llty-fifth Brigadl.' movPd apirMt
the 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 luF tuU<iN. TIN>
lIpIjl up. thf' main body m--
iBc die 1Mldf'Cl KIIID_ illY,.,. by boat and ralt
_ wi\bcbwiD(C rapid)y to th.. Buna-Gona am
Pvt __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 by
17 Nemsr:berbolh \be riVf!l' in
)MIMIi& ., .. 'J'bp TwtoDty-fifth
Bripde, lDOViDlf thr trvk lumbora-Gonlo.
.... beId lip on 19 NoVt'mbPr by eJ).l'my folWtl
__, 1 JIik> mutb of Oona. On till' rollowin My
... sm-tb Itripd.- OIl liMo b'&l'k SPputa-
Be ... _lind poeiu.. III milN
_..-
ElM.. die Gin. Rinr \be of tbe
0. haahed aDd TweotY-f!'igbth and ()np tum-
.... ad Twenty..uth Infantry RegimentAl from
PMM..a., _ completed by IIir tnDIpolt to
....__... -...... _.
... de cWea&.t &be ....-.- Il'
om ... Canri acre- &lie K__
............... me. IlDder Maj. 0..
EdwiD J. BanliDa _uaeed .. rapidly .. JIOIBible
....... 3l1li&. a, 20 ovember .... di ..
wi&Il ",.oe. OD the 8_
......... I .-Iaol -w..o(
0.,. _ tiDe nIIIUw iDIIIad. to
_......
n_ _.taDeo.. driY.ot ..
"..a-.woaId gain
'it 11117 Jautir,,'liDaollhil,lbippiar.
.................................
2201._
, I?S ........-.-......P-.
MOrf'llby ready for onward mo\'emenl. DD
detennination of the J.panese re'listance an
.trenll'th of th('ir deren"ive positions \\'('1'1' u
<'lItimau"j. Jo;I('IDenl.ll of the Twenty-fifth II .
on 20 pen('trated into Gona onl
withdraw of shortage of food and
munition. .\ ",lIewed _ult made no im
aion, lUla the initial efforts of the other col
were equally UDl!DCCl'>'ilful. A \'irtual stale
re'lult<'d on all rronts,
During thl' operation 011 Ihe Kokoda Trail
.I1.p&Jl.... remaining ill the Buna..(]ona aret,
pn'parOO I'Xmmely J;trong alld w('lI-d
defe,*",. takilll: fuU ad\'llDtage of the te
AlmOllt every AIli('(1 atlllck "'lUI
naITOW terrain l'Orridor8 along tracks leadi
enemy defen_ frequently Irn:nled on the oilly
land in WI' \idnity,
Ea('h I'llt'm,' position .....as h(>1d ..... ith r.
determmation ulltil d<'Stroyl'<1. (}Q". "'&;1
until 9 Oec('lllbl'r. Buna;'; daY8
8llnanandfl Oil 18 J.nuflry, Rill; the finnl Ja
remnants Wl'r(' not 1'11'111'('(1 from the arell until
22d. Tbe f'orty-first United Slates Inf
Oi"wion relip\-ed tbe b.ttle-weaf)' Australian
Amm('8n wliUl .Ild pusbed alowly up the
Guin('8 rout to :\Iorobe Bay, .....hich ....as octU
duri" thl' first w('('k in April U143.
'I'M Jinal JapclI1I8e rJifensirt
Japalll'lll' "'Cll-' not di!wourllg('(l by thl' (sHu
lb. attempt to drh-e lhc AIliCll from Ncw Gu'
rould 00 longer mo\'c b)' wu('r from
MVIJ)('(' t- at UP and Salam.u. 90
decid<'d to attack Port b)' .nother
land route through the mountains and jun
the iou-rior or New Guiuca. Willi, II prewar
mining ceot('r on the Bulolo Rh'er, wu the
to rontrol of inland routes from Lae .nd
maua to Pon ),I_b". ,
'!'be _my his lll.'COnd OffetISI,'e
the Papuan f'&lJlpaign "'WI COlllllleted.
hundnd and !oJ,('('ond H.,ogiment of tim Ifty
Oivi&ion arrivl'd .t lAc from ](ul.lllul rJJl the
of 6 7 JIIDuary. Its arri\'al marked the
Ibe JapaDfIM .ere able to operate I.rge .
eoQ't"oyw, within rlUlF o( Allied land-ba,;ed a"
wilhoul prohihitiH loss. During 6, 7, ,
JIIDUUY 1943 the convoy IUIII becn
t.ranllpor1ll WPfl' 8unk and two othl'r slllp! .
d_-.I from the convoY of twO light cru
. \[
loW' dl'8troyHS, and four trall!lporlB. ai.
Ibe troopa bad MeO 114\'(:'(1. One batt ICIn
_, to S_Bay to protect the eastern
bfgan a 5Q.mile marth through
abo, on th(' Bitd Hi\'cr, to Wau.
Al1lItralilln opl'mtillg
Il, dl'fended II1Is IlOsitirJn LIIL
J.uatrlliian Brigade "'8.'1 in
the- l'nemy illtelltion beeame
hindl'rro IIll' mO"emcnt, one
on 20 January. the other t,,-o
.ere d('lfI)'('(! until the 28tl" 1
t bcgan.
hrokcll 011 30 January and the
pushl'<1 back to b)' all
ult aJ"anl'e. llead(luarters
Division took o\'er tile operation
Fifl('('nlh Australian Brigade
along f1llothrr trail toward
cisco Hiver lIbo,'c Snlamall11.
in rront or th('S() IKlSitiolls earl)'
wilil other LrOOps could be
- led .tta('k upon Lal', 5.la-
and :\Iadang.
another enemy fl'gilllcnt or the
and sUPPrJrting troops em-
to r('illforcll the !,'lIrrisoll at lAC
the a.'lS8ult on W/lu. Ill'roll-
rating north of SI''''' Brit.in
Ind escorting destroy-Cl"S ill
on the afternoon of 1 :\laITh.
pted the lI('XI morning by
:ruth Air 1"01'00 and hits were
continued on its IlllJI and
Vitia!. Stillit on the nighl of
and medium bombel'!l, es-
&at.e8 and fighters,
on 3 i\larch disp(,l'lling or
COUI'O.\', OnlS olle d/llnaged
in 111(1 area on 4 ;..llIrIh; it
bombers.
co"ering the monmenl
....ere drh-I'll a,,a.\- by
The rJf the
the tlefrat of tllll attllPk 1I1
101l
C!lll olrensinl elTott iu tho
area, From I 1!U3 to
We l'nClll)' ",main...1 on the
y and tactiC1lIl)', rxct'pt reI'
kg b)' II('Pllnltl' and i;Iolatcd
imml'<litltl' illlllOrtance to the
uai\"l' df'IllOnStrutirJll thut thn
IDngrr rl'inforrll their advallced
of land-based .ircrafl
and llinall ('raft lit night.
'tt, -The course of the
11
".. kgan to change in other theaters u ".-ell
U In the Pacific during late 1942 lind
Ion Vlte ;\dlll. William F, lIal!l(ly, Jr.,
u e8tabhshed in the 90uthrrll SoIOIllOtlfJ
hIS trooJlS "'ere ell'8tlillg up the pockets of
on Guadalcan.l. Gen. o..-ight D.
ElSeIlho"cra rombined A.Illmea.t1 and
"'u the ,\:cis hold rJn NrJrth
Afrlc., and the Itu98ians ....ere drh-ing from Stalin-
grad. I'resident i{OO!I(lvelt, Prime
Churcllill, and their military met at
Casabl.nca in January to pl.n for 1943 operaUons.
Tbe British .ckno,,",oogro that the L:"nited St.tes
had a major rommiunent in this 11ft lUId prom-
i$('(1 full U5.inante Ollce GermMY "'8.'1 defl'8l00.
The I'r('jlidellt and the Prime ;"Iinister agreed that
lin should be undertaken in the Pacific
Thealer, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff ....ere
instMlCl('(1 to allot .dditional fOTftlll,
The Joint Chipf or Staff on 9 January leqUe!lted
General to 8ubmit pl.ns for the
capture rJf Rabaul. 1lii1 reply st.ted th.t the
Southwl"8t Pacific arell could not undertake further
offensil'e rJperatiollS "'ithrJuL a rel.ti'ely long
period or preparations. The 5e\'CIlth Australian
and Thirt\'-!ll.'rond Lnited Statel Diri:sion ....('0"1'
being ,,;thdr"l11 to Australia for TftGnstitution
.fter plotraeted mJplo)'ment in the I'apuan Cam-
paign. The Marine Di"isirJll was recuper-
ating (rom the elf('(;ts or Guadaleanal, and the
Australian Nil\th Division, which .....flS to return
rrom the Wt Nri)' in "ould
h....e 10 be reorganiud .nd I"e"fl)uipped berore it
could be emplo)'e<!.
General -'[.cArthur's t.ctical cona'ption had
Il.CIt been alterNI by the C\'enlll rJf the preeling
[I "'lI-i bllSl'd upon the Pnlb'Tl'flIlive
for.... rd nlO,'ement of air echelMIl to provide
fighter and bomber ro...er for surfllC'l' clem.l'nlf
upon d,e i!olation of ttlCh !lCparate
to the fiual IISIlIIUIt. "It is my fiMn rollncllOn,
I
,wrote an olfetlsi"e frJllrJ"'ing other
Ill' , . m' d
"
rJr attempted "'lth 1II5U IClllllt orce an
1110 h... ." bl , d
withrJut IlOllod pr('pBratirJn .....1 1/L.C\"lla.) ra. to
di;lll:;U'r." Withoul thlll btill' lactltal
. I actual t'OfObat had t.ught tbf
I( ca, I ,
"acilit lIijl"h Command that t ,e rap".'
('Olltellll'lall'<1 ill the earl" plaus "'118 unPOlll'lble.
,
d
"ro
\'ed to he II. d<'81M"ra.te and npa-
The ellelll)' III ffi .
ble fighttr, and hlld toll('(lItratl'd. su ICleut
",
to make the pl.nned eamp.JgII IrJng
streng
and difficult one_ _. h h A
Rabanl ,,'&;1 the headquaMeJ"S of the Elg t ......
I?,nloe.rs, and Ihe highfr prioril)' lI&igned to tile
Thealer, lim't()(! tl,e fol'1'CI! ",hkh could
I", 10 thl' I'acilif. Gelleral1illtlrertand thrn
/"tad till' 1lI'QlJ05l'(I plan and llrt' discu""ioll ("...n-
terffllln)lIl1d the of /IIl'allri for Iht ofTl'n-
.".... IlgI.IH.t Itabl.lIl. .\ comrnilttr au I.ppoim...-l
to rnnull(' f-.11:t0l1 and 10 I...<,("ertaill if il8 I"f'qUlff'-
menl could be I'l'(!ll('t'd. but ll'llOrtt'd lllf'ronelu_
'''0Il 1111.1 lilt' forrl'" ....1 lonh .. tl1' th(' mmimum
"Ilh ahirh th(' operalioll rould b... sUfl:tWfull,'
utltlenalffi. I.fteMlard 11,l' .Joinl Chil';"
of ...talf amlOllll('(>(1 til(' mllXlmum rrinforn>mellts
for 11)13. XI. ...1 w II()(...IMI aIM! ... ail.blt'
""oule! b.. pro\-itkd the I'Kllie neet.
rf'(11I0'l!1t'i1 2 homlJard,urnl jrroulJtl and Ihl'
.i di"i;;ions rould nOI bt and lhe
incrrll..<f' in otll<'r l.il'1'raft was limited to 860
fighter<. tnlll,porl_. all,1 light lind m!'<.lium
bonrllf'r<,
TIll' oUellsi\"C> "S pl"",,("(I. could flot be "",Ier-
t"k,'". Ge'lf'flll :-lulhrrlnnd, 'nIh lhe concur-
",,",," of the oll,,,r rollfer,'f'll, l'O'commt'mled lhat
the tusk for rc<lueed III tire seizure of the
SoIOlllon8, Ihe COilS! of Xell Guines 10
IIladallji:. lind ,\csterll ;"ell Brilftill, 111' al."O BUg-
gesled thaI airiields be on Kiri...-ina
lind Woodlark 1Il IIII' SoIOlllO,I:;"1 to compclLSal1'
for llot- shorlag"l' of 1)f)/llI)('I'll. TheM t...-o
ull()("("uJlit-d i.llan'h;. IIi> l.11d 165 milO'l!. ll""JIf'C-
lIwh. north and llorthf'ast 01 IIhllll' Bay. pro"idt-d
I(M,I.;ions from mt'diurn bombel$ "ilb
f'O,'er ("(Iu1d I.lllKk on ;'\1"'" Britain
and support Ihe "QUlh 1'lKilir .-ulll! III the
"oklmoru<. The JOlIIt (llif.f. of kCepted
both Il't'OOlfl\l"ud.1 ion;,. an<I on 29 IIlareb du-r.,lt'd
Gelll ral 10 rollducl tlll"W
OrgIJ"i:Uli".. uJ til( ff,,. ...,,NI Thr Orp.lll-
"lion of the R!lItlll....1 1...lf,.. art'll for III ram-
r:<ct>rdingly colllplr.\ tht
... nou- l'lltioel.l rompolll'1l1:' ....en' UlUted. for
lraif'ilfl! ."d larlirl.l but Il'mamed
"l'INlrall' and d",tinrl for.lI Olher llul'pOBt"'. The
,\ustnolran First a"'! Artlllt'>' and lhr
I"nil!'<.1 Stall" Si'l'lh .\nll-' ,,-err under the opera-
,
of SUIlp J 0
1I( "lince, " , . f ,.
