USMC Monograph--Marine Aviation in the Philippines (original) (raw)

Chapter

Page

Background

1

Organization of Far East Air Forces

1

High-Level Planning

4

June Proposals of the JCS

5

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing on Bougainville

6

Search for a Combat Mission

8

The Timetable Moves Up

9

Landings at Peleliu and Morotai

11

Plans for the Leyte Assault

12

Air Forces

12

Third Fleet

12

Seventh Fleet

12

Assault Air Force

12

Supporting Air Forces

12

Ground Forces

13

Seventh Fleet

14

Situation of Japanese Forces--Fall 1944

14

Japanese Plans for Defense of the Philippines

14

Disposition of Japanese Forces

16

U.S. Air Intelligence

16

Leyte and Samar Campaigns

19

The Leyte Landings

19

The Battle for Leyte Gulf (23-26 October)

20

Tacloban Airdrome, Leyte

22

Kenney Assumes Responsibility For Air Operations Over Leyte

23

The November Stalemate

26

MacArthur and Halsey Request Marine Squadrons

28

Marine Night Fighters Ordered to Leyte from Peleliu

29

Marine Aircraft Group 12 Moves to Leyte

30

First Marine Air Action Over Leyte

31

The Big Job: To Attack Japanese Reinforcements

33

Convoy Strike--7 December

33

Convoy Strikes--11-12 December

34

Air Cover Over U.S. Shipping--11-12 December

37

Operational Accidents

39

Air Cover for Mindoro

40

Ground Support Missions, Leyte

43

Sixth Army Relieved

44

Closing Marine Air Operations, 1944

44

Marine Night Fighters Return to Palau

45

Preparations For Landings on Luzon

46

Luzon Attack Force Convoy: The Kamikaze Attacks

47

Carrier-Based Marine Squadrons

48

Assignment of Marine Aircraft Group 14 to the Philippines Campaign

48

MAG-14 Begins Combat Operations

50

Operational Difficulties and Accidents at Guiuan

51

Work of MAG-14 Ground Crews

52

Routine Operations

53

Luzon Campaign

56

Assignment of a Mission

56

A Study of Close Air Support

59

Training for the Mission

61

Luzon Landings to be Delayed

63

Movement to Lingayen Gulf

63

Lingayen Landings and Development of an Airbase

65

Marine Aircraft Groups, Dagupan

67

Arrival of Flight Echelons at Mangaldan

69

Combat Operations Begin

70

The Final Drive to Manila

73

Plans Are Made to Use Marines on Mindanao

80

Close Air Support Takes Hold

81

Operational Difficulties and Innovations

91

Departure of MAG-32 Ground Echelons from Luzon

94

Enemy Air Raids on Mangaldan

95

Close Support Along a Sprawling Front

96

Supporting the Guerillas

98

MAG-32 Airmen Leave for Zamboanga

102

Luzon Finale for MAG-24

104

Summary of Marines' Luzon Operations

106

Southern Philippines Operations

107

Strategic Backgrounds for the VICTOR Operations

107

Prelude to Zamboanga

109

The Landings at Zamboanga--VICTOR IV

112

Close Air Support--Magszam

114

Marine Bombing Squadron 611 Joins Magszam

117

The Southern Visayas--VICTOR I

118

The Southern Visayas--VICTOR II

119

Drive into the Sulu Archipelago Begins

121

Close Air Support at Jolo

122

Strategic Background of VICTOR V

123

The Landings at Malabang--VICTOR V

125

Air Support on Mindanao

128

Closing Operations of the Philippines Campaign

131

Appendices

I.

Bibliography

136

II.

Chronology

140

III.

Casualties

142

IV.

Command and Staff, Marine Aviation Units

143

V.

Marine Ground Troops in Leyte Action

146

VI.

Pilot Survival Reports

151

VII.

Performance Data on Types of Aircraft Used by Marines in the Philippines

158

VIII.

Navy Unit Commendations

159

IX.

Index

161