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Japanese invasion of Lingayen Gulf | |||||||
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Part of the Philippines campaign (1941–1942), Pacific Theater | |||||||
Map of Luzon Island showing Japanese landings and advances from 8 December 1941 to 8 January 1942 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Japan | |||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Imperial Japanese Army Imperial Japanese Navy |
Philippine Commonwealth Army Philippine Scouts |
The Japanese invasion of Lingayen Gulf (Filipino: Paglusob ng mga Hapones sa Golfo ng Lingayen) was the key point in the Japanese plan for the conquest of the Philippines. Preparations had already been made by the Attack on Clark Field and the landings of Japanese forces at five points in northern and southern Luzon and Mindanao in early/mid December 1941, with the IJAAF seizing air fields and basing aircraft for ground support, and the Imperial Japanese Navy establishing seaplane bases at the Camiguin Island, Legaspi, and Davao. The main landing of Japanese forces targeted Lingayen Gulf, with its proximity to the Philippine capital of Manila, and Lamon Bay on the opposite coast to the south.[1]