The Luzon Campaign 1945: MacArthur Returns

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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 and General Eichelberger . 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