| Mindanao Force | |
|---|---|
| Hukbong Lakas ng Mindanao | |
| Active | March 17, 1942 – May 9, 1942 |
| Disbanded | May 10, 1942 |
| Countries | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} United States.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Philippine Commonwealth |
| Allegiance | United States Army |
| Branch | US Army Army Air Corps US Navy Philippine Scouts Philippine Army Philippine Constabulary |
| Role | Territorial Defense |
| Size | 28,000 |
| Part of | United States Forces in the Philippines Visayas-Mindanao Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Del Monte Fields Camp Casisang |
| Equipment | M1903 Springfield Bolt Action Rifle M1917 Enfield Bolt Action Rifle |
| Engagements | Battle of Davao Battle of Bogo |
| Decorations | US Presidential Unit Citation Philippine President |
| Battle honours | US Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Presidential Unit Citation |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Major General William F. Sharp, USA |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | B17 Boeing Flying Fortress |
| Fighter | P40 Curtiss Warhawk P35 Seversky |
| Transport | C47 Skymaster C46 Commando |
Mindanao Force is a corps size military unit defending the island of Mindanao the second largest Island of the Philippines from March 17, 1942, to its surrender on May 9, 1942. The force was already created when the Visayas-Mindanao Force was split into two in March 1942. It was initiated in February 1942 in the headquarters of US Army Forces in the Far East but took effect when General Douglas MacArthur departed for Australia on March 17, 1942.[1]
Visayas-Mindanao Force (VMF) commander Major General William F. Sharp assumed command of the force since he moved his previous headquarters in January in that year. He retained his staffs from his previous VMF HQ to his Mindanao Force HQ and released Visayan Force to Brigadier General Bradford Chynoweth. Along with Luzon Force and Harbor Defense of Manila and Subic, both headquarters are to report directly to US Forces in the Philippines HQ in Corregidor under Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright IV.
Main mission of Mindanao Force is to protect Del Monte Field and construct more air fields around Mindanao so supplies from Australia can be flown in preparation for the relief of the Philippine Garrison by General MacArthur. This was not materialized due to the grip of the Japanese forces in the Philippines and its surrender on May 10, 1942.
Background
Back in January, General Sharp was able to transfer units from Visayas to Mindanao when he was still commander of Visayas and Mindanao. He was of lack of training of his forces, lack of weapons and ammunitions, and supplies. He brought along 81st Division under Brigadier General Guy O. Fort and ordered to relocate in Mindanao the following units, 73rd Infantry Regiment from Negros, 61st Infantry, 62nd Infantry, and 61st Field Artillery from Panay.[2] He also had forces from Leyte which composed by 81st Infantry Regiment and 93rd Infantry Regiment that wasn't included during the transfer of 91st Division to Luzon. Bulk of the forces are now in Mindanao leaving only one division in Visayas.
Defensive plans
He divided the island into five defensive sector and place sector commanders on each and combat units to repulse Japanese landings. Zamboanga Peninsula sector, Misamis-Lanao sector, Cagayan Sector, Agusan Sector including Surigao provinces, and the largest Cotabato-Davao sector which covers the southern end of . All reserve forces are posted in the northern part of Bukidnon province.
Lanao Sector which included Misamis Occidental in Zamboanga Peninsula was commanded by Brigadier General Guy O. Fort who also commanded the 81st Division. He had his headquarters in Dansalan, Lanao (now Marawi City). He had 2nd Infantry Regiment a regular Philippine Army unit under Lieutenant Colonel Calixto Duque posted in Cotabato City. 61st Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Mitchell posted in Malabang. 73rd Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Robert Vessey was held in reserve to guard northern part of Lanao Province and Misamis Oriental.
Cagayan Sector was under the command of Colonel William P. Morse who also commanded the newly created 102nd Division. Under his command was 61st Field Artillery under Lieutenant Colonel Hiram Tarkington and 81st Field Artillery Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel John Woodridge, both regiments are fighting as infantry due to lack of artillery guns. 103rd Infantry Regiment under Major Joseph Webb, was transferred from 101st Division sector.
Agusan Sector was under Colonel Ben-Hur Chastaine who transferred from Leyte island along with Leyte Brigade, which has 81st Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Ruperto Kangleon which later commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Van Nortsrand and 93rd Infantry Regiment under Major John Goldstrap. He had his headquarters at Anakan Lumber Co., in Agusan. Colonel Chastaine posted 1st Battalion, 81st Infantry Regiment in Northern Davao at Camp Kalaw in Monkayo, Davao along with few constabulary units to cover his rear.