. "",' "'11'<11 forces \\"ltlnn 1'II'lgOtl o"JC("-
ellrml' lIor be
'under llttllrk. Ground forces to
sent forllll111 b.,' wllter and air, IIr
I . fol"Ct'S ltJ Sl'lZI' lI!Hf estabhsh alf bllSt'8
"",'II or ,Ill' ','. Air AlIll nu,al
. 'h SIW.""""e- OJ' '
III I'n, ,"_ and Ihe
r I"l't's 1'''1'(' 0 "'. I" b'
o " '"''cess;,''' objl.'ttiles, llOutMl ,zmg J
N'llt'lIll" 0
airstrip Oil "9 Feb r, .
tl I 1'l1ll.1')'. III Inndmg ...ns modI"
IroUg, ll. nann,, hnroor entrance undl'l' adverse
colldilions bUL met little oppoaitiolL
rhe was quickl)' lICluld and a periml'ter
Six hoU/lI dtu the initiAl IlInding General :\Iae-
Arthur ClIme ashore and ordl'red the task forCt'
commander to hold \lhot \I'as Determined
Japanelle infiltnluon effor\,;] and coulllel'lttaeks
Wl'l'll repul5t<:1 dUring the ne.u 2 dan and on "
:\Iareh the !UI'pot'llng rorcl' arril'ed: 'Additional
were brought in a"d by 30 the fight,.
mg on Los Negf'Ol\ 11'118 o.-er. In lhe meantime
the attack upon roUtrnell\'ed on If; :\rareh
when an Allied combat II'lIIll embarked at. Hayne
lIaroor "'ith the missIOn of WilWlg the l.orengau
arN Thl' to.1' ,,u I'&ptUled Oil 17 :\Ian:h and
enem}' Ro!;;;um ....l1li o{'et"OOJJ\e on
2'; :\Iuth, all 0ll."niu.ll rell;;taDOe.
F"or II1IIny .... prior to the operation. heary
bomlH:'r /'IIKls had made the .\lomote suip in-
operabll' for the Japanew'. When Ihe airstrip
"'U ubsfql'nll)' taken. Ihe eJl'1'C1 of these bomber
rail!! clearl)' 'II'as ludiflllOO the OOIlIpiete
destruction of the 6eld inSlallations and the strip
lttelf. TI,e of enl"llty air illlff"l'eIltion
thi;< period III(';Iu'(l to Ibe dtgreeof neutral-
ization of t'IIemy air acltie.oo throughout
tbisatN.
The of th' oJX'f'&tion rompletaf the
ring of air _urroundinj: Rabaul and Tirtually
_led off all of Xr...- Uritain. TIle enemy 1I'a.;;
colllpclled to n"ly lIJM1Il and
dl"Slro\l'1' runs to bring in bare esseutu In
to Hollan(li.l 'II-as JlUShPd
farther ....l and all of the ,,atel'll lK-t'll'('oen Tntk
and tit' '\r... Guinea mainland w,./'t' ...ithin air
/'Ill"". :\ lorl' illll'orilont, it IIrfi;C1ltOO. all
lunit)' ror 0 rapid mO\'('llll'lltalollg the I'll'll' Gutnea
COIl!!t. _., r
/lrno /I.-on Z :\Iol'\'h, a tel'
Grnerlll Suthel'lond's reI urn from \\ash.llIg!?n.
the JOint Clrirfll of Slaff 15111100 0 lle'" dln'Clr,e
, ., ,,-. JlOth Grnertll :\llIcArthur and
WW" 111 . II--
Adllllral to dno.. 1111 I'ro
aloh' oW'l'llliOllS "itliiu Ihrlr ;M:'IllI'I:W'l'llrcas
, , . ,.in the 1.uzoIl.}ormo>lu-ChuUl
com
mnl
" ... . G'
b
. ,"A tH'" ,lI11l1 publJ,lred h)' enrrtl
o Ilc!I,'r. J II'
\IOI'\I.llillr III to this !'l'Il'U'tit, (trw ,
. , 'f' "r tIll' ,IIIIIJ tlo'll Gellerol SUllierlnml
WlIHnrNNI.v """
, ('''Iwra. liN I.
hud U . I
,
".,
"
rni,lit hi' IlQ;ISlhl,' tll IIcutrll-
I 1 , .
.U" , ,'," ""ture .Japll.IH,;jo"!ol,ld I", .." III
It<: I'M ,eI' II
'I
The next tin)'
an unntl'l:lilllil
te on Los Nl'gro9, ...ith
e ere" if thtl uren
to witllllrll"' if henl'S 01
1
1
108
'-
.vall')' il<1ll1ulron, ninlo
rt
NI
,
01 a IIl1\'1I1 lind nil' bornl",rtl
adjlleent (0 tho :\10"'016
pressed for combination
lines of ad"anee in the I'a<:ific
up the Xe... Guinea Cout to
Be .dnH:ated utiliu.tion or
majol' fleet base,
and lI'ansferriug tbe South
SOuth.....est I'adfic Command
Be claimed O,at this dl'Cision
..ar in the Pacific by placing
o 6 months hefon" lhe
8II{'ing 3 mOllths in n"Iching'
've, the Philippinell, and tlrat
"ed b)' the PI,ihp-
the drs seaSOIl.
...,;1 that all n,I')' long ralljtC
to the SouIJ''''e;;1 I'odfic
would be ll\'ailabll', 1Ila.-:-
targets diHrsifi('(1 and Ill-
\ion at a /lIinimwn, Soon
"'ere concludl'd ill Washing-
toe dllCision aerilll reoonrrnis-
and Los N'f'gros IsIIlIUls, on
to l'licit an)' re8llOlIse lind
.em)' 1,000rriSOll hod OOen Ie-
he (letllched aftcr tlrig Atrike
10 AlIPJlOI'L the SI'i1.lIl'1'
UJI wlueh "'liS JlOStponed frOll1
Tile oth('1' 1I11\'1I1 ullil8l1"ould
II cO"ering force until Ih('96
led and tl,rrr the ooHlbilll-d
for Ule IIltacks upon Eniwrlok
Ibl' Join.l Chids of Shlr, in q)l]:
Rrall'glc oonltuct of optrltiOllA
/'C(llIcsted th,. comment of
upon thr allocation of South
0 .... capture of KI,ifng, lilt
for thl' Pllcific Joll'('t in tht
Aftoa, lind the
range bombt'rs against the
IeI' in chil'f took tlrj;j 011-
Lieutt'lllll11 Gt'nl'ral Rid,al'l!
(laid of Staff. to Washington
.\Iac.\nhur's "il''II1I to the
.... from whieh the JapalU"ll' homcl81ld ro
hom.....
Tbia pen] coocPP" dil't'Ctl'<l ('om'um'lll
of the Japan-..nmdalA..1 lw ('
Paeific FOftN sod eoo.tinllO'd lld""n{', BIOI
New Oume..Netherlandll Indil..... l'l,ili
..by the South1RiM Pacifil.' Ol)('r
in ....e Cenb'al Pacific receiYed higlll'r priorit
c:a_ they _ell to promiaoe a Krt.olller l>08>'i
of rapid IMlvaooe knranl Japao aud her IlIaI
of c:ommumc.dou. to thl' lIOutll IIIHI of
M:quilitioo 01 IIir buM from .... hid, tll ('0
II&nkWic of Lt.e Japalu'lIO' Ardli
IDd of Jfttlipiw.dDg a dt'cisivl' l'nl'lIgl'lllrnt
... .....,. .....
b. of thn... G('I\('N!I1
fouDd &hal &he pU.aDftI allotm('1It of allll'hi
IIIIaippDg &0 hit eommU1d \liould not Iwnni
tiJIUDc 1ft fonh in 1lnttJ J{{ ...nidl h",1 lJ('('n
eattd on Ill" _ptaon lhat aU lllobil
pound. IDd lIayu (oml"'I of th(' South I'
-W be tnDIfffTlld to the SOIlO, ....e!l1 u
coadUllioD 01 &be BiNulU't'k aud SolomorL" (I
--
of llnw III .'11 1m
of aIJoc.ation of I'
opentiooa., IDd of Pacific F1l'l't wli
Soudr._.. I"aatk .alen had 10 1)(' first di;;c
"1"IIe P.o&e CIOIIIJDandeR and thl'ir I
Peulliubor. in I>.oPmtx-r 1943 alld in ,Jan
U"". to aL&eaIp\ \0 am"' at a tenllltill' 'lOlu
A\ dMt Ia1Ier confl'"",<'<' \tlmirlll Ximiu
o.-aI MacArthur agnol IIjl'Un thl" ...,.igu
clthe Paci&e FIfopt durinlf llr(' l'('riotl (If dl
IIIU'Ck oprn.cioo but po..tpolli'C1
fawn opl'I'atiooa until II 11I"'r dllt'. .\,1
IIIlitll pIMMlWd hi>! "Ian fur UIH'N!lti"lI d
1,," wtaidl projWd a" """/\Illt ul'"rr ""aj
AtallIIl the M....alill OIl 1 }OelorulIl'Y 10
lowed by..,. eaplufto of F:"i .... dok O],<)llt 15 l
PoIIowiDc tlaat, the", '11,'1'" tw" lilll"! (>1 0
.. lid. ODeeaviBiolll'd tllC lI('i1.ul'I 01 Tn,
161-. tIlelOUtbem on 1 Sl'ptN
..... tile P..... on 16 NOHmlwl'. while tlor
oIDed for tile b1P-i1lf!' lIf Tnlk to tli<' IW!tlr
-.It. apoa tile tarianall on 15 ./UII<,) ""I
11M CuoHbM on 15 .Iul}', IIl1d Ij,(' (I
Octo.. TOfMIat'l' tI,l'y 1'I,,"lIIl1n<'1I'II,1 \(l
1oin'"CbIsfI of St.tJJ' a !II'llll"IH'(' of "pl,rA
wbicb besua wi&h all IItlltl'k UPUlI ,1"pAII
and nan! fClI'Clll8 at Truk, un 21f 111 nrdl, A
.... _ .. of all II\"lIi],lhh' f"'1 ""1'1''''1'1
.... t .. witIa at.tMh('<1 liKht ']'.. n
"""_"U-
ka...dll ftI .......
.................. 01
... -... - .......
..........., ..., ......
..-_.._ .....
..... \.n'". OW
........ Ahd' ......
.......W .....,..
18... . n1 K&riIBI
...M.a .
..........
.... , :!
_...... h .m- BoIIaa-
...1It ' "\Bq AJoe. Kai. ...
- i Anr-s.. .......
.. 9IiIlI& _ 1..... 11M
..... p f h ... 'h.........
............... ....
1 PI I , 1 ntV. witIa a";,,,,,,, of
.... pnb for....,on
.............
..,.. hh md ,I .....
__ PUitI ,...,..111.
................. ..iI...
_ ...,..nIei. _II
........ 10 IIl(IIirM
: .2
........... ...,-. ...
leiIIlaufl _driYe
.................
D __
..... -." II. ..n .... I'QI to .......
...
"'-'-s"_ 1Uai INIOUIIt woUI
=;;:-.:- "'lip,! I 11&"
WI ...
ilia"'"
W __
till' phlll f
uirklr dUlllj:I"1. Alli'11
Ill1' 111,,1
.. lIod II ... 1101111'
011. Afh'r [wo Y"lll'll "f thl'
of I h, .J"IIII n'....
its IlId,; of 1J"I"n,,'. Th,'
'>l wl'r.. r("lllli\'dy
Irlliul'tl 1Ul\'lIllandinl:"
trool!!! had 1,.'-'('1(10,.1
whil.. formidable, 110
Ibp prOl<-'('I;OIl of hi>!
f'(] pr('jjUlOllhly fOf'vroll-'('lion
His lI;r arm no "-L'
e8'ecl;\'e support 10 I"s !tTOunti
his long HnM of ('(lrnmulli,.._
forc('!l lind ,\]]jet! !!ubmll.nnt"l
Illl'rellanl shipping 10 .u..11
",I'my fore",1 10 ..
\ ..... ....rg...., .ntl "".11
aDd Soulh "lIcific .ir ."d
ut"ll on Ihl' l'IlNm
Ft"I>nlar'\" 1944, wllil .. fUlu':"
_Jed. The ...i<h UJlOII .Ir-
lin<'fi or II
&dang, WI''''-aJ,.,
illl('nsifil'<.i.
fl w.. re d('5lro)'",] .ntl Ih,'
no 10!i&'S al Ih.. ad\"8nero
'ng IIII' ".&;> con'
al Ilollllndia ..... Alii",]
I rangt', and he witbdrew'
from Ih('Solllhwl'Sl I'.cifie.
which mll.intain",1 In 1111110"1
rontrol orr Ne... Bnta,,'
nol '>hllU..lljj:.....1 by Burial'('
f'()II\OY of JII.I,,,nl'!le mt'r-
broughl into lhr 111'<'11. during
il WIiS d''SlroS'''1.
PfU'ijic.- Th" .Jul'''III.... ,,llwr
pfl'l... til'l' nosisllll"... or 11Illi
ilijC II IIS1 hillj: "xl"l'pl ((0 bllul.
Ouin"'l rrom W"wllk 10 IIII'
'll 8,';1.111'" or Grl'I'1I Illl"lId,
("'A In'lu",l, on Hi Fl'lmlllry
\("(1 liS " lIl11ttrr of IOlll'Sl'.
lijl:ht '''111 til(" smllll j:"rl'i!'(>11
.or r,infont,.I. II",
ptUt,'c! T"I",,,, 011 1Ill' lIorlh
and mOI'ed 011 10 ('''II('
IItOlIl of thl' 1'1I1'1ll.\" hlld I\ith-
Peninsula to Ihe east.
