Philippine Campaign

The Liberation of the Philippines in late 1944.

This boldly colored map of the Allied campaign to recapture the Philippines in World War II was compiled by Sgt. James Applegate, with design by Sgt. Clyde Singer. It was printed in 1945 by the 67th Engineer Topographic Company of the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). A simple base map has been overprinted with dated green and blue arrows that highlight the movements of the Sixth U.S. and Eighth U.S. Armies, respectively. Various elements of each army group are distinguished using typical U.S. Army symbology. Airborne landing sites are shown with small parachutes.

Following its initial capture by the Japanese during the first half of 1942, the Philippines had been subject to a harsh occupation for over two years prior to the amphibious and airborne invasions in the fall of 1944. The reconquest began with landings on Leyte in October, followed by a succession of engagements on Mindoro, Luzon, and other islands. Brutal fighting took place, especially during the Battle of Manila – something largely overlooked by the matter-of-fact image.