THE BATTLE OF SIBUYAN SEAWhy, when, and where it all began
|
|
It all began when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The surprise Japanese air attack which crippled the U.S.Pacific Fleet, has brought about the formal U.S. declaration of war against Japan the day after the Japanese air attack. As part of the U.S., the Philippines and Sibuyan in particular was not spared.
|
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
|
U.S. battleships explode during the surprise Japanese air attack on December 7, 1941 which coincided on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Sibuyan, the San Fernando Town Fiesta.
|
The Hickam Field, Hawaii hit by the striking Japanese bomber on the morning of December 7, 1941.
|
|
The recently delivered B-17 Flying Fortresses go up in smoke under attack by the Japanese aircrafts.
|
|
Japanese bombers and escorts obliterates 18 U.S. B-17 force aircrafts
on midday of December 8, 1941 while refueling on the ground. With the destructions of U.S. Airforces in both Hawaii and the Philippines, the U.S. has lost its major airpower in the pacific. Soon after the bombings, the Philippines has fallen under the Japanese when the Philippines stronghold of Corregidor in Bataan was overtaken by the Japanese. Americans and Filipinos continued to fight by guirella warfare during the Japanese occupation. General Douglas McArthur was ordered by his U.S. superiors in Washington to retreat to Australia. He promised the Filipinos to take back the Philippines from the invading Japanese saying "I shall return" before he left for Australia. As history has it, he would later fulfill his promised to the Filipino people with his famous Beach Landing in Leyte. Meanwhile, the Allied Forces led by General Douglas MacArthur now based in Australia, map out a strategic campaign against the Japanese to take back all U.S. teritories invaded by the Japanese and to liberate other countries in Asia-Pacific...
|
War Map of the Pacific detailing the defeat of the Japanese.
|
|
With the Allies near completion of Central Pacific Campaign in 1944 and 1945, the The Philippines was taken back by the Allied Forces. Its just a matter of time before victory would follow with the surrender of the Japanese after two atomic bombs were dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
|
U.S. Squadron in Sibuyan airspace.
|
|
Ready to strike the Japanese warships now in Sibuyan Sea.
|
|
|
U.S. squadron heading for Sibuyan Sea.
|
|
|
|
|
