SUBMARINE WARFARE IN LEYTE GULF, THE PHILIPPINES Before taking Darter all the way down to evade the destroyer attack he knew would come, McClintock took a rapid last look through his periscope at Atago. The cruiser, he noted in his report, "was a mass of billowing. black smoke from $e number one turret to the stem. No superstructure could be -seen. Bright orange flames shot out from the side along the main deck from the bow to the after turret." The ship was ",already down by the bow." Satisfied with his kill, McClintock took Darter into its dive. He had fired the first rounds in the battle of Leyte Gulf and drawn first blood.
FIIJP.~'AS ~~ERITAGE
IJBRARY
STANLEY L. FALK
DEelSIONAT
LEYTE
- A BERKLEY MEDALLION BOOK published by BERKLEY PUBLISHING CORPORATION
I- (1171 lJ
1ft?- tf
.F5 11~7
To my parents
COPYRIGHT
© 1966 BY STANLEY L. FALK
All rights reserved
Published by arrangement with W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. BERKLEY MEDALLION EDITION, OCTOBER, 1967
BERKLEY MEDALLION BOOKS are published by Berkley Publishing Corporation 200 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10016 BERKLEY MEDALLION BOOKS ® TM 757,375 Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS ix
Preface One
I SHALL RETURN
11 17
1 The Escape 2 The Road Back Two
PROLOGUE TO DECISIVE BATTLE
26 34
3 The Tiger of Malaya 4 Prelude to Victory Three
S 6 7 8 9
I HAVE RETURNED
The Opponents Activate Sho-l! A-Day Destroy the Enemy on Leyte! Expanding the Beachhead
S8 72
83 96 101
Four THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GUJ.F
10 11 12 13 14
First Blood Air Strikes and Maneuvers The Valley of Death Taffy 3 The End of the Battle
Five 15 16 17 18
116 128 144 158 186
WESTWARD FROM THE BEACHHEAD
The Race to Reinforce X Corps to Carigara The Best-Laid Plans A Desperate Struggle and a Shoestring V
206 216 229 245
Six 19 20 21 21
DECISION AT LEYTE
The Wa Operation Two Sevens in Ormoc Closing the Vise Leyte: The Decisive Battle
Index
259
274 290 304 309
vi
ILLUSTRATIONS
Maps The Western Pacific The Philippine Islands
12
39
North Central Leyte
60 85 221
Northern Leyte
240
Leyte The Beachhead Area
PREFACE WHEN Japanese forces invaded the Philippines in early 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, the American commander in the islands, was ordered to escape to Australia. He left unwillingly, and swore thzt he would return. By the time he did, two and one half years later at the head of a powerful armada, the Japanese had determined to defend the Philippines to the death. They planned to fight a major air, sea, and land battle for the island of Leyte that would prove decisive in the struggie for the mastery of the Pacific. This book is the story of that battle. It is a story that, in all its aspects, has not been told before in a single volume. Here I have tried to blend into one narrative an account of the fighting-in the air, at sea, and on the ground -for the struggle for Leyte was carried on simultaneously in all three settings. To portray it simply as a slugging match between armies, a naval !Jattle, or a series of aerial dogfights is to ignore the relationship of these contests and the important effect each had on the others. By the same tokm, I have woven into this account as much as possible of the Japanese side of the story, for an understanding of Japanese actions and intentions is necessary to appreciate the full meaning of the great battle for Leyte. Yet to coyer in one narrative all the intricate and tedious details of the Leyte campaign would require a far longer and more complex exposition than this one-less meaningful, perhaps, than comprehensive. What I have sought to do, then, is to present an over-all impression of what happened, from the highest levels of policy and strategy to the actions of a few individuals in one corner of a battlefield. I have tried to portray the significant, the meaningful, the unusual, and, within reasonable limits, the ordinary events of those bloody months in late 1944 when the fate of the Japanese Empire was sealed. ix
It would have been far more difficult to write this book without the published American official histories-Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine-each of which presents in copious detail the record of its service's participation in the battle. I have supplemented these accounts of the official records and reports of the Leyte campaign, including unpublished narratives and histories prepared on the scene. I have also drawn on the various memoirs of commanders and reminiscences of other participants, on unit histories, and on secondary accounts of the campaign. I have purposely refrained from interviewing participants at this late date. Anything important or controversial that might be said is already in the record and in most cases has been published. Besides, memories fade after twenty years. On the Japanese side there is a great deal of valuable material available, despite the completeness of the Japanese defeat. Documents captured during the campaign and prisoner of war interviews are of course present in the official American records. Then, immediately after the war, American military and naval officials conducted extensive interrogations of Japanese survivors and took steps to preserve whatever documentary material could be discovered. At the direction of American military historians serving in the occupation of Japan, Japanese veterans prepared detailed accounts of the Leyte campaign, based on their memories and on whatever official documents were available. These accounts were then supplemented by further interrogations and interviews. I was fortunate to be able to participate in much of this activity and worked personally with many of the Japanese involved. A final source of Japanese material is the trarscript of the war crimes trial of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, which, except for two short interrogations, is the only place where the J apanese army commander in the Philippines was able to speak for himself. For assistance in locating some of my source material and for making it more readily available, I am indebted to Miss Hannah M. Zeidlik of the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, and Mrs. Lois Aldrich and Mr. Wilbur J. Nigh of the World War II Records Divisions of the National Archives. STANLEY
x
L.
