Location
Island between Leyte to the east, and Negros to the west. Offshore is Mactan Island.

Prewar
Cebu and Bohol were part of the 8th Military District of the Philippine Army. Based at Cebu was the USAFFE 81st Division.

Japanese Occupation
Occupied by the Japanese on April 10, 1942. A force of three warships and eleven transports landed 12,000 Army troops of the "Kawaguchi Detachment" at seven beachheads across southern Cebu. By May 17, all organized resistance on Cebu had ceased, but guerillas continued to operate on Cebu during the rest of the war.

Guerilla Activities
In Cebu, guerillas resisted the Japanese occupation. As early as August 1942 of former USAFFE men assassinated a Filipino collaborator in barrio Tig-baon. In another combat during 1943, guerillas engaged Japanese for a day and a half at Ligid-Ligid.

A force led by Harry Fenton (American radio DJ on KZRC) and James Cushing (American mining engineer). Civilian volunteer guards assisted the group, and they succeeded in attacking Babag in Cebu City on February 23, 1943. By 1944, his group had absorbed other groups and was known as "Cebu Area Command", headquartered in the mountains at Tabunan. Acknowledged by SWPA HQ and designated "8th Military District" and Cushing given the rank of Lt Colonel.

In early April 1944, guerillas captured Vice Admiral Fukodomei and the "Koga Papers". Later in the war, guerillas even gained control of the southern part of Cebu before the Americans arrived. During the war, Cebu guerillas reportedly killed more Japanese than in any other part of the Philippines. In Toledo especially, Filipino guerillas resisted strongly and inflicted many casualties on the occupiers.

Japanese Defense
After the American victory at Leyte, some Japanese escaped by boat to Cebu.  Among them was General Suzuki, who reached Cebu City on March 24, 1945 and took command of the 13,000 Japanese troops then on Cebu.  He was later killed when attempting to get to Mindanao. Troops in the central and northern parts of the island were under the command of Major-General Takeo Manjome. Another 1,000 troops were located in the far north of the island, most survivors from Leyte.  Well equipped and supplied, the Japanese had prepared excellent defenses, and planned to abandon the south of the island where guerillas had control.

Japanese & American Missions Against Cebu
December 8, 1942 - June 2, 1945

American Liberation
The American liberation was code named operation Victory II. The US Army Americal Division landed near Cebu City on March 26, 1945 after a large pre-bombardment by the supporting 7th Fleet ships. The invasion beaches were heavily mined, had anti-tank ditches barriers.  Although reported by guerillas to the Americans, the minefields were more of a problem than anticipated, knocking out 10 of the first 15 landing craft ashore, and killed and wounded many men. 

Vehicles crowded the beach and engineers rushed to clear a path. The Japanese failed to cover the beaches with anything other than small arms fire and were unable to exploit this.  After an hour, the minefield was adequately cleared and the liberation proceeded. After liberating Cebu City on March 27, the Americans met stiff resistance in the hills behind the city.

Japanese Surrender
One of the first large scale surrenders in the Pacific occurred on Cebu. On August 19, 1945 Japanese  officers commanded by Lt. General Kataoka of the 35th Army arrived in Cebu city to begin surrender negotiations.  On August 28, 1945 Maj. Gen. William H. Arnold of the Americal Division accepted the surrender of 10,000 Japanese on the island. In the course of this grueling struggle, the Americal Division incurred 410 men killed and 1,700 wounded. Another 8,000 men were classified as non-battle casualties, most of whom succumbed to an outbreak of infectious hepatitis. In turn, some 5,500 Japanese soldiers lay dead.

Cebu City
Although the Japanese had constructed many defenses they choose to abandoned them and destroyed much of the city when they retreated. Instead, they took to the hills - into pillboxes and caves behind for their defense when the Americans landed.  The city was liberated on March 27, 1945 by the Americal Division. 

The hills were targeted by naval gunfire and coordinated tank-infantry attackers and neutralized them, but the Japanese took up new positions and continued their resistance and sea-sawing attacks thru early April, before the Japanese finally withdrew to the north. After the battle, harbor and storage construction now began at Cebu City, from which MacArthur planned to stage three divisions for the invasion of Japan.

Base S
US Army Letter Base designation located at Cebu City after American occupation. Sub-base controlled by Base M (San Fernando)

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
(Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral)
Cathedral at Cebu damaged during the war. US air raids on Cebu damage the recently-renovated cathedral and the Episcopal Palace across, with its contents of centuries-old archives and records of the archdiocese lost forever. In 1945 after liberation, Archbishop Reyes begins the reconstruction of the bombed cathedral, with only its façade, walls and belfry still intact.

Lahug Airfield
Located in the center of Cebu city, used by Japanese and later US Army.

Today
Cebu is a large city and commercial center located on Cebu Island.  Popular tourist destination.

Mactan Island
Island to the south of Cebu City with Opon Airfield

Consolacion
Located near Cebu.

B-25J Mitchell 44-29760
Pilot Orcutt crashed April 3, 1945

Camotes Island Group
Four islands: Pacijan, Poro, Ponson and Tulang, located between Cebu and Leyte to the SW of Ormoc Bay.

Ponson Island
The village of Pilar is located to the north of the island. Survivors of the torpedoed USS Cooper (DD-695) made there way to this island, where they were assisted by Filipinos and were later rescued by PBY flying boat after the Battle of Ormoc Bay.

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Last Updated
October 16, 2009