Pacific Wrecks - Naguilian, La Union Province, Luzon, Philippines

Location
Lat 16° 32' 2N Long 120° 23' 48E Naguilian is located at an elevation of 278' / 84m in La Union Province on Luzon in the Philippines. Connected by Route 9 road westward to Bauang (Bouang) and to the southeast to Baguio. Beyond to the northwest is San Fernando.

Wartime History
On December 22, 1941 the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) 9th Infantry Regiment "Kamijima Detachment" landed at Bauang (Bouang) and an element advanced eastward to capture Naguilian then onward to capture Baguio two days after the initial landing. Immediately, prewar Naguilian Airfield was occupied and Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) light bombers from Formosa (Taiwan) moved to this lcoation to support their offensive on Luzon.

By January 1945, the Japanese Army 19th Division was based at Naguilian. General Tomoyuki Yamashita planned to move the 19th Division southward to a reserve position at San Leon. Following the January 9, 1945 U.S. Army landings at Lingayen Gulf decided to retain them at this location to defend Route 9.

Naguilian Airfield
Located to the east of San Fernando, occupied by the Japanese after the invasion

References
U.S. Army in World War II - The Fall of the Philippines Chapter VIII: The Main Landings pages 128, 131-132
U.S. Army in World War II - Triumph in the Philippines Chapter V The Enemy pages 99-100

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Last Updated
March 20, 2022

Map
December 22-24, 1941

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