FALK
INDEX Abukuma, 153, 155-156 Abuyog, 59, 219, 230 Adams, Lt. Max, 129 A-day, 24, 68, 83-96, 176 Airborne operations, 259, 274, 277, 282-284 Airborne troops, see Divisions (U.S.), 11th Airborne; Brigades (Japanese), 2nd Parachute; Kaoru Airborne Raiding Detachment Airfields, see Leyte, airfields Air support Japanese, 27-28, 36, 44, 66, 75, 97-98, 116--117, 120-121, 138, 140, 141, 178, 206, 207, 259-262 U.S., 20-26, 62, 69, 71, 108, 135, 163, 206--213, 229, 246, 279 ' see also Leyte, air operations;, Leyte Gulf, Battle of, air operations Air units Japanese, see First Combined Base Air Force; Fourth Air Army; Fifth Base Air Force; Sixth Base Air Force U.S., see Far East Air Forces; Fifth Air Force; Marines, air action Akitsuki, 189 Albert W. Grant, 151 Angeles, 267 Army units Japanese, see Brigades; Divisions; First Area Army; Fourteen th Area Army; Kwantung Defense Army; Regiments; Southern Army; Twenty-fifth Army; Thirtyfifth Army U.S., see Brigades; Corps; Divisions; Eighth Army; Rangers; Regiments; Sixth Army Arnold, Maj. Gen. Archibald Y., 91, 111, 112, 251, 255, 275
Asagumo, ISO, lSI, 155 Ashigara, 153, 154, 156 Atago, 36 passim, 120-27 passim Australia, 13, 15-19, 96, 127, 304 Badger, Rear Adm. Oscar C., 198, 201 Barbey, Rear Adm. Daniel E., 69, 84 Barugo, 220, 228 Bataan, 11, 63 Baybay, 219, 230, 242, 249, 251, 277 Bayug airstrip, 113,260,263-265, 268 Benitez, Lt. Cmdr. R. C., 126 Birmingham, 132-134 Bismarck Archipelago, 17, 19 Blue Beach, 90 Bogan, Rear Adm. Gerald D., 70, 128-129, 134-136, 144, 160161, 187, 194, 197-198 Bong, Maj. Richard I., 208 Bradley, Maj. Gen. James L., 90-91, 108 Breakneck Ridge, 235-239, 247, 249, 301 Brett, Lt. Gen. George H., 15-16 Bridgewater, Lt. CoL F. Clay, 280 Brigades (Japanese) 2nd Parachute, 260, 263, 267271 57th Independent, 97, 210 68th Independent, 211, 214, 265, 278-279, 282, 291, 303 Brigades (U.S.) 1st Cavalry, 240-241 Brooks, Ensign George, 164 Brostram, Pvt. Leonard C., 218 Bruce, Maj. Gen. Andrew D., 276--292 passim, 299-300 Brunei Bay, 72, 75, 97, 118-128 passim, 136, 139, 155, 156, 183, 184 Bulkley, Lt. John D., 14--15 Bunker Hill, 159
309
Buracker, Capt. William H., 133 Burauen, 113-114, 217, 220, 255, 260, 262-274, 282 Burauen-Dagami road, 115, 265-266 Buri airstrip, 112, 113-115, 262-270, 272 Butler, see John C. Butler
131250, 216, 260,
Cabot, 13&-137 Camotes Islands, 278, 281, 283, 285 Canberra, 53, 55 Cannon, Pfc. Donald J., 73 Cape Engafio, 187 Carigara, 216, 220-243 passim, 248, 249, 258, 292 Carigara Bay, 59, 220, 229, 232-235, 239, 281, 298 Camey, Rear Adm. Robert B., 194 Casualties, ground Japanese, 73, 87, 89, 106, 107, 111, 115, 227, 239, 242, 253, 264, 279, 300-301, 307 U.S., 73, 77, 93, 111, 218, 227, 239, 246, 253, 305 Catmon Hill, 90-91, 109-110 Cebu, 41, 75, 86, 96, 101, 115, 210, 279, 284, 303-304 Center Force, 142-143, 190; see also Kurita, Vice Adm. T. Chikuma, 172-173, 175 Chitose, 189 Chiyoda, 189-190, 195-196 Chokai, 175 Claggett, Cmdr. Bladen D., 123127,201 Clark Field, 97-98 Coghlan, 285 Combined Fleet, 45, 51, 66, 72, 77-78, 97, 100, 116, 118-119, 122--123, 139-140, 202, 206, 306 aircraft losses, 52--53, 55-57, 82, 130-131 dispositions, 43, 97, 116, 202 oil shortag~, 43, 5&-57, 116, 202 strength, 36 surface losses, 127-128, 139, 155-156, 175, 184, 195-196, 203 see also First Mobile Fleet; 1st Striking Force; Main Body; 2nd Striking Force; South-
west Area Fleet; Toyoda, Adm. S. Command Japanese, 27, 31, 32, 33, 41-43, 47-48, 65-67, 118, 122, 123, 157-202, 245, 306 U.S., 17-18, 67-76, 306 Coron Bay, 123, 135, 138 Corps CU.S.) X, 68, 80, 84, 87, 89, 93, 102-110 passim, 216-234 passim, 239, 246, 249, 256, 258-259, 274-275, 292, 297; see also Sibert, Maj. Gen. F. C. XXIV, 68, 80, 84, 90, 93, 108, 110, Ill, 216, 229, 233, 241, 242, 255-256, 258-259, 265, 274, 277, 229; see also Hodge, Maj. Gen. J. R. Corregidor, 11, 13, 16, 146 Cotta, Sgt. Alvino, 92 Coward, Capt. J. G., 149, 150 - Crosby, 72 Cruzen, Capt. Richard H., 162 Dace, 123-127, 142 Dacones, Cpt. Ponciano, 87 Dagami, 86, 216-224 passim, 228, 233, 241-242, 255, 275; see also Bmauen-Dagami road Damulaan, 250-251, 254-255, 264,265, 275, 290 Darter, 123-127, 129, 142 Davis, 1st Lt. Harry F., 107 Davison, Rear Adm. Ralph E., 70, 128-129, 134-135, 137, 142, 144, 159, 161, 187, 194 "Decisive battle," 35-36, 38-41, 42, 47-48, 57, 64, 78-79, 96, 99, 115,206, 241, 244, 294-295; see also Sho operation Dennis, 170, 171 Denver, 72 Deposito, 278, 281 Dick, 1st Lt. Dallas, 89 Dill, Col. Macy L., 111 Dinagat Island, 58, 68, 74, 84, 149' Divisions (Japanese) 1st, 47, 211-212, 214, 230-231, 235, 239, 247-249, 274-275, 279, 282, 292, 303 8th, 214, 283 10th, 292 16th, 63-65, 74-75, 76, 80, 82, 86, 90, 101, 104, 107, 112, 115, 21&-227 passim, 233,
