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 US Army Feb 6, 1945  Justin Taylan 2005 |
Location The Villa Verde Trail is a prewar walking trail located in the foothills of the Caraballo Mountains in central Luzon in the Philippines. The western edge starts near Santa Maria in Pangasinan Province and spans 27 miles atop ridge lines to an elevation of 5,000' into the mountains and ends near Santa Fe in Nueva Vizcaya Province at the junction with Highway 5 (Route 5) in the Cagayan Valley. Named Villa Verde Trail after a Spanish missionaries who used the trail to reach the mountainous interior of northern Luzon. The trail was large enough for only foot traffic, horses or mules but not motor vehicles. During the Battle of Villa Verde Trail, U.S. Army engineers widened the trail into a road and today is is a paved two lane highway. Battle of Villa Verde Trail Battle of Villa Verde Trail occured between February 5, 1945–May 31, 1945 in the foothills of the Caraballo Mountains and results in a Japanese defeat. Yamashita Ridge Area to the north of the Villa Verde Trail and south of Mount Imugan. Includes Maleco (Malico) surrounded by hills. The Bowl The Bowl was the U.S. Army nickname for the bowl shaped area between Hill 124, Hill 123 and Hill 133 near a switchback road curve on the western portion of the Villa Verde Trail. On February 23, 1945 a platoon from 127th Infantry Regiment advanced across the grass ridge towards Hill 133 when stopped by heavy fire from Japanese machine guns, mortars and small arms and withdrew. Afterwards, Hill 124 and Hill 133 were subjected to harassing fire. On February 24, 1945 in the morning both hills were subjected to preparation fire before counter attack. Kongo Fortress The Kongo Fortress was located four miles north of Imugan. By February 23, the Americans reached the high ground. In early March 1945, the Kongo Fortress was reached and was the site of a three week battle that resulted in 1,000 Japanese killed. Salacsac Pass No. 2 Salacsac Pass No. 2 is an area of steep slopes and curves at the center of the Villa Verde Trail in the Caraballo Mountains in central Luzon in the Philippines. Along the trail to the east is Salacsac Pass No. 1. To the north is Hill 504 and beyond Yamashita Ridge and Mt. Imugan. To the southeast is Hill 505. To the east is Salacsac Pass No. 1. To the west is Darawin. On April 10, 1945 Salacsac Pass No. 2 falls to the 128th Infantry Regiment at the end of a prolonged and costly battle. In the vicinity of Salacsac Pass No. 2, the Japanese lost roughly 2,300 from the 2nd Tank Division and 3,400 from other units. Salacsac Pass No. 1 Salacsac Pass No. 1 is an area of steep slopes and curves at an elevation of 4,800' on the eastern Villa Verde Trail in the Caraballo Mountains in central Luzon in the Philippines. Along the trail to the west is Salacsac Pass No. 2. To the southeast is Hill 508. Beyond to the north is Yamashita Ridge and Mt. Imugan. To the northwest is Hill 515. To the northeast is Hill 525. To defend the Salacsac Passes, the 2nd Tank Division emplaced eight tank turrets as fixed pillboxes until the last was overrun on May 24, 1945. Imugan Located on the Villa Verde Trail between Salacsac Pass No. 1 to the west and Santa Fe to the east. On May 28, 1945 occupied without resistance, ending the Battle of Villa Verde Trail. Solvec Cove On April 7, 1945 a total of 130+ sorties were flown by American fighters against Solvec Cove in support of advancing ground forces on the Villa Verde Trail. References U.S. Army in World War II Triumph in the Philippines Chapter XXVI The Bambang Front--I The Villa Verde Trail pages 491, 492, Map XI, 493, 494, 495, 497, 498, 499, 500-511 U.S. Army in World War II Triumph in the Philippines Chapter XXVII The Bambang Front--II The 25th Division on Route 5 pages 512, 514, 516, 517, 518, Map 22, 525, 532, 533, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539 Battle Analysis, Villa Verde Trail, Luzon Deliberate Assault, Mountain, Jungle, February-May 1945 by Combat Studies Institute (CSI) Staff Group D, Section 14 (1984) Contribute Information Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 13, 2026 |
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