,\lthOUl(h for, I I r, .
"
, 0 \11... ""11ll' lluon
II nlld il I' . " I . .
J) I " Illlm ,,111'\' III \oH'mlwr
, 1111.1 .1"1lI1,, ...., AllIrd'lroop.. in .w'
(. 111111"11 "It' I . .
I
' .' II Irlfl!-t III ,11rI11IT\' a lid
.lllrt'l1 1111'\' , '" .
. 1110 "'/!,,, JIIII 011 ;1 '\I'til
.\1",[111'" 011 II "',' '" ' ,.. II'. I, all' , I..!l'r.
1111' 0!'Up..1I011 or Emi"," 1.llIlId on .\1.1'1"1,
',?
1I1
1111't",t Ihl' 1"ollillOll all.1 'I",i,...J,'llll.'nl of
Ka\'wlll!" 11.1,,1 It.b.,,1 Ihl' ....u.m' ....-illulr"w
l,,fol'!' Ihl' landin/i:, _nd Ihl' .11,,'$ jl1Iiu",i ,Irat<'gi,.
obl....II\1' w,ll,out l'OI>l. III Ihl' Ill ... ntmll' Gf'T)I'...1
\1.,Arllmr ... for Iii...1Iuk upon
lIolland,.. Thill rontl'lllpl.I<.'(1 ., -/lull b" 1.0
.\11,,,,] d"LlOn , till' IUJ:'-I Opt"... ll(In .;W tilt'
101l1.,,-t IllllVluIIlOU mo,,, JI'I Ill.IU,....1 b_t" 1I>e
.... 1 P.rlfir .A'll
Thl' objf'<"l1\ " ".... ...; 11111.... from ('0011"'10'4-'"
lh(' pn"",,,,,1 U.... , ."d 4!oil milt':< (roo;
('.p" ('r<'lUl. 'o()ulh of Fin""hhdt-n. th. adU1l<'1'
,1.l!lnl: IWilnl
In Ih.. ('I'III...II...ili....\llu,i forr,,,, "i'l'!' m....ling
ill"lfl-'('!l\'1' during tlwit ..I.-.n('(' throlJl...-h
th.. \I .... Kj.lrm ,\1011 w..........un..d on;;
..I,rualJ' .tt"r.; of fij!hllll/l: _\11' oppo;;ilion
".&;> btn,,* of IbP ur,;rupllOD of air-
drolllH .nd r(lfIlllllIlllCllioru- b)- pJ'l>limillary 1&",1
Ind ...rrit"f buoMl hornblllj! .,wl .trali'l/I: ... itls 8IMI
11 .-.1 bomh.nlru"nl 'I'll.. .,.""n..... .,r llfon in
li,ilI Mn'a ....a"j ill .hall' ' ...nl ...1 to Ihl'
a,tio" 10 th" Nluth 8lWl "outh",.1 J'.eifir ."'"
aUae,,". UPOII It.bllul If Ihl' no," of .ir Il'ill-
fOrn'lU"nl 10 Xea Bnt.i" .mlromr;: I.kl'll
/iii 1'1'11<'00", 11,,n' .ould I", rt'L>OlI to belie"f"
lloat Ihe to n'l'lare !'I>-'
all,l mainl.1II .ir imporlant b_
W'Il;; .hllo>l Iluxh.u,ubl,'. Thl' "'Vtlll"f' or K..ja-
lelll, hoaHrr. Ihll Uabaul pn......IlIe<1
dio,c,'pll\"l'pIClllrr of Ill" 0\"('1'-11.11 .Inn!!lh, .ntl dIal
the Il,'mrs de1l'I1I1IIMII"" 10 11(11<1 VOO;ltlOlI
hihilll,\ 10 d"rpml ,I..."lun,.
Th,' IIHI ill \ilIO.... \OM. rapidl)' r'J,lulll"'1. Ortll'r$
w"n' 011 F,IJfllur.\' 10 1m' pan' JIIII.IlS for thl.-'
ol'i,un' of 10
Thl' 1I1I11I,110Ildllll.'" "I'rf' lII.d" 011 II
lInd Ihl' "nllrl' ilIOn h.l. IIw
'1'111"" 1l""'"llt'" "'I'n' .... hy Il_ carrIer
I ikl' a,&.:alll$1 Trllk 011 III alltl I. hbrllllr.' III
',' , _, ","I'r"ft IIIld 10 "llIp" 1I",'n' ....1
. ,,_
., , f ,. SI"lI"; ,,"'I,luIH"'...,,'t'll
"'llllIO"llO' ,. I
,
"
" . ,""'r,,'I' forI''' 1,,1 S"'1mll 1I11t
, II I'. " I f I
Ti;IIIIII "11IIIII,,,IIIIj: IIlIollwr tOO ",r.'"rll:.1 1111. IIrl It'r
I.rulltnl,&.: J"lIal """
( IUolianJio (lpt'ralion.-lIo11sutha was the priu-
.... C.pe Cn-tin, and lIIIIlfIult TI'II
'"'"' bl'ld on 8 April. SW)l!' IHrt' luk"11 10
t."tea tbt' tPl'PlY tb.t Ih" attlU'k upon I [Illl
01' Wtwak .M projel"tl'd" Th" mOIl
north from Vitiu S.nit to lilt' A,hnimlt " I
tlMon.-..t, ....d fin-.Dy .,lItl. 10 th" h"
While tbiB roaw. ... 200 mi\(", 101lj!l'r 111
diftd. m. it gayt' '- thll1('1' of rllrly d('t
.... Pft""l"Dwd ttwl'ntmy from drfinitcly drt
inc thl' ob)ediYt. Tbl' COII\O.\"M w('re p
by the Btovl'fllh )o'Il't't lind by
euritn 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 nnt dlY Allied fort'l'f! land
TaMIunrnb and Humboldl while
Anw.d toIIIbat tHm ('I.plun-d Aitall(',
". _aim...,.. mati.. umll'r l'Ol,'r of
aDd air boUIhU'dPH'llt and compl('ll' Il.('li,..1
eul"pl'iw was I.('hi"Hd, Xo mort'
klkl!'ll was I1K"I al all." IMJint. a,
...... u\"al or air Itla('D ill fOlTr ('Irnr
I.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
awdiateb'. 'J'bp troop!! at 1I0llandia III
'I"irt..o,- malTh 10 Ih" lIin:lromr
__ or liar ro-tl." ,'alllllllil!lI
hamaad CycloP'l 81riJl'l ,,(>1'(' ""1/..'<.1 by .
Iarcet from Humboklt Ind Ih" lIol1l1ndill
by ... from Tuahm('rah. ,\('\ion lhl'rt'
.. Iimi&ed to buntinlt do,o-II 'lCau('1'('(1 Ja
_lL
1IJ 17 Ma,.. ftKbt fighter onr at
...droP. and onl' !Mlu.
........1iIIg from til" 1I01l.ndill, C)'c!Ollll.
TuIi IIIripL y..mtAon and Iltllld: bomhrl"$
.....,. .aart.ed thI' lIOfwning of lho dd"l
W"Biak mprrparation for II\(' Iwxt
s.r,..i_OII ef romll'llul,i,- Durinlt 111l' .
......... tile I."" ..... devl'lopillj.: II mlljor I
....... ....:1 IUppI,. hue at :\lllllU8, Ill'l'llllll{'
... JIeM, ... to 01"'1111.' oul of
........ iDu. rocommNldt'<.t Ihut it hi' I
.... bJ' the South Paeifk G"lwrlll .\hl"A
tIIiIllJIIf'lItion and R+t'llll [)I'QW......
I
...... fII. t.be Soulh I'm'ilil'. 1"'yOlid I
lor Ioe&I dl'fl'nlOl' Ilwl fOl' Ih" up.'rut;'
III ., "-. hi' ....1l1[00:1I1".[ to Ill,' :Wll
lh
--
.......... .loint Cbi"f& of Stl,lf
........ :hciIe Couunaud would be broke
t (01"(:1'8 <Ii,'idN! lH'lwrr" "
tn.l P "f Il'
un 'c. Th(' lIlUill UU"ll[
to WIiS to 1)0(' Itud il8
.art! to th" AdmirBlti"s aud
Irt,,('uth Air Forel', Ih" [V
tl\l' Twenty-fifth. Thirll_
FOrl)'-third. Nin"I\"-lhi-' -,
,
. ",_JIl
", Il us the Finn Iln<l &-.:ond
tell'"! !ll'r\'i,(' und SUppo.-llIllt
conlrol of G('I\{'ra[ .\la..Arllulr,
... sollie major unils ,,-1.;'-11
tJu. Southwesl Pacifie to fill
&On'lIth Fleel, th... I '\[.rillt
&hi' tlll\'alair forces of the80lllh
to the C('nll1lll'.cilic,
l"nil<,<l Stlltl'S .ir and gn:nll\d
t I'adfk al'{'a lind III(' n.tutt'
cau:;ed GNI('rIll .\1.eArthur to
d.. The Far .\ir
und..r General KI'III\('"
liS of til", Firth .lId Tlli;.
1'b(' XI\- Corps, comlllalldal
"'. Griswold. ''-'S !Iet up
Ihe control of G"ueral
theairlllld na'111 i"slal1&1101
Nt... Britain-Emirau a'\:ls.
f'orce WllS gi\'ell Ib(' sall\"
Guinea "'llSt of Ihe Ramu
"-"heloll of the Eighlh AmT.'
on 21 June 10 lilke o'"er part
and taclical duties of thl'
was not fomlalls l'Slablished
er ditl not assume com'
,-
plia"t'" "ilh th" ,/Oilll
v.. of .\Iareh 19-14, G...Tll'ntl
"""is;oll of his n... no I'lall,
in June af",r 1I011andia
wbile !llallS well' beinp: CO!l\-
ua1 operations n('('C!lSIIry for
S,,"' Gll;l\"1l ('06sL The
1'('\.iSl'd limelllb[c for 111 ...
llh(,rlI OIM'ralions. IIl'ltinp:
UlVllII;On dnlr for .\lo!"lllai,
mrlud" the general 1,[lIllS for
Philipllintl [sllIuds. It WM
t llnll reoccllplltion of
an ll.Ullck on ForrnOSll "till
of dLtl I'ndlk would
of Staff, Allmirul
BaIIv tbal be "'88 I'rellllrell 10 eX
........ willi a tllrget dute of
.......... Ill."' ....
LIIer , ...
.... c..nl -. 01
III "f .,.11, Mb+....
fI ...w.........
.......................
...
..... .....t.a.hpeDfW'
...... Mray CIII. aad .-.u Ne...
BrhaiD ill u.. Solo-
-. \1M "',-11I Ma:/ ..... U-
aM AiIapP ...- _ .. OWDN
_ 10 ... Jilsnre beta_
,...... d ID01'eIlMGl bJ-- .... air MIl bfton
..... n .... __kid .tNIII* .. 100,lJOO: \bill
..... to dw 100,000 kiIW. dunlll 'I"ioua
I ,.... 0 liPWII Idl pp ""'
M&uJl'f*lK'WrlW- ....... J........ W pt
_7,-1oirpIa.- aad maR1 pspmrarrd piIo..
... ""'" S.nI __ bad ....fftIll 8fIriou,.
............
__t elUPP'IlJ w.,. ......11'01.... 1'bPir main
.......U1' WI lIDlourlwd but It .....
10 -.e thrill al will IJarUl,: thit period thro
to&aI -.J.lW -ul'fft'd by dw AID. 1D dMd.
..-ltd. and m app"ui.-a.Iy 30.000.
u,..ptNI1oJI adqftl."f'd dati' for lhfo
Lt7W oplhtion ..-:-.... brft_ tfM. ,'""'"
..........' .-ipfd kl -u tM Yap _<ilt
__,nIabI. 10'" Pui&r For thl!'
LeyIe ......, nanl""'" ",10protWd
WIth a"'"1Ni__:oiI&Il "-and DaI.con tiM'
Lr7W_ 011 10 Ch1otNor
NGrdMm At.... ...-aitulftl
_ftI f_ noibforftld b,. .. bonowM
......C.-In.I PariIKo bad tbe- __oIlaad
.... dwlllOQlMl fOr-OIl '-"we __Palo and
SID RiaaIdo on u,v '"-' CftIIIIld Ior'tIfII .....
...... of bfo Anay tolJlll1ahlW bJ 0.-.1
I".... no W &aM. far Irrd I'" Uliflll Growtd
t.upt.i: IUpport for IIw stWa Arm, ... to I.wo
.......... bJ dw -lJ f"rNa..! ArmJ twn'i",
o pi. MlIxrntiamo f'rbf'lon 01 l"nic.d
BIas. 8enifts 01 Suppl, l'OIWII&DlifId by
..... ...... c..., OplHftl MKArthur'
..... cWef....... To GtohenJ c..., aim
,. the rJIIll*IDillt, of ll&abb-binr and dnftop-
... _ '-OIl t.e,lelad in tJw Pbilippm.
ID ..w.t.ioIl to Tuk F0ft8 78 and 79, Admiral
KiDIWd, m....t.. 01 thlI Allied ''7 lad thP
8cweD&Ia P'I orpailed Tuk Fon'e 77 whiclt Itt>
hialIIII OlDlIMnded rot the Lelle oJM'ratton. Thp
........ ItrikiDr fO/'(lP containing II'll'" with
INMINpoww IIld IUpport ea,.biliUM. Admiral
I1bUid raanl fOftlll, by the proVlII01llJ of
0 70, wen dlJ'e('\ed to:
......... aod &UliIh the laadma: 10rt'f8
tilt opINtisn '" proyidiq air
prol,tion fot .-olwoy!! IIlul Illl""] fon'
t1it('('1 ait for IIIt1 I'liitlillj,t
ffit'lItAI by lIuppotl of till' Thi]'tl FIe,,!.
