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  U.S. Army prewar   USAAF January 1945 |
Location Lat 14° 55' 16N Long 120° 44' 46E Calumpit is located at an elevation of 22' / 6m in Bulacan Province on Luzon in the Philippines. At Calumpit, the Angat River joins the Pampanga River via the Bagbag River and Sulipan Canal. To the southeast is Malolos and beyond the northern edge of Manila Bay and Manila. The Manila Rail Road (Manila R. R.) and Route 3 road runs from the southeast to northwest via Calumpit with two parallel bridges (Calumpit Bridges) across the Pampanga River one for the rail road line and the second for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Wartime History On December 30, 1942 the Philippine Army 51st Infantry (less 1st Battalion) and battery of 51st Field Artillery are dispatched to assist in defense of Calumpit Bridges until ordered to withdraw on New Years Day at 4:00am. On January 1, 1942 by 5:00am the U.S. Army South Luzon Force completes their withdrawal across the Pampanga River at Calumpit. By 6:15am they destroy the bridges and disband. That same day, the advancing Japanese Army advanced from Plaridel to Calumpit and are momentarily halted without a crossing. During the Japanese occupation of Luzon, by 1943 the Japanese replaced the bridges using materials abandoned in Manila and used the repaired bridge until at least late December 1944. In early January 1945, U.S. bombers and fighters began to strike Calumpit and targeting the bridges. In late January 1945, the Japanese demolished the bridges leaving both spans atop each other in the river before withdrawing in an attempt to delay the U.S. Army advance southward. American missions against Calumpit January 6, 1945–January 7, 1945 On January 30, 1945 in the afternoon, U.S. Army soldiers from the 37th Reconnaissance Troop and 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division advanced from San Fernando along Route 3 to a mile north of Calumpit and engaged in minor skirmishes with small groups of Japanese soldiers. Generals Griswold and Generals Beightler had limited forces available, limited knowledge of enemy forces ahead and knew the bridges at Calumpit had been destroyed and a crossing could not be made that day. Both had been ordered not to push forward until armor and artillery could support their further advance. That same afternoon, General Douglas MacArthur inspected the front line and when he returned told General Krueger the 37th Division was showing "a noticeable lack of drive and aggressive initiative..." On January 31, 1945 American troops crossed the river and liberated Calumpit. On February 1, 1942 they advanced southeast towards Malolos. Calumpit Bridge Built prewar, the Calumpit Bridge were two parallel bridges across the Pampanga River one for the rail road line and the second for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. They were collectively known as Calumpit Bridge. On January 1, 1942 at 6:15am U.S. Army South Luzon Force destroy the bridges. That same day, the advancing Japanese Army occupies Calumpit and are momentarily halted without a crossing. During the Japanese occupation of Luzon, Japanese replaced the bridges by 1943 using materials in Manila and used the repaired bridges until at least late December 1944. In early January 1945, U.S. bombers and fighters began to attack Calumpit and targeting the bridges. In late January 1945, the Japanese demolished the bridges leaving both spans atop each other in the river before withdrawing in an attempt to delay the U.S. Army advance southward. References U.S. Army in WWII: The Fall of the Philippines Chapter X: The Withdrawal Begins pages 165, 180-181, 183 U.S. Army in WWII: The Fall of the Philippines, Chapter XII: Holding the Road to Bataan pages 203, 205-211, 214-215 U.S. Army in World War II - Triumph in the Philippines - Chapter XII Manila: The Approach March pages 211-214, 212 (map), 216, 232-233 U.S. Army in World War II - Chronology 1941-1945 December 30-31, 1941 U.S. Army in World War II - Chronology 1941-1945 - January 1, 1942 Contribute
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