310
241-242, 243, 255, 260, 264273 passim, 303-304, 305 26th, 42, 211-214, 249-251, 255, 259, 260, 264-265, 271273, 275, 280, 281-282, 286, 290 30th, 97, 210, 214, 220, 265, 275, 281, 283, 287, 291-292 102nd, 97, 210, 214, 220, 227228, 275, 292, 303 Divisions (U.S.) 1st Cavalry, 68, 87, 88, 102104, 106, 176, 220, 228, 233, 234, 240-241, 247, 248, 249, 274, 275, 290 7th Infantry, 68, 91-92, 111114, 217, 219, 242, 250, 251, 254-255, 264, 275-276, 281, 282, 290, 297 11th Airborne, 215, 255, 264, 266, 269, 271-273, 275, 290, 297 24th Infantry, 68, 87, 93, 94, 104, 106, 108, 220-235 passim, 239, 247, 290 32nd Infantry, 68, 215, 247-249, 274, 290 38th Infantry, 269-270 77th Infantry, 68, 215, 274-292, passim, 298-300 96th Infantry, 68, 90-91, 108110, 111, 219, 241-242, 255, 266, 270, 275, 290 DuBose, Rear Adm. Laurance T., 194-196 Dulag, 59, 64, 68, 76, 80, 84, 90, 91, 92, 93, 108, 111, 112, 177, 205, 207-209, 219, 262, 263, 268, 269, 272, 278 Eichelberger, Lt. Gen. Robert L., 297, 300 Eighth Army, 297, 301 Ely, Col. William J., 61 Emperor (Hirohito), 38, 40, 54, 78, 100, 202, 294-295 Engineers, 61-62, 93, 107, 176177, 205, 207-209, 226, 232, 251, 256-257, 263, 271, 277; see also Leyte, airfields; Logistics Enterprise, 135 Escort carriers, 69, 77, 81, 84, 103, 108, 112, 134-135, 156,
162-186 passim, 203, 207, 209, 210, 277; see also Sprague, Rear Adm. T. L.; Taffy 1; Taffy 2; Taffy 3 Essex, 130, 137, 188 Evans, Cmdr. Ernest E., 167, 172, 173-174 Fanshaw Bay, 164, 171, 181 Far East Air Forces, 50, 67, 69, 71 Fifth Air Force, 135, 156, 207, 208, 263, 268, 270, 273, 279 Fifth Base Air Force, 44, 66, 8283, 97, 180 Finn, Lt. Col. John M., 114-115, 250-254 First Area Army, 32 First Combined Base Air Force, 129, 182, 214; see also Fukudome, Vice Adm. S. First Mobile Fleet, 43, 52, 55-56 1st Striking Force, 43, 65,_72, 75, 97, 116, 118, 120, 129, 135, 144, 157, 197; see also Kurita, Vice Adm. T. Formosa, 21-24, 33, 35, 44, 5058 passim, 65-82 passim, 97, 118, 196, 211 air battle, 52-57, 65, 71, 75, 79, 82, 103, 116, 117, 118, 142, 156, 202 Forrester, Lt. Russell, 177 Fortenberry, Pfc. Dennis, 287 Fort McKinley, 48, 49, 99-100 Fourteenth Area Army, 41, 48, 66, 98, 99, 100, 210-211, 244245, 292'-293, 294-295; see also Yamashita, Gen. T. Fourth Air Army, 41, 45, 66, 73, 74, 82-83, 97, 130, 134, 176, 177, 182, 208, 214, 250, 256, 259-260, 265, 272, 279-280; see also Tominaga, Lt. Gen. K. Fox, Lt. Charles, Jr., 194 Franklin, 135 Fukudome, Vice Adm. Shigeru, 52-56, 65, 97, 129-140 passim, 178, 208, 214, 215, 259 Fukue, Lt. Gen. Shimpei, 303 Fuso, 119, 135, 147, 149-150, 153, 155 Gambier Bay, 171, 172-173, 174 Garrison, Lt. Paul B., 176
311
Huaton, 291-292 Huxtable, Lt. Cmdr. Edward J., 176 Huyga, 141, 188-189, 195
Gill, Maj. Gen. William H., 247, 248, 274 Glenn, T/5 Victor L., 108 Goldsborough, 76 . Goldstein, Burton J., 193 Golia, 1st Lt. Albert J., 287-288 Gower, Pfc. Quinton W., 92 Grant, see Albe'rt W. Grant Guadalcanal, 19, 235 Gudor, Lt. M. A., 284 Guerrillas, 25, 34, 49, 63, 80, 81, 103, 228, 239, 250, 278 Guinarona River, 110-111 Haguro, 169 Halpern, Sgt. Sam, 177 Halsey, Adm. William F. "Bull's Run" 198 in Formosa' air battle, 52-58 and kamikazes, 261 and Kurita, 125, 129, 142-143, 160, 178, 183-184, 191, 196201,204-205 message from Nimitz, 192-194 messages from Kinkaid, 162, 190-191, 198 and Nishimura, 135, 141-142 and Ozawa, 75, 141-143, 159, 183, 187, 192, 194-201 raids on Philippines, 24--25, 44-58 passim and San Bernardino Strait, 129, 143, 145, 158-162, 197-201 and strategy, 25-26 support of Leyte operation, 55, 57, 64, 69-71, 77, 81, 82, 83, 84, 129, 138, 164, 207, 210, 215, 261, 277, 306 see also Third Fleet Haruna, 120, 164, 166, 169' Hathaway, Cmdr. Amos T., 169 Hatsuzuki, 196 Heermann, 169, 172-173 Hill 522, 87-89, 93, 106-107 Hill 120, 90 Hodge, Maj. Gen. John R., 68, 89-90, 93, 102, 108, 227, 229, 233, 241, 255-256, 266, 274, 290, 299-300 Hoel, 168-169, 174 Hokoda, Col. Keijiro, 113 Hollandia, 50 Horoonhon Island, 58, 68, 74, 83 Honolulu, 97 Houston, 53, 55-56