(d Deny ,Jdpllllcse fl'infQn't'Jn{'1I1 of th\'
art. from &mdr, W,'!II('rn lind I
l"alllf'm :\Iindllnllo IIt,ll.
(to ('lear Ih{' ll,ljll"{,llt Surij.("IIO Stillit or
hooslill." 11.....1for{'{';l .
{tl Trallsf{'r 10 th{' .\lhl't.1 Ait Fore<'ll tl'e In'
of dirO'{'t air sUj,porl will''' 1011l1-hllS<'t1 fight(.
liKbI bombers ....t... ..1 in tilt'
Thl." Thinl F1<'t't, 0l'f..'lllli7. 1 t,lt'lit"RIl.I f
Lrvl .. in\"-,,ioll;; ll!I TIl!!k For, ;II) mul"r .\d
M;whl."r. \\a" l!irecloo 10 Ifi\'" "lrlllo1--1(' '11
priot 10 hlndin" and dOS<.' OUPI)()rl ,llIrinjo: ,
inp _\dmiral :\!it:;eh('t 1"..1 four I)()\\{'rful
ing fol"t'f'>; .....{'h rolU;ISling of f&$1 nrr1('I'l!. (,Il,
and the 1l{'....l""t An1l'rl"llll hllill
Th_ rangro from till." R)'uku!! to :\lindan
tlU'8.ltgir support of Ih{' l.l')'I{' hlnding. !ll
Jap-nl.'Sl." illl...... Ualioll. 1,llIn<'8. am! "Urfll("('
and rrippling Ih\' .Jal)llIIt'Sl." ..aINll.Jihl} 10 r..in
and lIUpport hi. j.'llmSOlls. And I
lilt- .. beat"hl'll ,,'l."rt' oul2;i<!" Ih\' ranf... of .
land and ba.."'l'd plal\" support. TIl!!k Fo
notuntrod 1(1 Ih\' art'a prior to 20 lklolJ('r to
In thr dm.r-I air supporl of lI__ulting lroop!'
.u Ibt- primary ...... of s<'>\l."nlh f
CIflM"l"8l K\,nnl."\'s Fllr ,\ir Fo
t'ludiD(t: Ihfo fo'ifth' and 1'hirt.-omth ,\ir FolTt't
IJH. Rovlll All>ilralian ,\it FOI'<;'.... r('((; ....d
of prol....tillJ:" thl." r\,lit and !IOII11wMl
.m.ionA indudt'd:
(01 Xt'Ulralizing, in ('Qt)nlination \\ itll
Fl"". bOlIlill." naul llll'! Illr fon'<'l! witl"u mn
IIaP Pbilippill<'l! Al'<;'hllll'htj.'O. tl", \\ .,.Il."nl "
and Mindanao an'as. IIml from 1)-Iln)' nUll
t'OVPring !h\' mo.-.'ltwul of nll\'al fOrl'('" lind
landing and <Iullll('<IU(,,,t olll'nilioll!!.
fb) A.wn.ing ,lin'!'1 IiUIIJ)()rt of OIH-l"lIt I
atl'lI at 11", "lIl"1i"n prll('lil,"blt.
aftt-r tbP t'llLal,lifl.llltll'nl of lighh"" aud
bomber. in tJu. an'l(,
ContinuinK th. 11('!!tI'urlion or I
and air fo('('... alltl shippiug- ill tlH' ,\rurUtlI
C..J\'bN Sea ar.... IIn,1 d. n),iug WI(' or thr I
I...ilitiea m Ib" Sulu Ar('hip(,lnw-o 10 Jill'''
(II) Deatroying IIOfl.till' illlitnll>,lion ,"ld!HI
of raw mllt.l"rial.. in Eu!!Il'I'1l
lodlel.
During tJuo. Pl'rio,1 frolll 16 .'i"IlI"I"llI'l" t
Oc&obP.. thl' Allied Air .1''i!Il'Uy",1 Jill
m.ta1lationa in Ih. C(tl\m "rN' "1Il1 ceI('!>""
th I)lllrol" 0\'1'1" IhO!l<'llr('IIS; Ih(,
t" Air Fon'('8 l'ompht{'l\ d
t
,-
ion fll<'ilili,'>l 111 Illlhkp;IPUIl
Itnl'Z-l'(I; lIirdrolUl"S. {"Qnuuuni,
hlltoor lind l)()rl fll r iliti,'8 ill
\\"('n' Th..
AlJi\'<1 Air For{'e drort UIX'II
r(>(II'I'l'd llll' Xil'llOU('i/' Ul"'-
bul 111'-'0 mislf'<1 th.. (u..nw 10
II in Ihllt rt'giOIl, -
po"I'r WlIS 1IIlI{'MI",,! ,,1'''11 thO'
from hur";,'('I1.I' ..
.. k in Bu:ol
and Ill."\\' S('lIr.. h..,. in a WillI' al'('
1101' I'lIlaus. Chilla_ha.....l air-
nih .\ir Fotcl." 111'1\' damaging
&-in(>(1 S4-'areh o\..r Forlll051 and
_.
rgit"ll of .1Ith<"S(' air and na"al
al onl." objl'Ctiv('-t'Slahlishing
lIr's lroops a"horl." al l.(')tl'
_iglll't.1 Ihl." landing fot{'ftil "'''s
th" I .... ::-ttlil
air, ll/Inll, and base- for
Soulh\\-(';<t ParilicOIl<'ralions
Phililll,ill(,;;. Thl." 1in;1 l,haS<' of
, l."lIlsil\'<.1 dl."arillg Ih" Isla'Kb
1(1 111l." IlIllili aliSlIuh 1IJ ordl."r 10
n" for shillping. Thl." ",11Il
10 sei7.l." (Iinlromes aud ba'll'
plain of 1."'.It" lind 10 ol",n
SlNlit8 at th\' norlh..m and
of th" island. ""'Il'-"-'"Ii,d,l.
Illy 1l11l11IlAl to lak" 30 days.
o\'"rliUld and
hoslilc for("1"" from !IOuth
n"llIlIilld.r of 1...I'\,t." IIIHI hOlh
stNlit, bl'tW('{'I; l....ytl." IIIHI
Ut\' lll'hctlll." of 1I10ueu"er IJI.gtlll
of l7 Ocloll{'r 19H wht'll out
their ll.PI'l'Ol\ch "IIIno
lwltring thl." Sixth HOllb'l'r
Dinf.'ilt, SUllilln, alill
ill 1...,,,1(' Gulf.
t blllHdq miglot ("01lt1l1l1
tiIIit\'l'uft gUllq, >HILI rlHIf,r
'<1 Ilinding" Inllll<' Oil
on till' 17th 111111 on Ilorn'Jllhol1l
Wands 'H're 'l"ickl.,
dalll't Ilullifi"d.
ba..d .. llllt of lllildilig lWlld,,'"
tanL rNlr '11't'US on I",}'I('
Isiolltl 011 18 Octoll{'r lind contillu\'<l
IlIUlbllt('(1 throul(l, Illth. On 2{l Oelober th{'
1':tl.""SL IIlllllllillg of u""ol llSooIIult ahip!,iug lind
\\arsh'llil '' .. r up 10 thal dall." in Ihl."
Paeifie War !lIllII'd boldl)' into l....}'tl." Gulf.
I t'oet<I",1 I,}' ullenaified 11111"11 allll carrier_based
oltCtllft I>ornbllnlml'lll of Ih.. lll."8ch'-"'l, thi!! forc..
liClIl ashon' in ll,c Ihe Sinh l:nitell
Sial"" .\nn}, 1\\"0 coql:l Or four dinsioll abrf>&SI,
final slrl' on Ihl." long road back had be..n
takrn,
promISe "I "hall h'l'lnl," prollouneoo b}'
:\la...\rthur ;;0 many monlhs l'ariier
\\Illi f.. lfillN! -
TIll." mlm a...... lt locgan at 1000 on an 18 mile
froul bet,,....n I>ulag anti San Jose, t,,'o small
011 til.. t:astl."m of U>\tf . \boUL aD
hour rarlil."r a coml>.llt'llm landl'ti'on bolh shotl!S
of l'allOAn Slran, to Ih.. -.th
OPI_iuon al thl' landing '-che;; 'tI"as llttili-
gihl... f iNI ca"uahil.";< tl'SUltt\l1 primarily from
a fl."" ,,('Il.plarl'ti mortar and artll1l."ry pil't"eli that
",lllain",1 un:lil""O'('(\ h)' tht prehminary air and
na\"81 bomban!mMll, B)' umlaflemoon Tt.t::loban
alrfil'ld. till." unportanl ...riy had
.......n o;('CUtf'll. and t1ll'tt hId !>ten an ad\"8nn'
inland aboul I "Wl) againn mlllOr opposilion.
In Olhl."r sIOr.l, til{' l"nil<'t1 StaUS forces
ad"alleN! again,,1 or no resistann'. On 2J
lktob<'r, Dulalf a",lro<ul' ,,'as takmafl"t tepl'lIing
a millOr r.lt'l1I' n'lUlllrrattaek.
In M't"ldr of the 1i""1 landing!!. unloading \\as
!IOlI1l'lIhal d.. t<>rrlun 10 the rear
of one b<'ach. StlOratlic l."nl."Ill)1ll0rtar and arliU('I')'
iiI'(' harn,"'l'I'lt the fast disrlultg<' o. LST ..argo and
arliUl'r\'. H"wcnr. llSilllull l'C11I'10tls romplrtM
Ihl." UI;IOlldiug fifth da}' afl{'r the Iandmg.
..n- \\Ctf' "am,d, but lark
of UlllOlldlll1( l"'n>onnd, snipt"r.l. ami rllclll.' mort.ar
fin- "N'!' the major to ,Its-
eml>arkntioll of lll('11 o."ll11ot\'rlol. ;':one of these
lin. 'l"irk (o;;l.iIbhslun"llt of b<'aehlo('llds
Blid oll\lIlIr,>;o inland. .'
Th,' IIUlICk oftl'r coll;;ohdot,on of the
f
' , I "'8 Bf'hll'\'I'nll'llts. local
Ir'>:l 'II. ." ',0
('oUIlI,.mttll,'h 'II'r(' otr III a "n'!ls Oil --
,
2'
Stst,'>l f"J'CCll III tI'e,)
,"1l v<v' . !J'tJ
1.0111' 1"ll'llly J
of till' thi,,1 dny 1,lrllO:lt 2,000 ;':IPI,ont'S'-' hSt
"
" I Tho rW"t dny a dr"'e begllil up t.he
. ,'1 I ,IS
, ""te or 8uII J'UIIIICO SUlIit, 11"" (I ?t,',1't Ull ,
" II e)' un<
mto t .
, , ,orlll
wllnt
IUld "I',tward. llea"y
dm,'!'tc" uttac s II
,",n 11''' not enoounlt'<l althoul('ll ill 1::('1\
enemy apppal't'd mort' f1ewnnin('d.
For thl' first f_ f1aye of tho ilw"sion,
from ('IIIl'Ort earril.'l"lI of the g.,\llnth fu
air IIUpport of llniwd State!l groun,j
On 24 OetobN', hOWf'ver, all
oo.:-ame absorbOO in th.. def('llllC of thl) 11
area and in the attl.(kll that turned buek thl'
naval fol'QN. Hl"avy aircraft 10S8CB and
damage to the e.oort earriN"ll ill lhis eng
dictatM tbat the carrier.bll.llCd plones th
lIhoukl be employed only to the 0
llI't'8 and not to furn.illh direct 1mpport to Llw
troops. A.Ilh.lanrl.bas....llighter uircrd
meDcOO op&l.tiona from Tatlohan Field
October, Navy cani"r aircraft eontillllfd to
the area WNI of Leyte until 29 Oetolwr.
the period 20-29 Oetob..r, llwse carrier
aircraft in aerial combat tlcstroYf'd 200
ain:lraft while lOlling only 10.
ClotJe 8QPporl dQring thl' first d
operation W8lI exceUl'nt. Soon, hO"'e\'
tbre.t of KamikllU' dtllltruetion to Hftval
pmlPDt demanded IlO great n proportional
mitmNlt of aircraft that 1I0ne wos uvuila
clOt!E' ground support. Jo'urtlwr, becaullt' dc
menl, logiBtic 8\Ipport, and airstrips for
bUfld avialion we", 810wer ev<.'n tha.ll pla.l
vUtQally no close supporl to
fOl'Cftl w. avaiiablP lI11tilaftcr lIm dedsi"e
01 tbl" operation had plIllllCcl.
The Commander, Allied Air Forces, l\SSUlll
mlMion of dirl.'ct 8upport on 27 Octohcr. I
alter the COIDDll"nCemt"lt of tlw It()tion.
thiB time heavy raina bl'gan and the Jcn,jo
ot airfie1dlI wllllII.'vl'rt'ly by Iloor d
and unaalilfaetory soil bllllCs. Only 34
had ooeupWd Taeloball airstr;11 by thc cud
month. With thiA trnall force the object;'-
... 110 _0 dNeDded tkaL the .Japullesc
forced 10 eon&oe the majority of their nir
tioDl 10 night alt.aclut. 1I0"'I'"er. the fore
DO&lup enough to d..reu,] tlw ohjreti,'(' II
to Itt'"., e1oIo IUpport to the lightillg troO]lS as
B7 the eodofOt-tober Unite,1 RtlMS fore
__a JOUgb lIqQIIl1l bounded hy TUllua
Du1II Oll tho OOUt and ODj!;allli 1LIid Bura
till edp of lA!ylfl Valley. In the
..., W.mned "Nt Iii miles inlnnd
..... bolla me. of till' Rnn Juanico Strll1
W loIUMdofld atenBive pitroling ill sout.It\!.
