Japanese missions against Manila and Manila Bay
December 8, 1941–January 2, 1942

December 8, 1941
(FEAF) After the Japanese attack on December 8, 1941 panic gripped Manila about Japanese air raids and landings on Luzon. Shortly before 9:30am, after Japanese land based aircraft from Formosa are detected over Lingayen Gulf heading toward Manila, B-17's at Clark Field are ordered airborne to prevent being caught on the ground. By 11:30am radar detected another flight of Japanese aircraft seventy miles west of Lingayen Gulf headed south. American fighters from Nichols Fields are dispatched to patrol over Bataan and Manila but never make contact.

December 24, 1941
(U.S. Army) On Christmas Eve, General Douglas MacArthur ordered U.S. and Filipino military forces to begin withdrawing from Manila to defensive positions on the Bataan Peninsula

December 26, 1941
(U.S. Army) General Douglas MacArthur Manila an "open city" by General MacArthur to make Manila a demilitarized in hopes of saving the city from being bombed or causing civilian casualties.

December 27, 1941
(JAAF) Japanese aircraft bomb Manila, despite the declaration as an "open city" with a fire damaging Santo Domingo Church.

December 29, 1941
(FEAF) Colonel Harold H George remains at Manila in command of the air elements left in the Philippines.

January 2, 1942
(JAAF) The Japanese again bomb the city.
(Japanese Army) Begins occupying Manila.

American missions against Manila and Manila Bay
September 21, 1944–March 9, 1945

September 21, 1944
(USN) Tas Group 38.1 (TG 38.1) carrier aircraft strike on airfields and military installations around Manila plus shipping shipping in Manila Bay.

September 22, 1944
(USN) Tas Group 38.1 (TG 38.1) carrier aircraft strike on airfields and shipping around Manila and hit airfields and military installations.

October 15, 1944
USN: Task Force 38 (TF 38) carrier aircraft attack the Manila area claiming 438 enemy aircraft in the air and 366 on the ground in five days of strikes.

October 29, 1944
(USN) The Fast Carrier Force carrier aircraft attack airfields on Luzon and shipping in Manila Bay.

November 5, 1944
(USN) Task Force 38 (TF 38) including carrier aircraft from USS Essex CV-9 and USS Ticonderoga CV-14 hit shipping in Manila Bay.

November 6, 1944
(USN) Task Force 38 (TF 38) carrier aircraft hit shipping in Manila Bay.

November 13, 1944
(USN) Task Force 38 (TF 38) carrier aircraft hit the Manila area and shipping in Manila Bay.

November 14, 1944
(USN) Task Force 38 (TF 38) carrier aircraft hit the Manila area and shipping in Manila Bay.

November 19, 1944
(USN) Task Force 38 (TF 38) carrier aircraft hit the Manila area and shipping in Manila Bay.

November 25, 1944
(USN) Task Force 38 (TF 38) carrier aircraft hit the Manila area and shipping in Manila Bay.

December 23, 1944
(FEAF) B-24s bomb Grace Park Airfield in the northern suburbs of Manila.

January 1, 1945
(FEAF) Fighter-bombers are active against targets in the Manila area.

January 3, 1945
(FEAF) P-47s from the 58th FG, 311th FS led by C.O. Colonel Gwen G. Atkinson on a mission against "airborne targets of opportunity in the Manila area."

January 10, 1945
(FEAF) B-24s bomb Grace Park Airfield and warehouse area near Manila.

January 17, 1945
(FEAF) B-25s hit roads and railways east of Manila, destroying many railroad cars and troop-laden trucks.

January 22, 1945
(FEAF) B-24s hit gun positions across Manila Bay.

January 28, 1945
(FEAF) B-24s, B-25s, A-20s and fighter-bombers concentrate attacks on Luzon hitting targets in Manila.

February 23, 1945
(U.S. Army) Artillery and tanks bombard the 40' thick walls of the Spanish walled fortress Intramutros in Manila. Inside are fanatical Japanese defenders and civilians, and it is hoped that a hole in the wall can be opened without bombing the historic fortress from the air.

March 9, 1945
(FEAF) B-25s and fighter-bombers support ground forces east of Manila Bay.

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