The Philippine Islands stood in the way of Japanese expansion in the Pacific, and were therefore an immediate target when war broke out in December 1941. Defended by a mixed Filipino-American force under the flamboyant Douglas MacArthur, the islands were hit by surprise Japanese aerial attacks that all but wiped out the American air forces in the Philippines. An amphibious assault followed. Despite desperate attempts by the US and Philippine armies, they were unable to halt the Japanese advance and Manila was lost with the beleaguered defenders retreating to Bataan and Corregidor. Here they made their last stand on May 9, 1942. Although the campaign ended in an American defeat, and for the US prisoners of war the horrors of the Bataan Death March and years in Japanese captivity, the heroic defense had inspired the Americans to return in 1944.

Includes maps of: Japanese Plans for Pacific Area Operations; American Military Forces in the Philippines; Japanese Landings along the Lingayen Gulf; Japanese Landings at Lamon Bay; Manila Area Defenses; Japanese Drive on the Central Luzon Plain; Fall of Bataan, January 9-April 9, 1942; Homma Takes Corregidor, May 5-6, 1942; Fall of Mindanao.

Introduction. Japan and the United States : opposing powers in the Pacific -- Japanese interests and motivations for war -- The Philippines : America's Far Eastern outpost -- Chronology -- Opposing commanders. US commanders -- Japanese commanders -- Opposing forces. US and Philippine forces -- Imperial Japanese forces -- Orders of battle -- Opposing plans. Japan's move to war -- American defense of the Philippines -- The battle for the Philippines. Japanese air superiority and the bumbling nincompoops -- The Japanese invasion of Luzon -- The Japanese strike south -- Defending northern Luzon -- The Lingayen Gulf landings -- "WPO-3 is in effect" -- The Japanese strike at Lamon Bay -- The retreat to Bataan -- Bataan : the final refuge -- The Japanese break the Abucay and Mauban lines -- The Battle for the Points Homma retreats north -- MacArthur's last stand on Corregidor -- The final assault and fall of Bataan -- The Bataan Death March -- Corregidor falls -- Southern Philippines operations -- Final surrender -- Aftermath -- The battlefields today.