..... AD IAIvaDce to Crigarll WlIlI bel;(lIH'
'llrllflwlobold, lind in an effort to "tuVI' fltr
thero forces, tho Jllpancso
11'11.1 westwllrd totheOrmoc-
ThClr determined reinforcc_
ed ono high point on I
(' convoy IIrrivcd at Orrnoe
th('ir Le.vlo had
m 1>lintlllllno lind from llll}
tbr"w in II vlltcrlln division
I.uroon to I.eytc, whkh hll(;
the Pllilipllin('S from .\llln-
r the enelllY ha.d mo\'('{l aL
into Leyte lIS rcinforcements.
t him enormously in men
ping. On]O NO'ellll.>cr
the bulk of II. division from
ay an l'lltire Jnllll.n,'$C (:OIlVO)"
with an cstimll.ted lOS!:!
air intervenlion of I'nCllly
Japolll'Sll to Sl't up a burgo
n Cebu Islawl slul OrlllOO
hlollds in n IllSt dCS]lerute
d reinforco his Lryte gurri_
efforts of Philippine guerrilla.
aI units dissipstrd his IIl..'lL
COffil1lunit;lItion.
tbo dnily struling p"trols nnd
emeny nirdrorlles on Xcgros,
Visnyll.s, southern Luwn,
dillrllilted Il.irdromc fll.cililies,
nel !!O tllat tho numerically
force nover obtuined nir
object nren for Sllllicient
daJl1n.ging results. ThllY
to develop their Ksmiknze
ing to l\ dut1b'Crously 8Ue-
shipping wss then tho
t.
Qed Ilelay in
the l.e},to nren, Get1eral
ed to reqlH'l!t thE' retentiolJ
'ers in Philipllille ",uters.
almost an entire moulh
planllcd. 'l'hc fle('t cnrricrs
air rllids on enellly-hcld
25 November; it shared
of 1"lelJl.V eOIWO}'S inlended
tor thllnuack on the 25th,
Jl'Wet sll'ul1led out or the
u.... onll' method Gellcrnl
ter the' cnemv'8 reinforce-
er harMS the Jnpnnese
"
COnvoys nnd . t . I
I
111 er-l,S and shipping destroy
eJitroy'er c "
8IJ . _BCOrts, and motor tOrjlCdo boatll of the
f
\ enth Fleet wcre sent into Cnmotes Sea west
o 13'1" ,
. esh es lllterecptmg and eliminating
shipping, the American naval craft shelled
rm.ot: and enemy eOlleelltrnliolls
lI)stu!latlons along thc "cstCOIl..'lt.
.\lellnwhi!e: t"t)ntinUOlls raillS were hampering
g
ro
l1l1d acll\"lty Il.nd enem}" opposition stiffened
e\'er}"where lIS further a.dditiolls to JapallClle
ground forecs were made. The Japanese strength_
clled the defense of the Onnoe Corridor thus
ohluining time to rCj,'TOu]1 Iheir foreel and to
pre]larlln counterattock against American troops.
The enemy's reinforcement program continued
dcspite heavy 10SI;eS ooth en routc and while
unloading. ric Wll..'l delermilled 10 hold Leyte aud
the I'hilippiucs nt aU costs. Ilis intent on
Le.vte "'lIS to rNain the OrmO(: Corridor lind the
approllches thereto.
In thll face of this determined enemy effort,
Gener..l MacArthur also found it neccssa!}' to
hring rcillforcemeuts into r"'yte.
Ullited Stales ground forees read,ed Pinllt11o-
pecan, at the northern end of the Orrnoe Corridor,
carl.,' in No,'cmber, seizing CarigaTB. town and
CUjlUOCltll on the wa.,'. .\fler cOllsolidatinl;( their
positions, these forces hcgan 10 attack !IOuth
towurd Limon, \1l.1cucia, und Onnoo. A rrin-
foreed United Statcs division I>cgal1 a
eoneerLed I\(taek southwest from Ihe Jaro-Cari.
gum road toward the Ormoo Corridor. Jumping
oIT into mountainous terrain equal in dillleult}" 10
an}" in the Southwest I'll.cific, the ea,alr.\, had to
reckon with bOlh tOlTCntial and a "'ell
planned enemy defense.
another United States C$\-alry lomed the
arduous dri"e through the wild, mountainous
country which eontilllled well into DccemlJ.er.
Unite:l Statcs infant!}' reaehCll Oil the
Call101Cll Sea, in .. ell'-
l1lenl.s continued to probe enell1.v ]lOSltLons ill the
mountains wcst of Dagami nnd Burll.uen. B}' the
251h of the samol month the at!ltCk III the central
. mO"in, westwnrd in a serlC9 ofstrollg ]llltrol
nreu, . I .., ,
. 1",1 run inlo deepl}' I1ltrenC H:u curl1l.
""lIOUS, . I Id' I
r 'fhe Japallestl were tryl1lg to LO In on er
a counterll.Haek. 'fhe.v gatherc<1
infantry !"Cmllants nurl placed them In
it
V
'. .ell to guard southwestern
the Ormoc Corridor. One Ameri:
nppro. I o"ed llOrthwestwltrd from Dal;(al11l
ClIll reg-uncI! m 'tions and to secure moun-
to outflank IIOSI
fill. Pablo ud Buri IlI'nr
.., 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."!<" i"'."lrr
.. &Il.e.mll .U....k<'l[ to aid ellem.\ IrJ.op,
...... Bmi Both of 11,,"1/' J;!rJ,ulld
,.ewed to bEo of 110 import, hut tl,. 1"1
of .. lIIftRy at Hun _...
;;P;"P"! lIP _til 12 Dl'Cember,
...... my major ohjedi\'{' arlll ,
JIIIIl'&eCl&inr the
_ o..oe on i OI'Cember. TI,
.. __ -.me danlllg'e arid it 111
....... lIIBooth rum:tioning
A-iean forces were furth
A .... iDfaol,.,. lan<!<'l[lM Lryr.
!io... ftl(t'aged ill sollie mm"c
A.otIler major ....
.-'tr&0 force ra"id rolldusi.
..& the newly arrin'd
iii ..... in Ule rear of tL,
.... in omer to s"lit th,
_ 1& their derellSt'S,. aTH[
o.-oe poc-kel. For t pUll .... I
... illl lilfhl n"'ll1"" .
On ; Dl't"!'mber, th...1\
of Ipil nil Ihe II"f'Ool ,","-"
iDla.nd owr h,'.ehl"' 110.1
to use ror lauding hi, tit :-
'l'hf' ron"OV eart',iug till' I'IttI"
by Allie'.-I Illll. ''!JP'!'''"
amphibious ,,"
eetive waa Valencia, and tbo advance
Ant instanoo or free maneuver in tho
t Paeific area. Valencia, about 10
IMWth of Ormoc, ,,"811 taken on 18 December
Lbority .....8& request! to continue Ihe
furt.lK'r in order to gain contaN lI"ith
'-in the nonb before lhe could
_tt6l'd and broken roree!!. J>ermi9l!ion
IP'&Dlfod, the advance "'8lI again taken up
aDd on both sides of Ihe high"'ay, On 21
, physieaJ oontaet Will made "'itll
SWk's eava1ry elements mo,-ing llOuth on
So. 2. This bigh..-ay ""1lI deared
Palo to Ormoc and organiud enemy ll'fIist-
kyle's mon fier{"('l.r contftll! strong_
Ormoc Corridor-wu at an end.
JIicb..y So. 2 Will deanod the had
. but to l"('treat imo tbe moulltains ""eel
-'b_"1 or tbe oorridor, lo!ling contael
-..nl.ll of his fom'S still holding OUI in
wn-ain betWf'elI the Ormoc and
<mteral )'Iac.-\rtuur declared Ley\('
ClIa 2.5 December 19-1,1 and for Ihe Ameri_
"'udOOIUl tuk of mopping-up brgan again.
GeDeraJ's attack .t Leyte bad befoo un-
The enemy had been ..-.iting, ready,
......, fOT the Allied troops 00 )'lind.nao.
YaiP to redl't'ffi tbe situ.tion the
attMIpttd major ofrel1!!ino. ,,'ilh the
f1I. losing his ua...1 Ill' tried to
U,le but su<.'O:'ffd! onl.r in prolonging
Ie dtfeat. From the Alli! point or
although tbe 5,500 lins lo!It
light, the J.panese attempt to hold at
... DlOllt profitable, The losl
Jy .\5,000 troops, the majoritr of
bad been members or finlt line oombat
Be oould ne"er recover hill 10!IIIl"lI in
, Still mol"(' important, tbe reiuroroo-
program .t LrJ'le had drained the fIOuthenl
, of combal strenglh and had COIII-
the enemY's LUllOn defense pl.n.
the of ....mainder or the
a J_ impoeing talIk for GeoeMlI
ur'. foroos.
.. perhaps fOl:tunate that Il,e enemy's I"'Y-
dietated that during the Leyt.. l"&mpaign
not ..mploy hirl air foret"lfl in a conccrtt....
tained ..frort to pl"('vent the denlopmeut or
air at.rength on Ibe island, lie already had
\en O"erywholre he had commitk.... bia
. It ia ll8IIumed IlIlL t.hia filet prompt!
commit hill airplanl!B in weak, .mall Beale
..
att.aen that did little damage, DuriI:Jc'''''
ween that the AlIii'd Air Force ...
iU! .irdrom... on JA"yte the JapanfeE' bad OYer 100
fielda within striking dilltanet1' of the objeetiylt
art'a, BNause or their dispel"lion it virtually
,,'1.1I UnpoSllibll' eilhpr 10 neutra!iu Ih_ or 10
keep them nl'utraliud. II is that during
this period tbe bold and emp1oymf'nt
of .ir "'ould have prolongt!d t.br !.erte
tampaign. As it ""IlI, the "utly numericalJy
inferior air strength of thl' Allies pre"ented
l'f'infom1'ment of Ih!'9\" .irfields exoept during
periods ""htn \lil'8thN" pre\'l'nted Dying, &Dd
""teSled superioril)' in the .ir from the f'nemy
ovpr his o"-n .irfieldi Ili"h..n,"'er they chose to
coneentra\(' ('frort.
Tbf' unpl_nt job of dearing rt!maining enemy
I'f'UlIl&nl!l from Le)"te ff'U 10 lhe t:ighth Anny,
rommwded by LI. Gen. Roberl L. Eiehelloerger,
vttl"tan or oouth,,'est Pacific ,,-..rfare since tbf'
Buna daYf of the Xf'W Guinea campaign. Hi>;
mis6ions \Ii'ere 10 Ulume control of comb.t units
in the Leyte-.Samar area, to romplete destnlctioo
of.U remaining hostile rOref";. and to prepare other
trooplJ 10 assist future operatiom of thf' SU::1h
Anny.
In spite of inten;;e from 20 October
through 25 Dfoet'mber, the ioJ.nds of Leyte and
Sttmar Ili"en' far rrom cleared or "'hen the
Eighlh took o,er. E;;timales of hostile
I'f'moanu; in tI,e.rea I"llIlgt!d all the ....y rrom 3,500
to 25,000, One thing II"IS certain, th.t the
remAining JApanese, ,,'hAtf"-U their strength,
,,'ere dillposed in the rougbe;;I, lrildesl territory
thev could find.
Tho IIrgt'ilt oonet1'nlrlltion of enemy fol'CE$ II)'
in the mouniaillll "'est of the Ormoe Corridor.
MOIlt of this bad bet>n originaUy in the zone of
the United :<tatee forees .. hid, mo,'ed o\erI.nd
from lIigh.... Xo, 2 10"'arel the coast late in
December, and ,,1-'10 undertook .mphibious opera-
tions around the north...estern penil\>l.u1A or
ThClNl combined atUlckJI b.d Sl'{'ured ll1I principal
objf'('th'lJlI by 30 Derember. .:'hortly thereafter
the forcl!ll in,'oln!':! "'en' reliend of combat
miillliona on Leyte, aod bet,'lUI to move into !'PIt
Are811 10 atage future openatioDll.
EnelllJ' concentrations in mounlaillA near Onnoc
,,'ere broken Up, forcing the J.pan_ to mOVtl
WlJlIt ..."reI. The ClIlDOtea Wands were deared, 1.1I
well III the road from J>a1ompon l'lIlIt to Highway
No.2. Whf'n thilI wu rompleted .1 the end or
Dec8JDber, ha.tiJe reaietanCl!!, _tbeu, of \'iIIab.
_ult on LE-yte 11'88 WIned.
