The+Philippines.++Watch+this+clip+and+comment+on+the+aircraft+used

 The Philippines.  From the **__“Contested Spaces: War in the Pacific 1937-1951”__** Handout
 * __ A SUMMARY: __**
 * Japanese “potential stumbling block”-American Naval Bases in the Philippines (threatened Japanese advance).
 * General Douglas MacArthur- Military Adviser in the Philippines (1936-41)
 * MacArthur’s Plan: relied on air superiority to control vital sea lanes. Aircrafts would be used to attack invading forces before they came ashore- With an aim to PREVENT fighting a DEFENSIVE WAR.
 * MacArthur was granted over US$10 million to EQUIP and TRAIN an Army for the immanent attack on the Philippines.
 * **October 1941:** MacArthur informed General George Marshall (American Chief of Staff) that he had “135 000 troops and 227 assorted fighters, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft”-formed ‘a tremendously **strong** offensive and defensive force’.
 *  Philippines (according to MacArthur) = ‘Key or base point of the US defence line’.
 * Pearl Harbour Attack, **7th December 1941**- MacArthur FAILED to read the warning signals and as a result the American forces were **not prepared** for the Japanese attack on the Philippines some five hours later.
 * Japanese bombers destroyed **most** of the recently reinforced American air force which was sitting on the ground at Clark Field (on Luzon Island) - It was in Northern Luzon that the Japanese seized control of 3 air bases.
 * American air attack had been eliminated by the Japanese, who by the 3rd January 1942 had occupied the “free city” of Manila.
 * The American-Filipino forces that remained withdrew to the Baatan Peninsula, where they prepared to fight a DEFENSIVE WAR against the Japanese.
 * Japan Vs. America in the Baatan Peninsula: first large-scale, hand to hand fighting between the forces- both adjusting to the demands of “jungle warfare”
 * **22nd February 1942- //"I Shall Return"//:** President Roosevelt ordered General MacArthur to leave Baatan and retreat to Australia. This left General Wainright, and his 11 000 soldiers to continue fighting in Baatan for the USA.
 * **6th May 1942:** Japan seized the well-defended and strategically located port of Corregidor-saw many lose their lives.
 * After four months, the Japanese advance began to slow down in the face of **determined resistance.**
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">MacArthur, who had escaped the battle; was proven to be too optimistic - He had failed to take advantage of the warning signs and the support the troops needed never arrived.

o The Phillippines- air attacks on the phillippines on 8 December lead to a full scale Japanese invasion on 10 December. - US General Douglas MacArthur (American army’s longest serving Chief of Staff) retreated with his forces to the Bataan Peninsula and the island fortress of Corregidor, at the entrance to Manila Bay. The fall of Corregidor on 6 May marked the Japanese conquest of the Philippines. - Five hours after the attack on Pearl Harbour Japanese planes stuck the Philippines. Bombers destroyed most of the recently reinforced American air force. - On 3 January 1942 the Japanese occupied the capital, Manila. - The first large-scale, hand-to-hand fighting between Japanese and American forces as they adjusted the the demands of jungle warfare. - Japan had expelled the US from western Pacific and present it with a significant military and logistical challenge if it wanted to return. - ‘Batan Dealth March’- 70, 000 American and Filipino prisoners were forced to march to a prison camp. 10 000 died on the way. This contributed to anti-Japanese forces. - President Rooesevelt had ordered MacArthur to escape to Australia aboard a navy PT boat. This boosted Australian morale as it was taken as a sign of American commitment to the defence of Australia.

Important background: ·  MacArthur was military advisor of the Philippines from 1936 – 1941 ·   5 hours after Pearl Harbour Japan struck – destroyed reinforced American air force. ·  Japan then landed troops in northern Luzon (north of Manila), then landed //57,000 troops// at Lingayen Gulf. ·  **3rd Jan 1942** = Japanese control of Manila. ·  **22nd Feb** President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to retreat to Aust. ·  Took Japan four months to gain control // *From CONTESTED SPACES: Conflict in the pacific – p67 - 68

//__Other Important dates to remember: __ ·  **8 Dec** = air attacks on the Philippines ·  **10 Dec** = full invasion by the Japanese ·  **6 May** = Island fortress named Corregidor fell – this marked Japanese conquest Among the consequences of the Japanese attack: ·  Japan had expelled the US from the Western Pacific ·  ‘Bataan Death March’ that followed the surrender, //70,000// American and Filipino prisoners forced to march to prison camp. Over //10,000// died. ·  President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to escape on a navy PT boat to Aus. His arrival boosted morale – people thought he was committed to Aus’s defence. ·  MacArthur’s determination to lead an American army back to the Philippines ensured the US did commit forces to Aus to support his advance into Papua New Guinea & the South West Pacific. // *From HTA Study Guide p 227 //