Iimura, Lt. Gen. Jo, 244, 293, 296 Imabori, Col. Tessaku, 282, 286289, 291-292 Imabori Detachment, se'e lmabori, Col. T. Imperial General Headquarters described, 66 and Malayan campaign 27, 28 and Philippine defense, 35-50 passim, 57-58, 64, 77-78, 79, 98, 100-101, 122-123, 206, 210-211, 243-244, 245, 260, 262, 263-264, 292, 294--296 and Sho plans, 35-52 passim, 56, 75, 78 and Soviet Union, 32 Independence, 137 Inland Sea, 43, 55, 65, 72, 98, 117-118,186 Inoguchi, Rear Adm. Toshihei, 138 Intrepid, 129, 136-137, 261 Iowa, 198 Ipil, 281, 286, 287 Irving, Maj. Gen. Frederick A., 87, 104, 106, 108, 221, 232, 239 Ise, 141, 195 Ito, Lt. Crodr., 285 Japan effect of Leyte defeat on, 202, 305,307-308 fear of Soviet attack, 32 Sho plans to defend, 35, 37-38 unwiJlingness to surrender, 33, 38, 206 U.S. drive on, 17, 21-22, 33, 61, 202 Jaro, 222, 224, 226, 228, 234, 241 Jeep carriers, see Escort carriers lohn C. Butler, 171 lohnston, 167-174 passim Joint Chiefs of Staff, 21-26 passim,66 Kaczanowicz, Pvt. Charles J., 114 Kalinin Bay, 171 Kamikaze attacks, 179-182, 205, 208-209,214,242,261,277,279280, 286, 293, 307
312
Kaneko, Maj. Chuji, 228-229, 230, 233 Kaoru Airborne Raiding Detachment, 260, 262 Kataoka, Lt. Gen. Tadasu, 211, 231-232, 235-236, 239, 247249, 274-275, 290, 302, 303 Kelley, Pvt. Ova A., 270 Kenney, Lt. Gen. George C., 50, 69, 71, 207-210, 261, 277, 279, 299 Ketsu operation, 292-293 Kilay Ridge, 239, 247-249 Kimura, Rear Adm. Susumu, 173174 King, Adm. Ernest J., 22 King-I operation, 24 King-II operation, 24, 25, 50, 67, 71, 84, 160; see also Leyte, U.S. plans Kinkaid, Vice ¡Adm. Thomas C., 26, 68, 73, 75, 77, 143, 191, 194,199,207,261,281 character of, 68 co=and responsibility of, 68, 71 and Leyte Gulf, 185, 199-201, 306 messages to Halsey, 162, 190192,198,201,207 and Mindoro, 277 and Ormoc landing, 242, 277, 298 and Palompon landing, 299 and San Bernardino Strait, 160162,163,190 and Surigao Strait, 145, 190 Kintberger, Cmdr. Leon S., 168 Kishinami, 127 Kitkun Bay, 181 Koiso, Premier Kuniaki, 33, 384q, 54, 294-295 Kongo, 120, 136, 166, 168, 169 Kover, Lt. Mike, 153 Koyanagi, Rear Adm. Tomiji, 121, 139, 175, 184, 185 Krueger, Lt. Gen. Walter, 92-93, 94,108,209,215,290 character of, 68 on 1st Division, 212 on Leyte Gulf, 204, 205 and Leyte plans, 68, 104, 216, 229-230, 232-234, 239, 242243, 249, 255-256, 258, 262, 274-275, 298-300
and Luzon, 297-298 and reinforcements, 215, 248, 256, 269 and replacements, 246-247, 276 and 77th Division, 276-277, 300 see also Sixth Army Kumano, 167, 170 Kurita, Vice Adm. Takeo, 43, 65 approach plan, 118-123 approach to San Bernardino, 129, 134-162 passim, 187, 189 attack on Taffy 3, 163-178, 190191 at Brunei Bay, 97, 121-122 decision to regroup, 178-179 decision to turn back, 182-185 escape from Halsey, 197-198 mission, 72, 75, 116, 117 mistakes, 158, 202-203, 306 in Palawan Passage, 123-128 support by kamikazes, 180-182 threat to Leyte Gulf, 191-192, 199-201, 203-206, 207-208 see also Center Force; 1st Striking Force Kuroda, Lt. Gen. Shigenori, 3435, 41-42, 48 Kusaka, Rear Adm. Ryunosuke, 51 Kwantung Defense Army, 27 Kyushu, 44, 82 Labiranan Head, 109 Lee, Vice Adm. Willis A., 159161, 187, 191 Lexington, 129, 137, 142, 160, 189 Leyte airfields, 61-62, 64, 68, 77, 8182, 84, 87, 93, 94, 98, 102, 108, 112-115, 163, 176-178, 183, 205, 206-210, 215, 241, 243, 245, 262-263, 276-277, 285,305 Japanese attacks on, 243, 245, 249-250, 255, 277-278, 282283; see also Wa operation air operations, 74, 77, 81-82, 84-85, 97, 106, 108, 112, 129130, 134-135, 177, 182, 208215, 250, 259-261, 267-268, 272, 279-280, 283-285, 299; see alsO' Air support; Kamikaze attacks; Leyte Gulf, Battle of, air operations description of, 58-62
313
