Gen. MacArthur Arrives In Melbourne

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

MARCH 21, 1942

General Douglas MacArthur arrived in Melbourne, Australia after being ordered by U.S. Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt to leave the Philippines and be the Supreme Commander of the Pacific Area. 

He earlier left Corregidor Island with his family in PT boats. 

In Australia, he gave his famous line "I came through and I shall return."

General Jonathan M. Wainwright IV took over the command of all U.S. and Filipino forces in the Philippines. 

President Roosevelt authorized him to continue the fight against the Japanese invaders or make terms as he saw fit. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights deserved

Photo credit: Historylink.org

Gen. MacArthur's Troops Invade Zamboanga Peninsula

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

MARCH 10, 1945

U.S. Eight Army invades Zamboanga Peninsula. 

Gen. Douglas MacArthur reported: We have landed near Zamboanga on the southwestern-most tip of Mindanao. 

The bulk of the enemy garrison, caught off guard, has fled to the hills in disorder. 

We now control the entire length of the western shores of the Philippine Islands from the northwestern tip of Luzon to the southwestern tip of Mindanao.."

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

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Troops Recapture Manila

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

MARCH 3, 1945

American and Filipino troops recapture Manila from the Japanese invaders. 

The Liberation of Manila began on February 3 until March 3. 

The one month battle for liberation ended in a massive bloodbath and totally devastated the city. 

This marked the end of the three years of the Japanese occupation in the Philippines.

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

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

Gen. Douglas MacArthur

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

JANUARY 26, 1880

Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964), an American five-star general, Field Marshal of the Philippine Army, and liberator of the Philippines was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. 

He was Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army and led Allied forces in the Pacific theater in World War II. 

For his service in the Philippine Campaign, he was given the Medal of Honor, the same recognition given to his father, Arthur MacArthur, Jr.,  the first father and son to be awarded the medal. 

MacArthur was one of five men to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the US Army. 

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

Photo credit: althistory.wikia.com

Gen. Douglas MacArthur Lands In Lingayen

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

JANUARY 9, 1945

Gen. Douglas MacArthur and 68,000 troops of the US 6th Army under the command of Gen. Walter Krueger landed on Lingayen Gulf. Prior to the landings, Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf, ordered U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy warships to bombard suspected Japanese positions along the coast of Lingayen for three days starting on January 6. As cameras rolled, MacArthur walked ashore to greet cheering Filipinos. After the successful landings, Lingayen Gulf was turned into a supply depot to support the Battle of Luzon.

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

Photo credit: skyscrapercity.com

Gen. Masaharu Homma Declares End Of US Rule

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

JANUARY 3, 1942

Gen. Masaharu Homma, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Imperial Forces in the Philippines officially proclaimed the end of American colonial rule in the Philippines. 

A day earlier, Japanese troops occupied Manila after Gen. Douglas MacArthur declared it an open city on December 25, 1941 upon the advise of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon. 

The Commonwealth government was transferred to Corregidor while MacArthur concentrated his troops to the Bataan peninsula as he waited for American reinforcements that never came.    

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

Photo credit: japanesemonarchist.blogspot.com

Japanese Planes Bomb The Philippines

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 8, 1941

After the devastation of the US Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Japanese bombers under the command of Gen. Masaharu Homma destroyed air and naval defenses in Davao, Tuguegarao, Clark Field, Nichols Field, Iba, Tarlac, and Baguio while the Japanese 14th Army landed in Batan Island in Luzon. 

Hours earlier, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was in command of the United States Army and Air Forces in the Philippines was informed of what happened in Pearl Harbor and an impending Japanese attack on American military installations in the Philippines. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy)

All rights reserved

Photo credit: archives.gov

Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita Orders Operation Te-Go

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 5, 1944

Operation Te-Go Japanese Paratrooper Attack on Leyte was initiated after General Tomoyuki Yamashita gave an order to launch offensives against American forces. 

The entire Japanese First Airborne Brigade with two regiments jumped on San Pablo Airfield and Buri Airfield. 

The Americans under General Douglas MacArthur were caught by surprise. The first plane load of Japanese paratroopers left their aircraft directly above the Division Headquarters 600 feet short of their objectives. 

Some were strung out in an area full of trees and got entangled. One plane load of paratroopers jumped to their deaths when the anchor line failed to open. Others were shot down by American troops. The Japanese paratroopers were all eliminated. 

Buri Airfield was located on the eastern coast of Leyte. To the south is Bayug Airfield and to the southeast is San Pablo Airfield. 

That same day, the US 10th Corp began their offensive and moved into Ormoc while the 24th Corp gained ground in central and southwestern Leyte. 

The US 77th Division landed unopposed on December 7 in Ormoc and secured it on December 10, 1944. 

Earlier, on October 20, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur accompanied by his staff and President Sergio Osmeña landed at Red Beach, Leyte. 

The Battle of Leyte which began on October 17 to December 26, 1944 was an amphibious invasion of the island of Leyte by American forces.

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

Photo credit: malacanang.gov.ph

Gen. MacArthur Reestablishes The Commonwealth Government

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

OCTOBER 23, 1944

Gen. Douglas MacArthur reestablished the Commonwealth of the Philippines in Tacloban, Leyte with Sergio Osmeña as president. 

Also, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in World War II began and lasted for four days. 

The battle consisted of four main separate engagements called the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, Battle of Surigao Straight, Battle of Cape Engaño, and the Battle of Samar. 

American and Australian forces with 800 ships and 1,500 planes crippled the Imperial Japanese Navy’s force consisting of 67 ships and 300 planes.   

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

Photo credit: wallpaperweb.org

Gen. Douglas MacArthur Lands In Leyte

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

OCTOBER 20, 1944

American liberation forces headed by Gen. Douglas MacArthur together with Pres. Sergio Osmeña landed in Palo, Leyte to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese. 

MacArthur in a  dramatic entrance in the Red Beach announced: "People of the Philippines, I have returned! By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil." 

The United States and Australian forces together with Filipino guerrillas engaged the Imperial Japanese Army of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita in the Battle of Leyte from October 17, 1944 to December 31, 1944. 

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

Photo credit: wikipedia.org and wazzuppilipinas.com