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Draft:United States Forces in the Philippines

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United States Forces in the Philippines
USFIP
ActiveMarch 1942 - May 1942
DisbandedMay 6, 1942
CountryPhilippines
Allegiance United States Army
 Philippine Army
BranchArmy, Army Air Corps, Navy, Constabulary
TypeUnified Command
RoleDefense Force
Size150,000
Part ofUnited States Army Forces in the Far East
US-Philippine GarrisonMalinta Tunnel, Corregidor
EngagementsBattle of Bataan

Siege of Corregidor
Defensive Campaign Visayas

Defensive Campaign Mindanao
Commanders
Notable
commanders		LTG Jonathan M. Wainwright IV

MGen. Edward P. King Jr
MGen. George F. Moore
BGen. Bradford G. Chynoweth

MGen. William F. Sharp
Aircraft flown
BomberB17 Boeing Flying Fortress
FighterP40 Warhawk

After General Douglas MacArthur's departure from the Philippines, he intended to control the Philippine battle fronts in Australia. Therefore, he divided it into 4 commands Luzon Force, Visayas Force, Mindanao Force, and Philippine Coast Artillery Command. All were independent from each other and would be directly under his command through his Chief of Staff Brigadier General Lewis Beebe.

General MacArthur failed to informed the United States Department of War in Washington D.C of this setup, and they started to communicate with General Wainwright as CG, Philippine Forces since the most senior General Officer in the armed forces in the Philippines. General Beebe had no choice but to turn over lead to Wainwright. This created large amounts of confusion, and when MacArthur provided the details of the reorganization, the Department of War had not agreed to this, so it created another post that would be the overall command in the Philippines.

Thus, US Forces in the Philippines were created, and Wainwright was promoted to Lieutenant General and assumed the command. He moved to Corregidor Island at Malinta Tunnel to take command of the defense of the entire Philippine Islands.

Wainwright commanded of the remnants of US Philippine Department, US Navy, US Marines, and the Army of the Philippine Commonwealth from March 21, 1942 until its surrender in May 6, 1942. Battle of Bataan rages for another month as forces in Bataan continued to resist and repulse several assaults and it took several reinforcements from Japan for 14th Army to breakthrough Mauban-Bagac lines[1].

General Jonathan Wainwright IV, commander of US Forces in the Philippines

Organization

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General Wainwright took Brigadier General Lewis Beebe as his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Floyd Marshall as G1, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Wood as G2, Colonel Constant Irwin as G3, and Lieutenant Colonel Pembroke A. Brawner as G4. Also inherited Brigadier General Charles Drake as Chief Quartermaster, Brigadier General Carl Seals as Adjutant General. Colonel Nicoll Galbraith is now Artillery officer replacing Major General Edward P. King who replaced Wainwright as commander of Luzon Force in Bataan.

Surrender of Luzon Force in Bataan

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On April 9, 1942, General Edward P. King Jr., commander of Luzon Force in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese Army without the knowledge or permission from General Wainwright. To prevent further annihilation of battered, exhausted, sick, and hungry troops General King initiated the surrender to General Nagano of all forces in Bataan. This followed by the Death March endured by surrendering troops from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. Taking more death as Japanese troops shot or bayoneted troops who are too sick to walk or sometimes without provocations. Without providing food and water to troops even after reaching POW camp in Capas, Tarlac[2].

Landings in southern islands

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After the surrender of Bataan Force, 14th Army was able to release units for southern islands. Kawaguchi Detachment invaded Cebu island on April 5 to tighten its grip of the Philippine island. And the Kawamura Detachment landed in Panay on April 16 secure its ports. Later both detachments moved to Mindanao island, Kawaguchi landed in Cotabato and Parang in western coast and move eastward to link up with Miura Detachment. Kawamura detachment landed in Cagayan and Tagoloan beaches to start their campaign on the main defense line and secure Del Monte fields.

Siege of Corregidor

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General Homma started his campaign to secure the island fortress of Corregidor. With the entire islands surrendered and received hits from ground artilleries and bombs from Air, Japanese landing started in eastern side of the island. General Wainwright raised a white flag for a cease fire to ask for terms of surrender with General Homma. He and his party was allowed to cross to Bataan where he will meet General Homma. Upon meeting Homma demanded that Wainwright should surrender that entire force of the Philippines. Initially he refused as he already released General Sharp from his command days ago but General Homma insisted that he surrender his entire force or else he would order his commanders to resume assault on Corregidor.

Surrender of the entire force

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Surrendered generals of US Forces in the Philippines.

Sensing the danger of his tired and defenseless troops in Corregidor, General Wainwright surrendered the forces in Visayas and Mindanao on May 6, 1942. Ceasing all military operations in the Philippines.

Order of battle

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Morton, Louis (1947–1952). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Louis Morton (published June 26, 1953). pp. 353–366.
  2. ^ Morton, Louis (June 1947 – June 1953). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Louis Morton (published June 26, 1953). pp. 454–467.

Bibliography

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  • Louis Morton
  • Alfredo Sese
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