III tho first operationll following tho
,lD.tI'y inw the PhilippinCll WWi /Au III,
Mindoro, IICht'duled for [; Deccmber
Mwe 1 tho main lllIlIBult on l.uzon at
Gulf, 11'88 sche,luled for 20 December.
was made alllO w lIupport tho Liuga)'an
it DOOelllI&J'y, by all D.88ault in Dingalen
the east central coaat of Luzo!). Thill
operation was dellignated Mike Il lIud
woo to tako place during the period
January 1945. It would bo undertaken
hoetile strength in the Centrll1 Plains-
... 11'88 lIuch that Ihe Japanese left flank
_ve to be tumed, Mort'Q\'er, Mike /I
me 8 certainty oul)' if reconnaissance
J&; feaaihlo for a large body of troops to
the Sierra )[adrc )Iountainll between
Bay and the Celliral Plaioll. COILCUr-
tb"8ll operatiOllll, all other available
to uodertako the COllllOlidatiou of tht'
Mindanao, Pala-wan, and the Sulu .'\rehi-
In lIftukcuU' 1// tho oonaolidation OIOI'e-
gi\'en no name, nor were targi'\
ted for any of them. It \I'llS phUlIle<1
Eighth Anny wonld conduct the opern,
the llOuth",m l'hilippiuell \\ith help
be obtain..d from guerrilla forcf'll. The
y would be r<,spOlll'ible for tho action
,--on 13 October, General MlIC-
_eel Opt'ratiollll !l'lltructionll !I'D. 74
. ed to Sixth Army tho J't'lponsibility
an _ult on on 5 Oeeerll-
pl1l'Jl'OlNJ' of Iii" millllion \\'ll!I to cstablish
for direct IInpport of OJ><'rations in tbe
traI Plains aru of !.u7.0n aud for
of ... routee through Ihe \'iSll)'l\1I
To carry out ground Op<'rations General
otHIIlIItituted tbp WClltem \'illll)'lllJ Task
........eel by Brig. Gen. William C.
0I'iIinal aeheme of maneuver a
amphibious a.irbome lI.88llwt. 1I0we\'"r,
of the dehly in lhe dev"lopmenl of air
Leyr. tmd the r{'Sultanl of
au' eraft of aU kinds, the fiual plan...
&he airbome phase, ..nd Ib'o rcginwlIlll.l
of paraehutillt8 I,rppal'f'd 1O join III
attack.
in airdrome ("Ollstrutlion on Lt-)"to
reacbioa" l'fi'eet tJllIdl cbanging the
aaDe1Ivcr. FaeUitie8 were 110 lilnited
tblt tbe Fiftb Air F0f('8 on Leyte wu .......
oover the transport <d landing pbMe of projecW
l>erslioo in addition to maintainillK air support.
01 ptOgl'e8ling Lc)'te bll.ttJe. The NIVY eouId
not t"Ommit its earriplll on 5 Decembel' 10 support.
tile operation becaUll<' they had been retaulPd in
support of the Leyte operstion fol' a month beyond
the estimated J'l.,<!uirl'ml'nt. They needed repair
and resupply. General MacArthur \\lllI oom-
pelll',1 to delay the Mindoro attack until thp 151h
in onler 10 gi"l' the n8\'al units time to rl'fu..t and
to pennit the further pxpansion of airdrom/'!l on
l.cr
l
" .
The Illnding at Mindoro (0110"'00 thl' "'cll-
I'lItablished SoutlJ\\<'lIl I'acific paltpfII. Thl' alii,
phibious attack shipping of th.. aMlIult forte was
ool'ere<1 by element.s of ti,e Air Force alld
accoml,anie<1 by c!!Cort carriers, destrO)'ers, cruill-
ers, and old battlCllbips of tim Seventh Flfft. In
strat'ogic lIupport, the Third Fleet roruhiued whh
tho Allied Air }<'orce to neutrnlize enemy air
installaliol\ in the Philipl,iJle Islands and the Sulu
Seas "rea within hostile lIupporting range and to
ellem,. communications to pre"ent rein-
forccment and rCllupply. Taetical surprise was
8llcured nnd immediate conlrol of the air ol'er
Luton was b'llined and held until of the 16th.
ScIJll1luled Third Fleet IItrik/'ll had to be C8llcclt'd
after that datc because of typhoon weather, but
tht' ,\lIie<1 ,\ir FOrt:cs cOlltinut'd tl,cir neutra!i
zation of Luzon on a reslricted scale. }<'ollowing
11 prelimilHuy bombardmcnt, troops of the W<'Stern
\'isayall Task Force poured ashore, unopposed,
IWar San JOSt' in lIOuthwest"m Mindoro. Work
\IllS comnwllced imrlle<!iately on air strips, two of
"hicli were complctt"tl b)' 23 O<,<:emher, 1'0 gnanl
thl' "irdroml'!', a perimeter defense wu CIltnblisht'd
after tho !!Ct at Torokina, Bougain"i11e, in
1943. During the Sixth Army
of control, whkh lasted ull'Ough 31 December,
grolllLd operation.'! only of patrolling.
Contact \lith Ihe eONIlY \I-as pnlllllnly a blIttJl'
,*twCt'n nal'aJ lIuffaee "('S8{'ls, aupportt'd by air
co""r and the Japanl'SO Buieidl' 1,lanCll. Eoemy
suidd'() bombcl'll interfered \\-ilh I'{'!\upply
t"Oll"OyS, produdng, at leMl temponvily, gra.l'
6itualion in a"iation g&lK>lino and other air foree
material. Troopa lllIhore were subject",-I w 6p6"
radic night attacu from hostile airel'llft and on the
night of 26-27 D_mbcr a amaJ1 JapanlllM> Ilaul
force inl'fft>ctively bombarded liIl' bt..cl> .,."..
Duriug tbi$ Japanea lOrtie, the lalld-buro bomben
and of the Jo'iftb Air }'lH'Oe from Mindoro
..
operations, but on 6 January tbe Third
was ready, 11.8 to hit boatile
'Ollll on l,u7.on.
and
air aLrt>ngth ill thc Philippines WlUl
eomvlet;-ly destro)'l'd. The
Filth Air fo'otct!S combincd Lo dcalro)' or
a1mOllt 1,500 encmy airorart; thn Third
2,000. Only by concentrating hia re-
foreo eould tim enemy bid drecti\'clv
for local 8UprCIllll<::y in lho air. By Jal;-
.AlIitod ,\it Force load accomplished the
'ble feat of virlually neutralizing IZO Clll'llly
in the Luzon-nsuyll.8 area from a
or IlO npel'1ltinllnlairdroml.'!! extcnding from
\0 Morotai.
the jump otT time apllrollcllcd, it I"ld be-
evident that the wus going tn lhro,,'
Bvailabln air power against the Allied
of LU7.on. It was plain nlso that suicide
" air<:rart wonld eOllstilulc tho major
of the JaJlanese effor\. MOI'ing Ilorth-
,mough the Sulu &>a and I'lISSagn
yen Gulf, thc bombardmcut lind fire
of sbil)!! or the Sewnth Fleet, together
escort e/lrriet8, were sub.
to numeroua suicide /llblcks.
e January Allied wot8hips nrrin'd at
Gulf only to surh II detcr-
air fotc(' that no of th",
lU'{'a W88 Ilossihle. Thl' Third Flect
on Luzon that day "'em therdorc ex-
\0 include NINny installations as far 80uth
. Bav. Northern L'Il7.on had bCl'n the
Bn'a but G\'neral :\llIcArthur
Wd th" a,lditiollal ro\'crRge bccall!l(' ncutrlll_
by land-bued aircrllfl had not becn lIS
u expected and it appearcd at thllt time
the majority of the ,JlIpllne!l(' Illiln('s attack-
Seventh .'Icet ,nre from L\l1.ou fidds.
attempt wu made to maintain n continuous
1 OVl"r all l"ll('my strips during the 6tll,
IIOlid overcut prevenWd lJlankeling tho
DOrtherly are8ll. Jo;acort carrict8 of the
.'Iel't did their best to prok'Ct the Sennth
warshipll, but their cover ..-119 not ade1lualo
.od air lllllJl'riority did 1I0t exist in thl'
en .,...a eithl'r on thn 6lh or tho litevious
It. is doubtful howllnr, that the shil>9
have befon RaJar
, .. ulI(lful 11& it would hnvll 001'11 in open
of \be OCl:'an beeaullC it was blocked by
a abort distance away. In addition,
tbf inclement weatber together mt!l the N1au..l;r
luge &rea W be covered prevllnW Third J'See$
Md Air FOtell plaDl'll from completeq
Ileuttahz.mg alllllll Jap8D('ll(' ain1rom... OD LuIOD,
All a result of continuing Japan_ air()ppoeition,
Admiral Kinkaid t'flquellt....1 tbat tbe Third FLeet
Plt.Ul'>l rlllJe*l strikes agaill8t Luzon 011 7 January.
This action ne<:e8llitat....1c&lllt.tion or a plannlld
wrti!) agaitlBt fo"ormOll&, but Illll nea- mi88iOIl ",as
COIUIII!)tcd aatisfactorily, bad wealher.
During the day So\'l"nth neet oombardment ant!
firt> support miil8iOllB Wl"rc Unhatllilert'tl. On the
8tll as 1ho Third l'leet retirl'd to refucl. re" elLemy
airomft IIttll.ckcd the Lingayen Gulf are", 'fho
bulk of the remaining enelll)" lJ[liddo ,urcraft no'"
appeart'tl to be eomillg from ForlllO!llI To countcr
this continlled threat, two stl'l)!! wcre tllken.
Gellernl J\lucArthur f()(I\J('sted thnt Lhe China_
bll!l('(l T"'cut;cth Bomber COlllmund thirt its cffort
from KeelulIg HlIrlJor to It \las de-
eid()(l Illso thllt II cllrricr-borne lIi['{"raft IIHack
against Lho 8l\l1le island would be prcfe['ll.ble to
tlie continued ptellellW of thc Third Flwt in the
Lingnyoll region. Admi['ll.l HIIIS<'y't command
thereupon moved to tile norlh lind "'est while
Soventh Fleet escort carriers look Ull the burden
of diroct support of the landings, aided bl' 1I\'lIil_
IIble 11lud-hll3Cd air fOfcl'll.
Tho hl'lIvy Kamil'u:t attacks etllplo)'cd hy the
JlIllal\{'86 lit Lingaycn scem()(t to hll\'c more fllr-
t('lIching IlIlrpOSelI thnn dl.'!!Lruetioll of Allied.
shipping. Heretofore, tho ellemy hlld Sllut lllnny
suicide Iltlllll'-8 IIglliust trllllllllOrta, bul /lL Luzon
he singled out \\ nn;hips for speeilll lIUcntiotl.
H the auieid6 ptllllCll had bel'1I IlIOI'(! lIu\'cesaful,
11'0 CIICIll)' might. hlllll found IIttCjJlllbl6 l!l6
COSily <:onSOljUellceR of lInolher Illlvlli engngemnnt.
No hl'M'y JlIpllnese SUrlBW Jlnit-8 \\ere in the
\'kinity of the Gulf, out a llOtentiall)' dangcrous
IIUmber \lcre lOCllted, ooth to the north &lId Lo
the lIouth, so lhllt they could threaten the 8CCurity
or AliiI'd rorees et Ling-ayall ,,-ithin 24 hOIlt8 ulling
much the $Rille pinccr tactica they hell tried. at
LtJyt6,
No immedillte naval auaek "lIS MI)()('ted, 110"'-
evcr, IIl'Cauge or the ovcr"helming strength of the
combined Third and Sm'cnth neet .mila. Tho
I\'al threllt would como after Aliii'll rOr<:('l) were
asbol\', tho Thinl fleet had deplll'led
for gt('lI.tl'r 6elds, 8lld the Se"l'nth Joleot ....aa Cllt
dO"-1I tn itll usual smallsi&6 by the witbdnwal of
the l'I'infordng elemelLUl borrowed rrom lhe Pacific
Float for the operation.
.. were eeattered, or
of movement throughout Luzon
\ime of the landing. Contact ootln'i'll
headquanerll and 80me llIUU "'llll poor,
elements WI!'J'e completely cut off 800n
'tan fones 1rent uhore. In addition,
to be llOIJIe confusion in command
ibilities IUJIOII(t Io"'i'r echelons.
Yamaebita', 81elf said that the Jap-
lK'1 01 the Luzon campaign "all b&lll'd
..umptioM that tile Ameri....Ul! ,,-ou[d
IUpeJioI'ity, that Allied .rtitlel) and
would ouk'" the Japane;;e bolh in
aDd quality, and th.t Ihe.... "ould be
W aDd lubri...ants ror Japanese" heeled
L In addiliou, the J.pa.ne>toe l'!!lim.ted
Npinoa "en' i'1lIiTl"I.!o' hoslile .nd coultl
&0 bear .nn;; again"t the .'.pantse
."...wnily. )o'urlbennore, General r.m.-
BDt belie"e il "'813 plWIible for him to
.. A.meric1uI occupalion of Luzon. He
... mia&ion as one or del.ying action
frool lhi' oUUlet Ih.t hi' "'ould ml!t'l
.....1.
yam.....i'-.iet up paUem of defen!!e
mabie him to take m.ximum .d-
eI terrain U coUllter 10 _\menc.n
The followin,: Ihree ...entral defl'll i,-I'
-orpniud,
__ conlail'ed .bout 140.000
.... covned the mOUJ1t.in IIOCIOrll of
ioclooing Baguio. B.lete ra ,
JUI V1IIley.
_tnIJ Klmh: lM'etor, held by 30,000
air defending the .rea ",'est
PiIIld ud Fort Stot8eoburg.
