The Philippine Islands were one of two major US bases in the Pacific,
the other being Pearl Harbor. The Japanese considered the capture of the
Philippines crucial for its efforts to control resource-laden Southeast
Asia. As opposed to its attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese intention
was to invade and occupy the Philippines in a campaign that was to last
five months.
The flamboyant Douglas MacArthur, a hero of World War I and former Chief
of Staff led the defense of the Philippines when the Japanese attacked
on 8 December 1941. Despite warnings about the Pearl Harbor attack, the
Japanese air forces caught MacArthur's aircraft on the ground resulting
in half of his modern bomber and fighter aircraft destroyed. Army Air
Forces B-17s attempted to bomb Formosa, but Japanese fighters eliminated
them and a Japanese full-scale invasion followed days later.
Japanese forces landed in northern Luzon from Formosa. B-17s and naval
attacks tried in vain to stop the invasion, but failed. Poorly trained
and equipped Philippine Army units could not halt the Japanese and the
American and Filipino forces withdrew, even though they outnumbered the
initial Japanese forces. Japanese Army units broke through several
defensive lines as they drove on to Manila, which was abandoned by the
Americans as Macarthur withdrew to Bataan. The Japanese gradually
reduced this pocket until the only American position was Corregidor
Island. MacArthur left for Australia, as a direct order from President
Franklin Roosevelt and was awarded the Medal of Honor, one of the more
controversial aspects of the campaign. With little hope of survival,
Corregidor fell, with organized resistance ending on 9 May 1942.
Although a defeat, the American and Filipino defensive efforts upset the
Japanese plan for a swift victory and provided time for Australia and
the United States to build up their defenses. It also gave hope to the
American public that Americans could stand up to Japan, with the
Battling Bastards of Bataan providing a source of inspiration.
Unfortunately, for the survivors of the campaign, it meant a grueling
three years of captivity for some. The Bataan Death March was one of the
most infamous events in World War II, with Japanese forces responsible
for the deaths of about 600 Americans and between 5,000-10,000 Filipino
soldiers dying in the march, some summarily executed by beheading.
