Location
Region south-west of Mindanao. The southernmost province of the Philippines.

Due to ethnic tensions this area and part of Mindanao was granted autonomy. Covers the territories predominantly populated by Muslims. It consists of almost the whole of the Sulu Archipelago (Isabela City of Basilan is part of the Zamboanga Peninsula region) and two provinces in the mainland: Lanao del Surr Province and Maguindanao Province.

Basilan Island
Island offshore from Zamboanga, liberated March 16, 1945.

Sulu Island
Located between Basilan Island and Tawi-Tawi Island, capital Jolo.

Tawi-Tawi Island
Tawi-Tawi, . Across its waters is the state of Sabah. Tawi-Tawi is bounded by the Sulu Sea on the north and west, and by the Celebes Sea on the east and south.

Sanga-Saga
Lat 5° 4' 21N  Long 119° 47' 7E Located at the south-west end of the Tawi Tawi chain. During World War II, this island was considered part of Borneo.

Wartime History
Occupied by the U.S. Army 41st Infantry Division on April 2, 1945. Later, the 2/25 Australian Infantry Battalion also occupied the area.

Sanga-Sanga Airstrip (Tawi-Tawi)
Wartime airfield used by the RAAF, still in use today.

Minatsuki
Sunk on June 6, 1944

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009