Mindanao Force

Mindanao Force
Hukbong Lakas ng Mindanao
Mindanao Force General Staff
ActiveMarch 17, 1942 – May 9, 1942
DisbandedMay 10, 1942
Country Commonwealth of the Philippines
AllegianceUnited States Army
BranchUnited States Army
United States Army Air Corps
United States Navy
Philippine Scouts
Philippine Army
Philippine Constabulary
TypeCorps
RoleTerritorial Defense
Size35,780
Part ofUnited States Forces in the Philippines
Visayas-Mindanao Force
Garrison/HQDel Monte Fields
Camp Casisang
EquipmentM1903 Springfield Bolt Action Rifle

M1917 Enfield Bolt Action Rifle
M1928 Thompson .45 ACP Submachinegun
M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
M1917 Browning .30 Caliber Machinegun (Water Cooled)
M2 Browning .50 Caliber Heavy Machinegun
QF 2.95inch Mountain Guns

M1935 37mm Carriage Guns
EngagementsBattle of Davao
Battle of Bogo
Battle of Tagaloan
Battle of Mangayon Canyon
Battle of Cotabato
Battle of Zamboanga
Battle of Malabang
DecorationsUS Presidential Unit Citation
Philippine President
Battle honoursUS Presidential Unit Citation
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Major General William F. Sharp, USA
Aircraft flown
BomberB17 Boeing Flying Fortress
FighterP40 Curtiss Warhawk
P35 Seversky
TransportC47 Skymaster
C46 Commando

Mindanao Force was a corps size military unit defending the island of Mindanao, the second largest island of the Philippines, from March 17, 1942, to its surrender on May 9, 1942. The force was created when the Visayas-Mindanao Force was split into two in March 1942. It was initiated in February 1942 in the headquarters of the United States Army Forces in the Far East, but took effect when General Douglas MacArthur departed for Australia on March 17, 1942.[1]

Visayas-Mindanao Force (VMF) commander Major General William F. Sharp assumed command of the force since he moved his previous headquarters in January in that year. He retained his staffs from his previous VMF HQ to his Mindanao Force HQ and released Visayan Force to Brigadier General Bradford Chynoweth. Along with Luzon Force and Harbor Defense of Manila and Subic, both headquarters were to report directly to US Forces in the Philippines HQ in Corregidor under Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright IV.

The main mission of Mindanao Force was to protect Del Monte Field and construct more air fields around Mindanao so supplies from Australia could be flown in, in preparation for the relief of the Philippine Garrison by General MacArthur. This was not materialized, due to the grip of the Japanese forces in the Philippines and its surrender on May 10, 1942.

  1. ^ Morton, Louis (June 26, 1952). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C: Louis Morton. p. 501.