Japanese plans. and defenses, 63-64, 68, 90, 96-97, 100-101, 216, 228-230, 244-245, 248, 263, 281, 292-297; see also Philippine Islands, Japanese plans Japanese strength, 24-24, 63-64, 115, 206, 214-215, 300-301; see also Reinforcement Japanese landing beaches, 59, 75, 76-77, 80-81, 87-88, 89-91, 93-94, 101-102 naval bombardment, 76-77, 8081, 84-86, 89, 108-109, 146147 roads, 59-61, 90, 94, 102, 220, 232, 256-257, 298 terrain, 59-61, 235, 240-241 U.S. plans, 21-22, 23-26, 44, 61-62, 68-72, 216, 229, 233234, 243, 255-256 U.S. strength, 206, 215, 246-247; see also Reinforcements, U.S. weather, 59-60, 72, 73, 74, 80, 82, 130, 208-215 passim, 232, 246, 256, 305 Leyte Gulf, 26, 42, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 68, 72-84 passim, 101, 129, 133-135, 141-147 passim, 156-157, 162-167 passim, 179185 passim, 191, 197-208 passim, 216, 268, 277-278 Battle of, 115-116, 116-206,207, 215, 216, 229, 307 air operations, 128-142, 166, 170, 175-179, 184, 187-191, 195-196; see also Kamikaze attacks ammunition, 146, 192, 199 "Bull's Run," 198 evaluation, 199-206 losses, Japanese, 127-128, 135, 139, 142, 154-155, 155-156, 175,182,184,189-190,195196,203 losses, U.S., 133-134, 139, 156, 174, 181-182, 203 see also under names of co=anders and units; Surigao Strait, Battle of Leyte Valley, 59, 64, 68, 101-110 passim, 216, 224, 241 Lingga Roads, 43, 65, 72, 124 Lipa, 261-262, 267, 269
List, Lt. Col. Edwin 0., 108-109 Logistics, Japanese, 99, 238, 250-251 U.S., 61-62, 68-69, 93-94, 204206, 238, 240, 250-251, 256258, 276, 298, 305-306 see also Engineers; Reinforcements Luzon, 11, 21, 23, 55, 66, 83, 98, 116, 118, 129-130, 181, 187, 188, 293, 297, 305-306 air attacks on, 46-47, 50-51, 53, 55, 56-57, 73, 261 Japanese defenses, 40-43, 4849, 50, 64, 79-80, 98, 99-100, 138-139, 141-142, 210-211, 243-244, 245, 292-293, 294295, 306-307 MacArthur, Gen. Douglas, 55, 64, 101, 208, 209, 215, 224, 242, 245, 255, 257, 261, 269, 297, 300,304-306 advance on Philippines, 18-26 paSSIm, 33, 34-35, 62-63, 64 career, 11-13, 62-63 co=and relationships, 17-18, 67-71 description, 11-13 escape from Corregidor, 11-17, 95, 146 on Leyte Gulf, 203-204, 205 Leyte landing, 94-96, 103-104 and Mindoro, 277 and replacements, 246---247, 276 and 77th Division, 276 strategic views, 20, 21-23 McCain, Vice Adm. John S., 70, 128-129, 144, 161, 184, 187, 191, 197 McCampbell, Cmdr. David, 130, 188-189 McClintock, Cmdr. David H., 124-128, 128, 201 McDuffie, Pvt. Jack, 114 McManes, Capt. K. M., 150 Mahan, 280 Main Body, 43, 56, 65, 72-73, 75, 98, 116-118; see also Ozawa, Vice Adm. J. Makino, Lt. Gen. Shiro, 63-64, 74-75, 86, 89, 90, 94, 97, 104, 106, 109, 112-113, 115,216,219, 224, 241, 265-267, 273, 304, 305 Mako,98,123
314
Malayan campaign, 26-30, 32, 41 Manchuria, 27, 32-33, 47 Manila, 11, 46, 156, 305 Japanese headquarters, 33, 35, 41, 45, 50, 66-67, 73, 74, 75, 79, 86, 98-99, 122, 138, 140, 180, 243, 244-245, 262, 271, 292, 293, 295, 303 as port of embarkation, 211-214, 250,283-284 Manus Island, 50 Marines, 19 air action, 210, 215, 261, 279, 284-285, 289, 299 artillery, 242, 252 Marshall, Gen. George C., 22-23, 26 Marshall, Maj. Gen. Richard J., 95 Mathias, Maj. Leigh H ., 114 Matsuda, Rear Adm. Chiaki, 141, 187, 189-190, 195, 197 Maya, 126, 127 Michishio, 150 Mikawa, Vice Adm. Gunichi, 66, 75, 122-123, 137, 293 Mills, 1st Lt. Clifford W., 90 Mindanao, 13, 15-16, 21, 23-26, 44, 46, 50, 58, 62, 81, 146, 163, 180, 281, 283, 304 Mindanao Sea, 58, 93, 119, 144, 146, 155, 293 Mindoro, 120-121, 123, 129, 277, 293,298 Mindoro Strait, 119 Minesweeping, 72, 75, 80 Mitchell, Maj. Gen. Ralph J., 177 Mitscher, Vice Adm. Marc A., 50-54, 57, 69, 129, 133, 142, 160, 187-188, 194-196, 197, 201; see also Task Force 38 Mitsui, Col., 282, 286, 287 Miyama, Col. Yozo, 40--41, 46 Miyazaki, Lt. Gen. Shuichi, 295 Mogaml, 148-158 passim Moon, Pvt. Harold H., Jr., 105 . Morotai, 24, 25, 45, 46, 119, 120, 135, 212 Mower, Sgt. Charles E., 231 Mudge, Maj. Gen. Verne D., 87, 103-104, 220 Murphy, 1st Lt. Desmond M., 253 Musashi, 36, 65, 120, 137, 139 Mutankiang, 33 Muto, Lt. Gen. Akira, 49, 98-
100, 211, 244, 283, 292-296, 307 Myoko, 136, 139 Nachi, 153-154 Nagato, 120, 137, 165 Naka, Lt. Shigeo, 262 Nashville, 26, 94 Naval units, see Combined Fleet; Seventh Fleet; Third Fleet Negros, 100 Netherlands Indies, 16, 17, 50 Newcomb, 151 New Guinea, 19-20, 24, 33, 35, 50, 87, 96, 304 New Jersey, 54, 129, 159, 191, 192, 193, 198 Newman, Col. Aubrey S., 88, 104, 106, 224-225 "New York's Own," see Divisions (U.S.), 77th Infantry Nimitz, Adm. Chester W., 17, 1921, 23-26, 54, 67, 69-70, 71, 161, 192-194, 276 Nishimura, Vice Adm. Shoji, 119120, 122-123, 135, 137, 140, 142, 144-155, 156-157, 199, 202, 203 Nishimura, Maj. Gep.. Toshio, 99, 100 Nishino, Cmdr. Shigeru, 152-155, 157 Norimitsu, Capt. S., 172 Northern Force, 142-144, 194, 201; see also Ozawa, Vice Adm. J. Nowaki,198 Ohmae, Capt. Toshikazu, 190 Oikawa, Adm. Koshiro, 78, 294 Okabayashi, Col. Junkichi, 248, 249 Okinawa, 20, 50, 55-56, 82, 190 Oldendorf, Rear Adm. Jesse B., 80, 145-146, 148-149, 151-152, 155, 157, 185, 190-192, 199, 201, 203, 205 Onishi, Vice Adm. Takajiro, 180 Orange Beach, 90 Ormoc, 59,216,219,229-230, 232233, 241, 242, 249-250, 255, 259, 290-291, 292, 298, 299 capture, 286-290 and reinforcements, 63, 115, 210-214, 220, 233, 250-251, 265, 278, 283-284, 285-286