6l'lu.h -.:toP in the 80ulh loc.le<!
in the mountainoUl! counlry .round
Mon&.lbu, . and Antipolo,
-.000 were supposedly disposed
Iau. .... Ameri...an IrOOpa would
eJ.r tbel..-n- from p....p.red positiolls
defllllllin an.. before Luzon could be
M the oulHirta of tho 8M" IIl.'(lor th.t
tI'ooJ- lint mi't oppollition. .Fi.o
te&m8 of the 1 CorpsJ, rein-
taD'" mond into mountainous lerrain
euI. of the beachhead in order 10 den}'
obaerratioD of opel1ltiona .Iong tlie
UDaa7.. Oulf. A long arc of prepared
../P.... to block the approaches to
... c.pyao Valley, was enooun-
"
terN! a10!11t the line Damortia-Ro.ario.Bm.-...-
ltrdlUtf't....('arbaruan lIillio, In thi' latter ... a
l'nited S'ak'<! inf.nlry division was brld. up by
10 d.ys or biUl"r ligbtinK ..-hill" tM rt'hlainder of
the eorp8 mO'-NI !lOuthl'llllt aJOOlt' a good .....
net in more oJlf'n country. Anothi'l inflUttI'J
di"it!ioll, ashore on II J.nu.ry, rno"ed into the-
are. north .nd l"....t of lrd.nel. to institute
tin ...' up Iligll.. .!o Xo .j, 8tronldY defended by
the J.panl'llt' ror u.... u an ('!\('aJl!' routi' to thi'
Capy.n \'all(')- 1111' mati from Damonis to
Rosario ,,'U not rl('8rt'd unlil luI' J.nuary
eau8l-' l'nit...d inf.ntr) "d 'orl'ed l,t) fight
t,,o fOl"", lilt' Jap8lleR .nd the lemill.
Tluoughout Ihl' """"tor thl" J.pan..... defen'>l! dE'-
H'[Opl'd into li<'au...e<! loeal <tron!! poip"". not
mutu.lly bUI f'(llltrollilll; hilm".ys
and eOlillu.ndinl:: temul r('((ture,; II' ltlalIy
pl."lll Ihe enemy tUnled II;" .nnored equipmelll
illto lI.rd as inslall.tioll5 ,,'ere
to de6troy, $trangi' laeLi....:I U8I-' or tank;;
Ictu.Uy bellolitl'd t!li' .\meMl'tIn forre;, for the
J.pan('8(' p"1' up ex('('Uenl opportunilies for
logieal a:nd t'lfeeti .... employment of armor.
To the "'l"!;t good and IDOl'i' open terrain
.1Io1l"oo rrtf! mlnl"U'"'" .nd rht aetioo.
10 lIlt' lIOulh ....,. impeded for thl' mo,;t part only
b)-I...k of bridftes ....1'Q6IO Ihe ,\gllO Rin". .nd othi'r
streall1f< on the hild'''.)'lI to )lanib. Till' eoUIII!)'
!Quth or thi' .\gno Wll!I rel.thely undefended
beeallSt' the Japanese hid Y.iUldrul'D full ;n-
fllnU.... di'i!liOll from the rentral pbillll lod hid
lk'lll it to I.e'l", thtreb,' CN'\lltulft an unfilW gap in
thl' LU%On (-nit<-d Stat", infantry drovi'
lIOuth unLiI it .pptOflehtd the Cluk Fil'ld-t'orl
StolSt'nhurlt'lIrt'll Ill'rt Iht' I'lli'my occupie<! eom...
ma'tding ground in 8ueh <tre,>gth lIS to endllllfter
furth('r 'tollard )I.nila TIle Japanese
K(mh defc,tse JM'('tor h.d n"....lied. Dunn}:
the rt"m.illder or Janua!)'. alll'ntion was tllmed to
de.rin}: the Clark Ficld... FoM Sto!Senburg area and
probillg the enemy positions in the hills ..-....t
therrof.
Durnili' J.nuary. thi' Fifth Air. Force, &:'!er
neutralizill!l' tI.1' elleru)' sir polenu.IUl Plllhp.
pinca, roncl'llualed its elTort on bombmg
straliug land lind inter-w.nd "'aler
tions, railrolld rolling stOt'k, ammuulllOU traUlS.
in Soulh('MI IUlll Central
By tlie middll' of,JoullIllry o"er 500 locoUloU1t8
.ud rail" ay cars MIld 500 motortrucks had been
rleeuoved and the mO"l'mellt oll"nemy troops lI'"
to night blackout IDOvemenla. By the
'10 ml1el. Along this front the enemy, ,up-
by roeke, artillery, dug himllClr deeply into
hilJaid-. improving natura] dden_ .nd
. new positioDll. The drh'e continued
, the remaioder of February and by lij
aU had bei-n fletured.
to the north of the Shimbu area the battle
ouloatirU of the SIlobu sector !Itill raged
an eDemy dett"nnined to hold all
to &MCapy.n \alley. t'nited States
fOI'ft!8 1IlO1'ed nortb along the tOlI.iIl to
JUHrilla romes.t San Fernando, by
hfld all the ....eIlt OO&IIt of northern Luzon
... eaemy poclceL!l jU$1 north of Vigao.
...... was eIltabiished on 20 and t....o
...... Baguio 'Kere lH-gun frorn
-r Bau.nl':". Baguio, lIumm('r capital
PlliliPP'-.-&;1 at this time the hraJ-
01 both the Japanf'fie .\nn,Y .nd the
eolI.abontioniu go"ernmellt, The
'unted the mOWitain city into. citadel
atme.l. but .ir .nd util.
m1. 6nalIy crumbled the dl'fellSell.
. , .Unuieaa infantry enterOO the city
1mOppoeerl. P.troIs north and eeu soon
&hat aD otganized resiIIt.nce in the an'll.
a1tbou,;b moppiog up rolltlrlUed ...."11
no. mopping up was ('Ouductl'd b,Y
Sta&M infanlry di"ision anti filipino
'WIaiIe lI.DOthff .\meri('ll.Jl dil"illion mOI'l'd
jIiD the attack in the Balett" PaM 11.1'('
tlUataua.ek had bl'gun lI.!I a 2-pronged
IWetfo P_ from Sao Jose and Riul.
.... of February both 'Kings of this drive
a *oDg enemy po$itioo at Dibdig
10 hft.Iougbt milefl north of San Jose
o. 5. Me.nwhile, "el('ran
8&a&a iDfutry aivision had anived on the
la&e in January and, .ttacking north,
....... I!'IIBD1V'S Balett" PlI.lI.!I defen!lCl!
Villa ':errl.e Trail. Tim enemy
10 ..... tWa p.- because it .'11.II the gate-
tbe important
d1t1llCled the Villa Verde Trail "'ith
... diIpouJ became ilwlI.II his main
............n betwt'l'n the "arious lII'ctOI'8
, .All dllJ'ing Mareh and April the
diriRon to l"!imillatl)
&1011I' the tr.il and in the SaJacsac
1NIl of the junction of the Villa Vl'rde
'1 0.6. Other elements ot the
north_I toward Baguio, bul
..too be tnoel difficult route to
"
that city. TbeftfOf'll tha main llfI'ort coaliDuecl
to he .imed .t Imugan, a banio .t tbe _tern
ll'nninUl! or Saill.Cllll.C P_.
Soutb 01 Balete J>6IllI, United StatN foreN
Itrugaled on throughout Mareh and .-\pril along
both lidl.'$ or lIighwaJ' Xo. a. Even late in the
laltt"r month the ('nemy II'&S able to repla.ce hill
10!lBefl rapidly and rould caU on almost 15,000
troopa to defend the triangle fonned by Dalete
P- on the !IOuth. Imugan to the nortbell.lll, and
S.nt. Fe, just north of th(' pI!.;<; on thl' mllin road.
Balete Pus finallv WII.II taken on 13 lIlId
bortl.l there.ftl'r IrnllJ!.'an and :,iant. reU.
,\ftt"r ioUI!'. weary ... """b 01 lhe Japanelll'
from thl'ir undel'p'Ound burro.... St"aling shut
l'Dl'Wy caVl'll, huilding nue roam. improving old
trails. and roping .ith tbe roughl'S1 terrain
unagin.bk, .\nll'ricaD IOI'Cl'S bad opellf"<lthe gate-
.. ay to the Cagay.n \'alll'Y_
During Ihis dri,'e iuto \'aIley, other
Amflic.n fol'Nll drove into the Sotilltb. 5E'ctor el$t
of to l'lItablbb line from .\ntipolo on the
.auth to W.... Dam on tbl' nonb.
southeast, l"nitffl St.tl'S inf.ntry outflauked tbl'
southern I!'nd of tbl' dam .nd .ttacked lI.l'OlIIld tbl'
easlern MOI'('fI of Laguna de Bay to mUl! rontact
...ith f..wlldlv on 6.\pril_ Tbe .ttack l'lI.5t-
....nI it!! objecti,"". and
Mount J'ac....apu, till' end of April 'fix'
fall of Pac....agan op'ued till' entil'(' W....a
Dam lI.l'{'a to dll'f'<'t lI.S<ilI.u1t. an .nack undertaken
011 30 April. W... Dam "'&11 undamaged,
on Z9 tbe ,\nter1cau foret'll thell gave
their alt('ntion to lpo Dam. northem allchor of thl'
Shimlnt. defeIlSl'S and souru of 30 percent of the
II'&tl'r supply. The an.ck lOll-art! Ipo
begin Oil 4] ..\jded by a gnerrilla .ttack
from the north. the dri,'(' rontinued day and night
with unremitting l,rl'SSllre until the dam was
captured inta('t on 17 Thl' JlI.pall<'5e had
I,la("('d deillolition ehlll'gl'8 lit the dllm but .the
swiftness of the attack, abetted by llearclilight
illumin.tion of the battle areas during Ihe boul'fl
of dltJ'kul'illJ, prel'cllted the l'nenlJ' from acrorn
1)lishing the plaunl'd df'lltMletion hllItead, this
criticalll' 1l{'('(INI ,,'at(Or 8upplJ' W&ll restored to
,Manila 'and the l&llt important !tronghold of the
Shimbu 8l'(ltor \,'M By the beginnilllt of
JUIl(' nil Wl'l'I' reduced to mopping
III th(' otrCllsin against enemy remllallt8 III
lIOuthern Luzon. latl' ill the front line
8lretehed from l..agull& de Bay south....l'8t to Lake
TaaJ, alld th('nee to Bat-.ngaa city. A United
tllC Japaneea from the lIOuthem Philipo
inatituted drives continued uuabated.
States forees puahe,d on against aluboom
l'e8iatance along Highway No.4 aud reached
on 12 July. To the northwest IIOmo
pine IInny units wer!! tied down, until the
of July, in reducing Japal.lCl>e fortified
in the Mankayan area. However, other
o forces moved east from Cervant{'ll 1.(}
on'lO July, both Sabangan and BOllloc.
Bonwe theea forces pressed south along
way No, toward Banaue, which loI\Tl was
hy the Sixth Di,ision on 20 July, Three
Illtel' contacl wss ClItablished bet\\'et!n the
'can and Jo'ilipino IIllilS, thus s!llitting the
pockel inlO two Silctora. Isolated
poin.. maintained a determined defense
moWttain positions "'ell into but
half of tho Japanese defenses itself WAS
into two parts when Philippine gllerrilllls,
in from the norlheast, &Cized Ma}'oyao
IIlet. elemente of tho Sixth Dh'isioll mo\'ing
from Banaue, West of Highway No. 4
continued against the other half of tile
pocket, a Silmiotganized defcnSil in dellth.
!Tently, United Stales forces dro\'c north
Highway No. II and Philip!linc Army unil.8
80uth along the 8lI.me road from Sabllngan.
advancl.'ll met on 29 Jill}', cutting the
" l88t north'80uth linc of communication
KilUlgan leCtor. The same foreca thl'll
_t"'ard from tho highway to se<:'ure the
Agno River \'aIlI'Y. A United States
departed from Kablan, which had been
late in JWle, and prl'SSCd north"'Jlru in
valley, At Baguias, on 8 August, con-
was eBtabliahrd with Jo'ilipinio troops, who
eel. down the vallev fr()m Ihe north. With
..ue,. 10 eecufEd a fin'"n foothold ,,'as obtained
'lFEIItem ll!opl'll of tho mountains defentled
e llnllDlY. It muld only bo JI mJltter of time
the dri\'c from tho east,
lbellOuth and _t, Ilnd from the north and
d08troyed the last remnRnta of General
'til's fol'Cell.
the north tmd _t of the Kiang'lln pocket,
the CapYIlTl Valley, combat Rtlivily dur-
and AugtI3t consiat-eo:l IJirgely of I'lIlrols
Sierra Madro eJist of thc
The e:nllJDy was concerned mOlltl)' ,,'itb
of pllytlical survival lI.nd his criticJlI
... mu('h in ovidence as troops of the
..
Thirty-tlllventb found mUlY of the JR))UleM
from starvation. By 15 August, l!X('ept for $be
JJipaneee in the Kiangan Jltell, Clll'my defllll8ll on
LU1.on was di80tganiJo:ed and ineR'N"tiva. The
Silllllered Japllnese hsd no choice oth('r than
vation or 8urrender. Howo\'er, the Jlnnouncement
of Japan's acceptance of lhc unconditional sur-
render !.ermR did not bring the Luzon campaign to
an end. No dramJltic parade of surrendel"t-'(l
trooP8 plJlce. On Luzon the enem}' ga\'e no
indication of knowlf'(lge of the capiluiatio'l for
$Orne tlJlys, and it ""JlS lIot until almO/il thc elld
of August lhat GeneNI YaIDashitJl's surrender
JlppcJlre<:1 immincnt.
On 20 August, the Jo:ighth Army turned over
command of the Philippines to the C'ommslltling
Gcneral Army .Forces W('Stern Pscific, This
headquJlrtera, prc\'ious!y r('l)potlsible for tho logis-
tic support of United States Forces io the South-
"'('l)t Pacific, under look to bring about the prompt
surrender of 1111 Japanese.
