Battle For The Liberation Of Baguio

Today in a Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

FEBRUARY 21, 1945

The Battle for the Liberation of Baguio began. It was part of General Douglas MacArthur’s campaign to liberate the Philippines during World War II. 

Troops from the United States Army's 33rd Infantry Division, together with regiments of the Philippine guerrilla force United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon, began their drive towards Baguio. 

By March, Baguio was within range for the Allied artilleries. 

President Jose P. Laurel, who was installed by the Japanese to head the Second Philippine Republic, left Baguio on March 22, 1945 and arrived in Taiwan on March 30. 

Other members of the puppet government and Japanese civilians were ordered to evacuate Baguio on March 30. 

General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the commander of the Japanese 14th Area Army and his staff relocated to Bambang. General Yamashita made Baguio his headquarters in December of 1944. 

It was only in April when a major offensive was carried by the Americans against the Japanese troops. 

The 37th Infantry Division launched a two-division assault from the west and south. 

A six-day battle was fought in the west with tank-versus-tank battle between the American M4 Sherman’s of the US Army’s Company B, 775th Tank Battalion against the Type 97s of the Imperial Japanese Army’s 5th Tank Company, 10th Tank Regiment. 

The Battle for the Liberation of Baguio ended on April 26, 1945.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Handmade by Heroes