315
Thirty-fifth Army headquarters, 41, 44, 49, 56, 63-65, 68, 8296, 227, 229, 230, 263, 265, 83; see also Leyte, Japanese 274, 281, 289 strength U.S. landing near, 242, 272-274, U.S. advance to, 20-21, 26, 33, 277--282, 292, 297--298 34-35, 46-47; see also StratOrmoc Bay, 250, 262, 272, 274, egy, U.S. 277, 280-281, 285, 286 Philippine Sea, 33, 56, 58, 83, 120, Ormoc Road, 239--241, 247, 274, 158 Price, Col. George S., 246 282, 291, 298 Prince 01 Wales, 27 Ormoc Valley, 59, 216, 231, 229230,232-235,240,247,249,256, Princeton, 130-134, 138, 141, 142 259,274-275,279,282,283,290, PT boats, 11, 13-15, 93, 146, 147292, 297-298, 299 148, 153, 155, 156, 203, 250, 277-278, 281, 299, 303 Osmefia, President Sergio, 95, 103, 305 . Raabe, T/Sgt. Marvin H., 253 Oyodo, 190, 195-196 Radio Tokyo, 54, 57 Ozawa, Vice Adm. Jisaburo, 43, Rangers 52, 56, 65, 120, 186-190 6th Ranger Battalion, 68, 72-74 approach to Philippines, 72-73, 75, 98, 116-118, 132, 137, Raymond, 170, 171 Red Beach, 87, 88, 96, 104 139-143, 158, 159 Regiments (Japanese) evaluated, 203 1st Reconnaissance, 230-231 target for Halsey, 159, 162, 183, 3rd Parachute, 267 187-192, 195-201 4th Parachute, 283 5th Infantry, 283, 285, 292 Pacific Ocean Areas, 17 Palau Islands, 20, 24-25, 46 9th Infantry, 90, 91, 108, 110 20th Infantry, 90, 91, 92, 109, Palawan Island, 98, 119-120, 124, 112, 217-218 165 33rd Infantry, 87, 89, 104-107, Palawan Passage, 119-120, 123, 221, 222, 224, 226 124, 126, 185 41st Infantry, 220, 224, 226Palo, 59, 84, 87, 89, 106-108,221227, 228, 235, 240 222, 241 57th Infantry, 231, 235 Palompon, 59, 283-284, 290, 291Regiments (U.S.) 292, 293, 298-300 7th Cavalry, 220 Panay,62 12th Cavalry, 257--258 Paratroop operations, see Air17th Infantry, 218-219 borne operations; Airborne 19th Infantry, 88-89, 106-108, troops 221, 223, 233, 239, 247 Pearl Harbor Conference, 23 21st Infantry, 93, 104, 233, Pennsylvania, 76 234-239, 247 Percival, Lt. Gen. Sir Arthur E., 32nd Infantry, 91, 114, 242, 28-30 250-254 Pescadores Islands, 52, 56, 98 34th Infantry, 87-88, 104-108, Petrol Bay, 181 222, 224-229, 230-235, 239, Philippine Government, 12, 103, 247 305 112th Cavalry, 215, 248 Philippine Islands, 11, 13, 16, 17 184th Infantry, 91 Japanese plans and defenses, 306th Infantry, 289 34-36, 40-50 passim, 56-58, 307th Infantry, 289 63, 64, 72-75, 77-80, 96-101; 382nd Infantry, 109-111 see also Leyte, Japanese 383rd Infantry, 108-109 plans and defenses; Sho opReinforcements Japanese, 35, 42, 47, 63, 65, eration 75, 79, 82, 97-101, 115, 206, Japanese strength in, 25, 34-35,
316
210-216, 219, 220, 224, 228, 229, 230, 233, 243-245, 249, 259, 260, 265, 278, 282-286, 290, 292, 293, 305 U.S., 68, 206-207, 215, 234, 246247, 248, 261, 276 Reno, 133, 276 Replacements, 246-247, 276 Repulse, 27 Roberts, see Samuel B. Roberts Robinson, Pic. Frank B., 88 Roosevelt, President Franklin D., 13, 22, 23, 95 Rutter, Lt. Bob, 173 Ryukyu Islands, 35, 50, 56, 65, 70, 196
Saida, Lt. Col. Jisaku, 283 Saigon, 27, 245, 293 St. La, 181, 182 Saipan, 33, 35, 38, 70, 118 Saito, Col. Jiro, 251-253 Samar, 58, 75, 84, 104, 119, 122, 128, 159, 162, 163, 183, 184, 185, 197, 233, 247, 261 Samuel B. Roberts, 169, 172, 174 San Bernardino Strait, 75, 119, 122, 129, 134, 139-140, 143145, 158-162, 184, 187, )90, 192, 197-198, 200 San Isidro, 279, 291 San Isidro Peninsula, 59 San Juanico Strait, 59, 87, 102, 104, 220, 281 San Pablo airstrip, 113, 114, 263, 264, 268-269 San Pedro Bay, 59, 64, 84, 87 Santee, 180-181 Schumacker, Lt. Vincent E., 1415 2nd Striking Force, 43, 55-56, 65, 75, 98, 122, 145, 152, 191; see also Shima, Vice Adm. K. Seki, Lt. Yukio, 181 Seventh Fleet, 26, 58, 67, 69, 71, 77, 80, 81, 82, 94, 134, 135, 145-146,162,199,203,214,234, 261; see also Kinkaid, Adm.
