North Luzon Force

North Luzon Force (I Philippine Corps)
Hukbong Hilagang Luzon
ActiveNovember 4, 1941 – April 9, 1942
Countries Commonwealth of the Philippines
United States
Allegiance United States Army
BranchPhilippine Army
United States Army
TypeCorps
RoleTerritorial Defense
Size40,000
Part ofLuzon Force
US Army Forces in the Philippines
Garrison/HQFort Stotsenburg
EquipmentM1914 Pattern Bolt Action Rifles

M1917 Enfield Bolt Action Rifles
M1903 Springfield .30 Caliber Bolt Action
M1 Garand Rifles
M1928 Thompson Submachineguns
M1918 155mm Howitzers
Canon de 155mm
QF2.95inch Mountain Guns
M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzers
M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles
M1911 Colt .45 Pistols
M1917 Browning .30 Caliber Machineguns
M2 Browning .50 Caliber Heavy Machineguns

M1935 37mm Carriage Guns
EngagementsPhilippines campaign (1941–1942)
Battle of Bataan
DecorationsUS Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
CommandersMGen. Albert M. Jones, USA
MGen. Jonathan Wainright IV, USA
Deputy CommanderBGen. Edward P. King Jr.
Chief of StaffCol. William F. Maher, USA
Operations G3Col. Robert Hoffman, USA
Supply G4LCol. Gyles Merrill, USA
Chief of ArtilleryCol. Everett C. Williams, USA
Chief of EngineersCol. Harry A. Skerry, USA
Notable
commanders
Major General Jonathan Wainwright IV
Aircraft flown
BomberB10/12 Medium Bombers
B17 Flying Fortress
FighterP26 Boeing Peashooter

P35 Seversky

P40 Curtiss Warhawk

The North Luzon Force was a corps-sized grouping of the U.S.-sponsored Philippine Army, defeated in battle against the Japanese in 1941–42.

On November 4, 1941, United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE) announced the creation of new commands to organize, train, and equip Philippine Army forces and US Philippine Department forces. The new commands are North Luzon Force (NLF), South Luzon Force (SLF), Visayan-Mindanao Force (VMF), and Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays under BGen. George F. Moore.

Initially BGen. Edward P. King Jr was selected as commander established his headquarters in Fort Stoltenberg in Angeles, Pampanga. However, as war was looming MGen. Jonathan Wainwright IV, replaced General King to command and he was given 11th Infantry Division under Col. (Later BGen) William Brougher, USA, 21st Infantry Division under BGen. Mateo Capinpin a native filipino army officer, 31st Infantry Division under Col (Later BGen.) Clifford Bluemel, and 71st Infantry Division under Col. (Later BGen. Clyde Selleck). 71st Division can be committed only with direct permission by USAFFE Hq.).[1]

War came in the Philippines on December 8, 1941, when Japanese bombed Clark Air Fields and other military facilities with warning. Combat units of the NLF was still partly assembled and trained. The equipment dated to the First World War, and the majority of the trainees has not fired a rifle due to lack of training facilities and ammunition.

Later additional units where added 26th US Cavalry Regiment (PS), 31st US Infantry Regiment the only all American personnel infantry unit and 88th US Field Artillery (PS). Also added are antiaircraft artillery units of recently arrived 200th US Coast Artillery (AA) Regiment a National Guard unit from New Mexico, US. Another unit was added before the start of the hostilities, 1st Provisional Light Tank Group composed by 192nd US Tank Battalion and 194th US Tank Battalion (Less Company C and D) equipped with M3 Stuart Light Tanks and M2 Half Tracks. 301st US Field Artillery under Col Edward Quintard was created locally and was equipped with M1918 155 mm Howitzers (Long Tom) and Canon de 155 mm guns found in the island but lacks the fire controls.

  1. ^ Chapter IV: Prewar Plans, Japanese and American The Fall of the Philippines US Army in WWII: The War in the Pacific p70