Tho LU7.011 esmpaign was typical of Illost of
the ground fighting in Lho Pacific Theater, There
wcre engagements on le"e! ground, in mountains,
in jungil'S, against armor, and agninst fortificd
to"'II9, and against the Inrge modern city of
:\180illi. The tasks RssignM to air power through_
out tho entire ealrlilaign were nUlllerous Jlnd
nrietl. In this campaign alone, the .Fifth Air
Force tlcw 57,663 sUllllOrt sortil'll, droPlIed 38,844
tons of bombs plus 6,555 tons or Kapalm. h
a\'Cragc<f 2,240 sorties with II bomb and Napalm
tonnllge of 1,764 a week. Throughout the
cumpllign, infantry units down to regiments lind
battlilions requested maximum a\'ailahle lIir !IO\\'er
to support impending strikes. Bombing and
strafing by the air srlll W/IS repeatedly used
together ",ith s.rtillery to soften up enemy Rtrong-
!lOints in to"'us and fortified posiLions ill the hills
lind mountainous country. In jungle nnd wooded
area.s, as difJicult and illlpenettJIhlu as ally ill the
Southw('st Plleific area, Nap8lm was dropped not
only to destroy dug in J/lpalleS<!, but also
to burn off \"egNJltioll and jungle. 'fhu boost lo
1l10tJlle in ground (orces supporting
planes "'lIS cnonnous because it pr().\'idcd a COlJ-
stant reminder o( the size and varIed pol\'er of
tho team behind t.ho The demotJlliz-
ing effect on t.he JJlpllIll'90 o.t Uuitl'(1 States
air SUPI)()rt and rCpe8ted air atlJlcks ou their
instJlIlJltiolls W88 borue out in thl' enemy diary and
document translation mJlde by \'ariou& 0-2
eoetiollR,
.w.bl& l!lltmy group W&8 t(lnt&cted until
. From that time on eeatt.!red enemy on
::;;;.,",,';;"' bunted d()1l'n with !he aid of organ_
II . . In mid-April t!nited Slak's p4trob
Buuanga IAland, to the noM.heast, and
and Palldanan bl.utds at lhe southern
Palawan. air and oa,-.1 buM
npidly eetablishtd. Allied aireraft weI'('
eoadueting over \he South Chiq
bombing inst&llatioll!! from Bor-
IDdo-ChiDa. ),10kif' torpedo boatli of the
tb f1Ht pat.rolW the east and ...-est rouu;
wan, fll[teDded their uti,ities to adjant
ilIIands. IUld rNCbed IIlI far south u British
"""""
,- at 01 the "isayan 10 faU
... lut--moviog Of\!;llIught of tbe Eigblh
.. Pamoy, in,-aded on 18
_ or ground 0pp05itmn "'as encountered
landing operatioos: 2 <WJlI "I(Of Iloilo.
city on Panay, Willi captured. Linle
W been at Panay beeRI1M'
organizatKm bad long
cdntrol of of tbe iI1and. With th('
gul'rrillas orga.niud resi..ltance ,,_
by :!'.! :Marth. )Iiuor patrol acti ...itil'S
for remaining i>loIatoo pockelS on the
and w"""'m .--st.!. .\fter lhat dlte,
for a mo.e acl'O$$ Gui-
8tnit to Xt'gTOS bland.
.-8oml! ....... felt in
about operation
lively strong enemy gvriIIon,
, that 1fU eetabhshed on the island,
1andior force for the operation .-as
t _1haa3 full romNt k'ams,
PM-.gh sU"ehgth for. quiC'k l"UJI-
HoweYer, the fffiiDg was that it "'ould !J('
to t.te & Ioovr time to eooquer Xegros
dmn VOops from more pn'lll>.illg lISNIults.
&be IandiDg took plaN' on I'ulo-
, .... Initial opposition "'u
cia,. .,.., the invasion Baoolod to..-n and
, firH diYiliooal objt'Ctin'l'l, "'ere taken.
, it IMlOll beeuDe evident lb.t ti,e enemy
&0 make & .kong Buiddal Btand in the
ground. in the OOrtJl eentrll Nl'grQ!l,
01 tho BuoJod &rea. On 8 .\pril a
hliment, alter an OVNWa!<'r mOH-
over Ktivity on th" left flank ami a
.Mack againat thl' ('nemy strongholds
pound in tht' northoma island al'l!a
mo-n and developed by Oat" Japa-
"
Dille and it ... not IlDtil mid..Ma,. daat
in lJK. hiJ.. puaed into the moppiDg-ap ...
MNJ1wbill'. eU-llU'nt&swungarouDd
the north I'OUt of Xegroa and down tile eut eout
alm08t to Damaguf'te, 1ll'U _hicoh t"ity.
of (hll .\mft'ical Di"iI!ion Iandf'd on 26 .\pril. In
thilllKlutM..tfom Ul'fI no orpniud enemy reaiBt.-
.n/"(' could be found and by I June it becoam.e
""ident tbat onI.v were to be enroun-
ter.:'d aU ovtr Wand.
Cfh. On 28 :'Ilan:oh the .\meri".1 Division,
.fter b.ring 8t Leyte, laoded jU!:lt llOuth
of Cebu Cily, Cebu IsI.nd. .-\gain, the eoemy
made DO attempt to meet the l"nited Olates forees
8t tbe beachhead and the d.... tbe .-\merical
Cebu City. 1I0"evl'r. north and "'est of
lbe cily, the lllOlit e1.borate ...e positi0n3
found in the J>1,ilippines to' that date \Vtre encoun-
tered, AU were spriokled liberally wilb
mint!l and booby traps. "'bole lops of bills ...-ere
bIo'Kll off, demolitioll!l were craftil.... p1.ced and
l'!trieaJly dl'too.ted, and mutually supporting
pill boxes denied routes to the northwe;;t. Cebu
City il>ll'if was reduced 10 a Iiliambll':S by tbe
eDl'my as he evacu.led to institute strong de-
fl'nsh'e action oorth of the to'Kll. Xe...ertbell':Si!.
b.. Z :'I1.y. tbe major l"nemy positions on ridge;; in
the Cehu Cit)' .rea had been OVl'mJn. 'IDe re-
maining .'.pa.ntSt ..ere dri ...en 10 the northern
extll"miul':S of thl' i,Jand and wen! subsequeotly
hunted dO""n hy OOlDbat patrols.
&IIoJ,- -:\Il'an....hile. tM Amerkal DhisiOll
dh'erU'd IlOme or its strength to another \lgayan
I I.nd, 00 11 .\pril. e1eml'ots landed on Bobol.
S.. the end of tbe month ooly _tiered,
th'e reai!lt.DNO ,,u to be found .nd OpenlUOM 00
tbf' island "'ere turned o...u to gt>enill. fOn-eil.
This operation l'xteoded AlDeric.n cootrol over all
of the m.jor \'isay.n and the Japa.ne;;e
still remaining in the eenual Philippines could
lace ODe futu", hOllClel!l, last-ditch standJI from
isol.too pocket, Only :\lindanao no,, remained
10 be !lOCured.
Minda,lOo.-I'rior to IS September
:\Iilldaoao had been the initi.1 U1rg'el area of the
Allied loreN mo,-ing Dorth,,-NII....rd up tbe New
Guinea COlillt to'Ulrd lbe PhilippioN. HO"'ever,
the audden change in p1aD$ that preceded the
iovasioo of Le}(e in O<'tobf'r 19011" postponed.an
atUlck on MindllolW for almost 6 months. Dunng
lhis time the Japaoeee delM8l' plans and troop
di.poait.iollt had changed mlUlJ' ti.mea. Some
unit. bad been lent forward to the Leyte he.Ie-
m'lIlly Ilo'ilh Ih,' tlri,"r' Oll DOl'Rn, Iht'
nUrlt, 010111:' til<' :-n,\'rt' Iiil:h"r.y from
f' oonlillu...1 Thl' r"ui!ht II ,J,"'j}(.r_
'Df[ artion. JX'rnlit 1ll0",'mNII
inll' ..omlool units into 1101' .\1810\'bnlo\
Ilowf'v"r, th( tln,'p rt'Rched li;_
1 M.y Ind C'(llllinu('(1 on thp Ilorlh On
01 tJu. month adt'lennined bcm:llJi COuntH_
took pW-f' ill thc neini:y of til<' lirslrip
h'puboM .. ilh Ilro\l'd
... lui mnjor JapanCSt' action alon!! Ihl'
1liBhy From thl'll 011, IOrrtlltial
dH' main dptl'rrent to Ihl' 1,I\'anc('. \'.1.
on 16 ),101 and )Ialaybalay, capital of
Prol'illff. a'as Sl'iU"d on the 21-.1. ,\t
OIl 23 coman ,,'as e-;;tabll$hed
ialantry rl'll'lnll:mtal comb.1 tt'am "hieh
DPU .\gusan on ).!ae.j.l.r on
..& 1Idl' .n .d'.IIC(' do"n thl' "ll"ll'
.0 Impulntao. This coot... t m.rkMI
of .11 J.pal1e';l' .Ioll!: til<'
0."110 ...... th(' .hll.llf':;(' dun!!
poaltiona ot'ar th(' "'{'sll'rn t('rminus of
Trad TIl.. b.ul, for th""" j>o><ilioll'<
or thl' ruutf' 1<) DII"lIo
don itJ'W .JUIit'. Xot until till' middlr
did lbf' "npmy'a n's;stoflCI' aloll!! til('
begin to dininlt'gral('. From tJr"n
thl'Tt' nm.in"d only IIll' tN/iou_
Tht- advauc(' lIorth";''''''1 ilion!, lhp
"
Tlllolll
u
TrailrontinuN! on Iu Ki"-np"
on 21; ,Iullr. n",'ond thin IlOint Iii.. ruad '-'ame
imll".....lIhl" and .. hm.,'d nQ of "ll<'ml' II....
'I'll(' .'.pKlIl....' nJ(.ill f1,.r! 10 mounl.in" tol'
th, ,'ntl of .Iullr no orgalliU'<! 10 I';'
fouud from Kiban!!ay to IJano,
Op.>ratioua on h.d bet'lI ,mdt.>r til('
rolltrol or till' ":i!!hllr .\nn.... .;hi..h abo had
dil"f'('tM! 1111' 10 Iibf.ratl' thl-' (,,(,Iltral
Oil 1 19-4:; Ihr .t'f>fI of Eighth
.\nll," rf"<llOnoi!Ji!iI)' I'xpandl'd 10 iocludl'
I'ntill' Philipllinp On -5 ,lui'\" GI-'n..ral
d......I.....'C! Ih" I"hilippin..... 10 iw "libf.r-
Ilt,..I. '. 110""\'('1'. ,b thr rommantll'r in chi..r
1/O;llt('(1 out. L-ollt...1 of gu..rrilla natu/'t'
a,r,. to IJof' in th. mountain,; throughoul
th.. ;"lar"l. Thu,. ror thl-' f-4:hth fom.=o,
11, .. ".r ".' lIot y,'t 0""1'.
On \lir"lanao, Illllf'h of thj,. un,l\'oidabl.. fight_
in!! look th.. fonn of ,t....ly combat patrol
.('tio.. 8,ll'ailht tilt' .'Ipan""" lr. pra('ticall'\" unu'_
,,1,,1't;'(] roUlIt." ... ,t or ou s..YIl'
!lip."ay In .c1.lition to' Ihi" conlinulrlg moUIl-
I.ill .etiou, batt.lion rombat tl"&m a"u landed
at till' h"ld or tm- Bay on 12 .July In
tlll.. _Iln... "Iwr.. it " .. Ollt't' plam!<"d tht .\mmntll
fort''''' lIould fi.... t .,.,1 foot on Philippin" ,.(lil Ill"
I'Il"'oy a'a_ >(/Of) dnn'n bR('k inlO thl' hilb. ..,
..rrill .._. 1lI')\"lng o"('rlall(l rrom DR"a<) Gulf.
""ta.bh,hPd rontll('1 aith Ih.. Ta('ut)'-fourth D"'i-
_iou,. h.ltalion, rmm bolh ".Id; of th('
T.I...mo Trail "1'1l' .00 ma.int.inPd an
i>otlllNI, IlUt ,llpan'-"'f' pock", or
""'btluel'. Aeli.itll'& in III 3 .rea,,; conlim",d
until I:; AUl!'u,;t, dal<:' of thl' J.pall...... a.C'Cl'ptln("('
of llit.> I'ot-':!Im tf'rm" The combinl'd
of Ij('IUt.>rM! group" on .\lirnbn.o "'&6
rMlu('",1 to .. 9.500 lroop"
Furtlipr north. in thp till' ollir llI11jor
l'PIIO,;lIion wa' fOlind on Xl'g1'O" and
"liN'" tlH' .r'IF'lIru..".lm,1 to IJof' f1u,;I"..1out of mOull-
t/Ull 1'/,\'1" On rt'llIl'lltlll ",'moot tl'tlt1l
of pUrolehuti_I. "itll dOl'{> from
Thirll'plltlr ,\ir Fore, llOrnkrs nud I'{'mforc",1
J(lIt'rrillll lrooFI'l. l'n. in th,' md-"l
"('<t of Fnbriru Thi_ l'OllIllllllll" upUon pl"t.'-
\"('lIlr.d t hI' I'UNn.' from ('tfort_ to se<::lIrr
bndh' 1l<".h"lllIlIllll'r fl'orn till' t'1'j.."I'O" tunb..
IHld,\., II; AUI:'II_t. 1111 but /Ihout t.(iOO of onpr'
,jupllfft"" !!I,rri"Oll hne! 11''1'11 nnrUhl!'ltl"l.
.\t 111<' tim". onr OIL Cpbu, l'OIll?Il.I.plltrQl
IIl'lioli Oil tl", pllrl of thl' .\nuricnl ar-
"Ol/uINI {lOr A fc" scat
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