Location
Lat 16° 2' 56N  Long 120° 35' 43E  Located 12.4 miles east of Mangaldan inland from Lingayen Gulf. Small town on the highway, midway between Pozorubio and Urdaneta.

The Japanese had a 350 man garrison at Binalonan supported by nine tanks and two 75mm artillery guns of the 7th Tank Regiment defend the western approaches to the Villa Verde Trail.

After the US Army landing at Lingayen Gulf, the Japanese 7th Tank Regiment advanced from Binalonan up the road to San Manuel.

Battle of Binalonan
Attacked by the US Army 25th Infantry Division, 161st Infantry Regiment on January 17, 1945. A lone Japanese tank attacked the American line and was destroyed at 1730 on January 17. Next, a disoriented fight broke out in the town, with five Japanese tanks firing wildly in every direction and racing around Binalonan. All the tanks were destroyed by nightfall, but only part of the town was captured.

The next day, three US Army tanks of the 716th Tank Battalion assisted the 161st, ending the battle at 13:00 on January 18. Both sides suffered casualties. The Japanese lost 9 tanks, two guns, five trucks, one artillery tractor and 250 men. The Americans had secured the road junction of Route 3 and the approach to the Villa Verde Trail.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009