Island between Leyte to the east, and Negros to the west. Offshore is Mactan Island.

Japanese Occupation
Occupied by the Japanese on April 10, 1942. A force of three warships and eleven transports landed 12,000 troops of the Kawaguchi Detachment at seven beachheads across southern Cebu. In Toledo especially, Filipino guerillas resisted the Japanese strongly and inflicted many casualties on their landing force.

Guerilla Activities & Japanese Defenses
In Cebu, guerillas resisted the Japanese occupation, and even gained control of the southern part of the island before the American liberation, and captured Japanese Admiral Fukodome and his battle plans. Cebu guerillas reportedly killed more Japanese than in any other part of the Philippines. After the American victory at Leyte, some Japanese escaped by boat to Cebu.  Among them included General Suzuki, who reached Cebu City on March 24, 1945 and took command of the 13,000 troops on Cebu.  He was later killed when attempting to get to Mindanao. Troops in the central and northern parts of the island were under the command of Major-General Takeo Manjome. Another 1,000 troops were located in the far north of the island, most survivors from Leyte.  Well equipped and supplied, the Japanese had prepared excellent defenses, and planned to abandon the south of the island where guerillas had control.

Japanese & American Missions Against Cebu
December 8, 1942 - June 2, 1945

American Liberation
The American liberation was code named operation Victory II. The US Army Americal Division landed near Cebu City on March 26, 1945 after a large pre-bombardment by the supporting 7th Fleet ships. The invasion beaches were heavily mined, had anti-tank ditches barriers.  Although reported by guerillas to the Americans, the minefields were more of a problem than anticipated, knocking out 10 of the first 15 landing craft ashore, and killed and wounded many men. 

Vehicles crowded the beach and engineers rushed to clear a path. The Japanese failed to cover the beaches with anything other than small arms fire and were unable to exploit this.  After an hour, the minefield was adequately cleared and the liberation proceeded. After liberating Cebu City on March 27, the Americans met stiff resistance in the hills behind the city.

Japanese Surrender
One of the first large scale surrenders in the Pacific occurred on Cebu. On August 19, 1945 Japanese  officers commanded by Lt. General Kataoka of the 35th Army arrived in Cebu city to begin surrender negotiations.  On August 28, 1945 Maj. Gen. William H. Arnold of the Americal Division accepted the surrender of 10,000 Japanese on the island. In the course of this grueling struggle, the Americal Division incurred 410 men killed and 1,700 wounded. Another 8,000 men were classified as non-battle casualties, most of whom succumbed to an outbreak of infectious hepatitis. In turn, some 5,500 Japanese soldiers lay dead.

Cebu City
Although the Japanese had constructed many defenses they choose to abandoned them and destroyed much of the city when they retreated. Instead, they took to the hills - into pillboxes and caves behind for their defense when the Americans landed.  The city was liberated on March 27, 1945 by the Americal Division. 

The hills were targeted by naval gunfire and coordinated tank-infantry attackers and neutralized them, but the Japanese took up new positions and continued their resistance and sea-sawing attacks thru early April, before the Japanese finally withdrew to the north. After the battle, harbor and storage construction now began at Cebu City, from which MacArthur planned to stage three divisions for the invasion of Japan.

Base S
US Army Letter Base designation located at Cebu City after American occupation. Sub-base controlled by Base M (San Fernando)

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
(Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral)
Cathedral at Cebu damaged during the war. US air raids on Cebu damage the recently-renovated cathedral and the Episcopal Palace across, with its contents of centuries-old archives and records of the archdiocese lost forever. In 1945 after liberation, Archbishop Reyes begins the reconstruction of the bombed cathedral, with only its façade, walls and belfry still intact.

Lahug Airfield
Located in the center of Cebu city, used by Japanese and later US Army.

Today
Cebu is a large city and commercial center located on Cebu Island.  Popular tourist destination.

Mactan Island
Island to the south of Cebu City with Opon Airfield

Consolacion
Located near Cebu.

B-25J Mitchell 44-29760
Pilot Orcutt crashed April 3, 1945

Camotes Island Group
Four islands: Pacijan, Poro, Ponson and Tulang, located between Cebu and Leyte to the SW of Ormoc Bay.

Ponson Island
The village of Pilar is located to the north of the island. Survivors of the torpedoed USS Cooper (DD-695) made there way to this island, where they were assisted by Filipinos and were later rescued by PBY flying boat after the Battle of Ormoc Bay.

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Last Updated
June 30, 2009