Bataan Province

Luzon | Philippines

History
Click For EnlargementAmerican and Filipino defensive line after Japanese attack on Luzon. MacArthur and President Manuel Quezon were evacuated to Bataan on December 24, 1941. The entire peninsula fell to the Japanese on April 8, 1942. It was liberated by US Army forces on February 21, 1945.

American Strikes Against Bataan Peninsula
January 18 - February 20, 1945

  Town at the north-east tip of Bataan
  Town located midway along the eastern coast of Bataan
  Japanese occupied location of King's surrender for propoganda
  Abucay battle line from January 1942
  Mount Samat and memorial
  Allied airfield
  Allied airfield and surrender site located at the southern tip of Bataan

 

Orani
MapLat 14° 48' 3N Long 120° 32' 11E Town located at the north-eastern tip of Bataan peninsula.

Death March Sculpture
Located on the National Road at Silahis in Orani. Depicting two soldiers helping a falling comrade build in 1973.

      Orani Airfeild

Location
Located at the head of the Bataan peninsula, on east coast just south of town.

 


 

Limay
MapLat 14° 33' 43N Long 120° 35' 54E Town located midway along the eastern side of the Bataan peninsula.

General King Surrender Site
Located at M. Roque Street, Lamao Plazza in Limay.  Site where Major-General Edward King surrendered the 'Battling Bastards of Bataan'. A commemorative plaque is located at this location. The plaque reads: "faced with the slaughter of over 75,000 men, King showed great courage by his decision to end the bloodbath fearing a possible court-martial for his actions.'

Final Battle Site
Located on the Govenor Linao Highway, west of the junction with the main highway. A plaque marks the north-south trail 4. Breeched by the Japanese on April 3, 1942.

 

Balanga
MapLat 14° 40' 34N Long 120° 32' 10E  

Balanga Elementary School
Located at Basa Street, Talisay in Balanga City. This school was used as Japanese General Homma's command post at the end of the battle of Bataan. This was the site Major General Edward King was brought after his surrender at Limay, which was not documented, for propoganda purposes by the Japanese. A marker and paintings are located at the school.

St. Joseph's Church
Used by Japanese artillery during the bombardment of Mt. Samat in April 1942.

Fall of Bataan Marker
Located in the Capital Compound of Balanga city. This marker was dedicated on April 9, 1952.

 

MapAbucay
Lat 14° 43' 20N Long 120° 32' 18E

Abucay-Morong Line (Main Battle Position Marker)
Located at St. Antonine of Florence Church, this marker indicates the Abucay-Morong Line that was assaulted by the Japanese on January 9, 1942 and abandoned by Allied forces on January 25.

 

Pilar
Town located on the southern shore of Bataan.

Mt. Samat National Shrine
Click For EnlargementAllied forces used Mount Samat during the defense of Bataan, and were bombarded by Japanese artillery from Balanga. Located at Diwa, Pilar, at end of a well-marked road off Governor Linao Highway, 7.7 km west of the junction with the Roman highway. Open Daily 8am - 9pm. Admission is  30 pesos +10 for elevator. This memorial is a 300' tall cross. An elevator goes to the top viewing gallery with sweeping views and a memorial depicting the battle.

     Pilar Airfeild

Location
Field was to the southwest of town, after Balanga.

 


 


     Bataan Field

Location
14 degree 27 minutes latitude, 120 degrees, 34 minutes longitude.  Near the village of Lucanin.  South of Lamao.

Construction
Single runway 5,100' in length.

Wartime History
Fell to the Japanese on April 8, 1942.

Units Based at Bataan
27th BG Dec 29, 1941 from Cabcaben - March 1, 1942 Batchelor
24th Pursuit Group (P-40), December 31, 1941 - April 8, 1942 to Mindanao
35th Pursuit Group, 21st Pursuit Squadron (P-40) Jan 4, 1942 from Lubao to Bataan

 


 

MapCabcaben
Lat 14° 26' 60N Long 120° 34' 60E  Located at the southern tip of Bataan peninsula.

 

     Cabcaben Airfeild

Location
14 degrees 29 minutes latitude, 120 degrees, 34 minutes longitude. Aproximately 4 km south of Bataan Field.

Construction
Click For EnlargementLocated a quarter of a mile north of the village, this field was constructed by American forces on Feburary 6, 1942, including revetments, landing lights, a control tower, and anti-aircraft protection. General Harold George moved half of his operational fighters to the newly completed Cabcaben after dark the same night it was completed. It was occupied by the Japanese after the fall of the Bataan peninsula.

Today
Abandoned since the war.



 

Mariveles
MapLat 14° 26' 1N  Long 120° 29' 7E Town located at the southern tip of Bataan.

American Missions Against Mariveles
February 8-17, 1945

Mariveles Zero Kilometer Marker
Click For EnlargementLocated in the Poblacion, at the edge of Mariveles town, near the sea. Mile 00 Km Marker of the Bataan Death March. There is also a memorial with US and Philippines flags. The origianl road heads to the north following the original death march route. This new marker was erected in 2002. This plaque was donated by the Filipino-American Memorial Endowment Inc (FAME) and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

     Mariveles Airfield

Location
Near town of Mariveles, at southern tip of Bataan

Units Based at Mariveles
On January 1, 1942 the HQ 24th Pursuit Group (P-40) transfered from Clark Field to Mariveles

 


General Wainright Surrender Site
Located 12km from Mariveles at a fork in the road is the location where US Army General Jonathan Wainwright formally surrendered the Allied forces on Corregidor. The surrender ceremony took place in a house, that no longer exists, and the plaque is only in Tagalog.

Click For EnlargementMount Mariveles
Mountain peak that dominates the terrain behind Mariveles.

 

 Nakajima Ki-27 Nate

 P-40E Warhawk
  Piloted by Earl Stone, MIA

 

 

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