Zamboanga Sector was initially under the command of Colonel William F. Dalton and later Colonel Alvin Wilson, he only have 105th Infantry Regiment and few constabulary units defending entire peninsula including Sulu Archipelago. Moret field was under construction during the entire campaign but it was not still operational until surrender.
Cotabato-Davao Sector was the largest sector the entire island. It is under the command of Brigadier General Joseph Vachon concurrent commander of 101st Division based in Camp Casisang and later moved to Lake Pinamaloy in Maramag, Bukidnon.
- Davao subsector was initially under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Roger Hilsman Sr., at the start of the hostilities. As his troops were disseminated by the Japanese in December 1941, General Vachon sent another unit to cover Digos to Kabacan highway. 101st Field Artillery Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Reed Graves who is fighting as infantry due to lack of artilleries.
- Cotabato subsector is under 102nd Infantry Regiment commander Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Russell which covers entire Cotabato town and further inland to guard Mindanao River.[3]
Combat narratives
In December 1941 Sakaguchi and Muira detachments with air and naval support from 4th Fleet landed in Davao, there they faced defending troops of Colonel Hilsman. After dispersing the defending troops, Sakaguchi detachment left for Sulu island, only Muira detachment was left and waited for reinforcement. In April it received reinforcements from Palau and intensify its campaign in Davao area. After capturing Panay island Kawamura detachment landed in Tagoloan and Bugo in Misamis Oriental and was met by 102nd Division. After capture of Cebu island Kawaguchi detachment landed in western coast in Cotabato town and Malabang,Lanao. With these three pronged attacks, Mindanao Force was pushed in the middle of the island.
Surrender
After General Homma rejected General Jonathan Wainwright's surrender because it didn't included forces in Visayas and Mindanao. He was forced to order General Sharp to surrender both Visayas and Mindanao Forces as he thinking that the forces in Corregidor will be massacred should hostilities resumed. He sent Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Traywick to General Sharp's headquarters and later to Visayas Islands. General Sharp resumed commanding forces in Visayas too on May 6, 1942, to ensure the order of General Wainwright to surrender. He ordered General Chynoweth to surrender his forces in Visayas.
Order of battle
- 81st Infantry Division – Brigadier General Guy O. Fort, PA
- 61st Infantry Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Mitchell, USA
- 73rd Infantry Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Vessey, USA
- 84th Infantry Regiment - Major Jay Navin, USA
- 101st Infantry Division – Brigadier General Joseph Vachon, USA
- 101st Infantry Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel Roger Hilsman Sr | Lieutenant Colonel John McGee
- 102nd Infantry Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Russell
- 104th Infantry Regiment - Lieutenant Colonel
- 101st Field Artillery Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel Reed Graves
- 102nd Infantry Division – Colonel William P. Morse, USA
- 103rd Infantry Regiment – Major Joseph Webb, USA
- 62nd Infantry Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel Allen Thayer, USA
- 61st Field Artillery Regiment (Fighting as Infantry) – Lieutenant Colonel Hiram Tarkington, USA
- Leyte Brigade – Colonel Ben-Hur Chastaine, USA
- 81st Infantry Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel Ruperto Kangleon later Lieutenant Colonel Robert Van Norstrand
- 93rd Infantry Regiment – Major John Goldstrap
- Field Artillery Detachment (6 QF 2.95inch Mountain Guns) – Major Paul Phillips
- Reserve Forces – Colonel William Dalton, USA
- 3rd Constabulary Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Dosena
- 81st Field Artillery Regiment – Lieutenant Colonel John Woodridge
- Companies C & E, 1/43rd US Infantry (Scouts) – Major Allen Peck
- 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry (Regular) Regiment - Lieutenant Colonel Calixto Duque
- Air Corps Detachment
See also
References
- ↑ Morton, Louis (June 26, 1952). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C: Louis Morton. p. 501.
- ↑ Tarkington, Hiram (2007-11-25). "There were others" (PDF).
- ↑ Morton, Louis (June 16, 1952). The Fall of the Philippines, 1941–1942. Washington D.C: Louis Morton. pp. 510–511.