The Luzon Campaign 1945

The Luzon campaign of 1945 was the longest island campaign of the Pacific War, lasting from January 1945 to September 1945, and only ended with the surrender of Imperial Japan. It is often overlooked or mentioned in passing by most histories of that war, yet hundreds of thousands of Americans and Japanese fought in some of the worst conditions imaginable for eight months to clear Luzon of the invaders.

This full account of the Luzon campaign stretches from planning stages to the end of the war and the surrender of over 50,000 Japanese troops under the noted Japanese general Yamashita. The landings at Lingayen Gulf, the Battle for Manila and the recapture of Corregidor are all included, as well as lesser-known battles for the summer capital of Baguio, the battle for Manila's water supply, constant jungle fighting, the raids to rescue Allied POWs, the recapture of Bataan, destruction of the only Japanese armored division to fight in the Pacific, American parachute drops on Corregidor and Aparri, and much more. Individual acts of heroism are highlighted as are the interactions among the senior commanders involved, including General MacArthur, General Krueger (6th Army) and General Eichelberger (8th Army). The book ends with the surrender of Imperial Japan and the end of the Luzon Campaign in September 1945.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Lingayen Beachhead

3. The Central Plain

4. Securing the Beachhead

5. The Kembo Group

6. The Race to Manila

7. The Tragedy of Manila

8. Intramuros, the Walled City

9. The Shimbu Group

10. Seizing the Dams

11. Southern Luzon

12. North to Baguio

13. The Villa Verde Trail

14. San Jose, Digdig and Baguio

15. Baguio Falls

16. Balete Pass

17. The Bambang Front

18. Aparri

19. Pursuit

20. The Luzon Campaign

Appendix U. S. Forces Order of Battle

Appendix Imperial Japanese Army Order of Battle

Appendix Luzon Campaign Medals of Honor

Appendix Casualty Comparison

Bibliography