T. C. Sherman, Rear Adm. Frederick C., 70, 128-130, 132-133, 137, 141-142, 144, 160, 161, 187, 194 Shigure, 135, 147, 149-155, 157 Shima, Vice Adm. Kiyohide, 4344, 55-57, 65, 75, 98, 122-123,
135, 141, 142, 144-46, 148, 152-158, 191, 202, 203 Shirai, Lt. Col. Tsunehiro, 267, 268-269,273 Shoestring Ridge, 250, 251-255, 274, 301 Sho operation, 50, 135, 140, 176, 187,211 alerts for, 44, 51, 56, 72 plans for, 35-42, 51, 56-57, 65, 78-79, 82, 117, 121, 134, 202-203, 294, 306 preparations for, 42-47, 65-67, 97-100 start of, 74-80, 97, 116, 180 Sibert, Maj. Gen. Frank C., 68, 93, 102, 104, 216, 220-240 passim, 247, 256, 274, 275 Sibuyan Sea, 119, 136, 145, 185, 197, 203 Singapore, 18, 43, 245 fall of, 27-29 Sixth Army, 68, 83, 93, 102, 104, 108, 115, 134, 204-206, 206208, 216, 219, 220, 223, 230 234,243,246-247,256,260,262, 273, 276, 297--298, 300, 306; see also Krueger, Lt. Gen. W. Sixth Base Air Force, 44, 51, 66, 82 Smoot, Capt. Roland N., 151 Sogod Bay, 9'3, 104, 147 Solomon blands, 17, 18, 19 South China Sea, 24, 27, 119, 141 Southern Army, 27, 35, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 80, 99-101, 211, 244-245, 260, 293; see also Terauchi, Field Marshal Count
H. Southern Force, 142-143, 145; see also Nishimura, Vice Adm. S.; Shima, Vice Adm. K. Southwest Area Fleet, 66, 75, 122, 283 Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), 17-18, 24, 25, 50 CINCSWPA, see MacArthur, Gen. D. Special Attack Corps, see Kamikaze attacks Sprague, Rear Adm. Clifton A. F., 163-171, 174-176, 178-179, 181, 186, 192, 197 Sprague, Rear Adm. Thomas L., 81, 83, 84, 103, 134, 156, 162,
317
163, 175, 180-181, 210 Spruance, Vice Adm. Raymond A., 70 Stearns, 1st Lt. Lewis F., 225 Stellman, 2nd Lt. Carl F., 112 Strategy Japanese, 18-19, 27, 32, 34-44, 57-58, 116-117, 293-294; see also Philippine Islands, J apanese plans and defenses; Sho operation, plans for U.S., 17-26; see also Leyte, U.S. plans Struble, Rear Adm. Arthur D., 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 Stump, Rear Adm. Felix B., 163, 175 Submarines Japanese, 65, 66, 73, 75, 132, 180, 209, 280 U.S., 117-121, 123-127, 136-137, 139, 141, 190 Sugita, Col. Ichiji, 79-80, 99 Sugiyama, Gen. 295 Suluan Island, 58, 68, 72-74, 145, 153 Sulu Sea, 119-120, 135, 293 Supply, see Logistics; Reinforcements Supreme Council for the Direction of the War, 38, 295 Surigao Strait, 58, 62, 119, 122, 278 Battle of, 144-158, 162, 163, 183, 190-191, 198, 199, 201 Sutherland, Lt. Gen. Richard K., 25-26, 95 Suwanee, 181 Suzuki, Lt. Gen. Sosaku, 227, 241, 274, 290, 291-292 commands Thirty-fifth Army, 41 death of, 304 and Leyte plans, 63, 64, 86, 97, 100, 115, 216, 219, 222, 229, 230, 234, 243-245, 248250, 255-256, 260, 263-265, 271, 272-274, 281-282, 291, 293, 296-297, 299-300, 301303 and reinforcements, 97, 100-101, 115, 210-213, 214, 245 and Sho alert, 45, 75, 96-97 and Yamashita, 41, 49, 211,
263-264, 274, 279, 281, 296297 Suzuki, Col. Tatsunosuke, 107 Suzuya, 170, 175 Swing, Maj. Gen. Joseph M., 255, 266, 269-270, 271 SWPA, see Southwest Pacific Area Tablas Strait, 129 Tabontabon, 110-111 Tacloban, 59, 62, 64, 86-87, 220, 224,256,258 airstrip, 87, 93, 176-178, 183, 197,205, ·207-209,212,213, 250, 261, 263, 272, 278, 284 capture of, 68, 80, 87, 89, 102104,220 Japanese objective, 116, 122, 229, 230, 269 MacArthur at, 103 Taffy 1, 163, 166, 175, 179, 188189,185,197,207 Taffy 2, 163, 166, 175-185 passim, 197, 203, 207 Taffy 3, 163-186, 191, 192, 197199, 201, 203, 207 Takao, 125-128 Talaud Islands, 24, 25, 26 Tama, 189, 190 Tanaka, Major Mitsusuke, 263 Tanauan, 59, 86, 210, 245, 263 Task Force 34, 160-162, 187, 190-201 passim Task Force 38, 50-56, 69, 128129, 133, 160, 187, 194, 196, 213; see also Third Fleet Task Force 77, 68-69 Task Force 78, 69 Task Force 79, 69, 75 Task Group 38.1, 128, 129; see also McCain, Vice Adm. J. S. Task Group 38.2, 128, 129; see also Bogan, Rear Adm. G. D. Task Group 38.3, 128, 129, 130, 133-134; see also Sherman, Rear Adm. F. C. Task Group 38.4, 128, 129-130, 135; see also Davison, Rear Adm. R. E. Task Group 77.4, 163; see also Escort carriers Task Group 78.3, 277, 280; see also Struble, Rear Adm. A. D. Tempei battalion, 210, 220 Terauchi, Field Marshal Count Hisaichi, 27, 32, 35, 41-42, 45-
318
46, 48, 57, 66-67, 74-75, 79, 98-101, 211, 241, 244-245, 283, 293; see also Southern Army Third Fleet, 24-25, 44-55 passim, 67, 69-71, 73, 77, 129, 143, 183, 194, 200, 214, 250 aircraft losses, 56, 138-139, 203 surface losses, 52-53, 57, 133, 138, 203 see also Halsey, Adm. W. F.; Task Force 38 Thirty-fifth Army, 45, 68, 75, 96, 113, 115, 219, 222, 227, 243, 248, 249, 256, 260, 265, 272, 273, 274, 279; 281, 289, 291, 299-300, 303-304 established, 41 mission, 41-42, 63, 243, 245, 272-273, 293-294, 296, 298 and reinforcements, 100 -101; 210, 213, 243, 245, 294 see also Suzuki, Lt. Gen. S. Thomas, Pfc. Silas, 87-88 "Tiger of Malaya," 30; see also Yamashita, Gen. T. Tojo, Premier Hideki, 32 Tominaga, Lt. Gen. Kyoji, 41, 66, 73, 74, 97, 100, 130, 134-135, 182, 208, 214-215, 259-267 passim, 272, 278, 280, 282283; see also Fourth Air Army Tomochika, Maj. Gen. Yoshiharu, 101, 227-228, 260, 272, 273, 274-275, 282, 288, 291, 299304 Tone, 173 Toyoda, Adm. Soemu co=and position, 42-43, 66-67 and Formosa air battle, 51-52, 53, 54-57, 142, 157, 202 and Leyte Gulf, 116-119, 122123, 127, 140, 145, 157, 158, 184,202 and Sho, 43, 45, 50-51, 72-73, 75, 82, 97, 116, 117, 306 Twenty-fifth Army, 27-28 Ulithi, 128,-129 Umezu, Gen. Yoshijiro, 78 Underwater demolition teams, 75, 76-77, 81
Valencia, 282-283, 291-292, 297, 299
Villaba, 300, 302-303 Violet Beach, 91 Visayan Islands, 45, 46, 58, 62, 74, 81, 82, 97, 129, 267, 272, 281,292-293 Visayan Sea, 58, 283 Wachi, Lt. Gen. Takaji, 260, 265, 273, 274, 303 Wa operation, 259-274, 275, 279, 282 Ward,280 Washington, 159 Watanabe, Lt. Col. Toshii, 115 Weyler, Rear Adm. George L., 80 White, Col. Horton V., 212 White Beach, 87 Whitehead, Maj. Gen. Ennis C., 207, 268, 270, 289 White Plains, 171, 181 Whitney, Maj. Gen. Courtney, 204 Wilkinson, Vice Adm. Theodore S., 69, 84 Winters, Cmdr. Hugh, 189 Wisnieuski, Frank, 107 Worrad, Lt. Edward, 171
Yahagi,173 Yamagata, Lt. Gen. Tsuyuo 249250, 255, 264-265, 271, 273, 290, 304 Yamagumo, 150 Yamashiro, 119, 147-155 Yamashita, Gen. Tomoyuki, 34, 41, 58, 116, 122, 241, 305 career, 27-34 co=ands Fourteenth Area Army, 48-49, 66 farewell to Suzuki, 296, 297 and Leyte landing, 75, 79-80, 86, 98-101 Leyte strategy, 243-245, 248, 260, 263-264, 265, 272-274, 279, 282, 291-298 passim, 303, 306-307 and MacArthur, 63, 96, 305 and reinforcements, 100-101, 210-211, 216, 243-245, 259, 281, 283-284, 292 see also Fourteenth Area Army Yamato, 37, 65, 120, 126, 128, 136, 137, 164, 165, 168, 169, 178, 179, 184
319
Yap, 24, 25-26, 146 Yellow Beach, 91 Yonai, Adm. Mitsumasa, 307
Zufall, Pfc. Darwin C., 73 Zuiho, 189, 195 ZUikaku, 117, 118, 132, 142, 186, 188-190, 195
FILIPINAS HERITAGE LIBRARY The Roderick Hall Collection
in Memory of Angelina Rico de McMlcklng. Consuelo McMlcklng Hal/, Alfred McMlcking and Helen McMlcklng
arrested 111 Manila and executed in January, 1945 by the Japanese Impenal Army
320
PlllPINAS HERITAGE LIBRARY
Decision at Leyte D 767 . 4 .F3 1967 RHC
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At ten o'clock, on the morning of Octob~r 20, 1944, the first landing wave of the American Sixth Army hit the beaches on the western side of the Leyte Gulf ..•• Stanley L. Falk has written the first complete account of those bloody decisive months when the fate.of the Japanese Empire was once and for all sealed. The author weaves together in a single narrative the crucial air, sea and ground actions that led up to and then determined the outcome of the Battle of Leyte.
"This is good, solid military history. " / ;. , I •
-N.Y. Times Book Review
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"Included are many unusual incidents of sea, air and land battles . ..• A verl gggd..eeneral and pop..Y1ar ar-cl\ ..... ~ u
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