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    Magarin Bay Occidental Mindoro | Mindoro Philippines

JAAF Dec 18, 1944
Location
Magarin Bay borders San Jose on the southwest corner of Occidental Mindoro on Mindoro Island in the Philippines.

Wartime History
On December 12, 1944 the U.S. Navy (USN) Western Visayan Task Force under Brigadier-General William C. Dunckel departed Leyte bound for Magarin Bay. Inbound, kamikaze attacks damaged USS Nashville (CL-43), the flagship where over 130 were killed, including high ranking officers and afterwards turned back with another destroyer.

On December 15, 1944 the pre-invasion bombardment began and the roughly 1,000 Japanese defenders withdrew inland before the U.S. Army landed unopposed at White Beach near San Jose. By December 23, 1944 two airfields were in operation to provide air support for further operations.

On December 18, 1944 PT Boats from Task Unit 70.1.4 under the command under of Lt. Commander Almer Paul Colvin (C. O. Squadron 16) entered Mangarin Bayand were attacked by three Ki-51 Sonias (misidentified as D3A Vals). During the engagement, a Ki-51 Sonia made a diving kamikaze attack sinking PT-300.

On December 24, 1944 a Japanese Navy force raiding force including two cruisers: Ashigara and Ōyodo plus eight destroyers: Kiyoshimo, Asashimo, Kasumi, Kaya, Kashi, and Sugi departed Camranh Bay off Indochina (Vietnam) as part of "Operation Rei-Go" a raiding force to Magarin Bay to conduct a shore bombardment against the San Jose beachhead. On December 26, 1944 during the evening spotted and attacked by B-25s and PT Boats. Damaged and sunk is Kiyoshimo. On December 27, 1944 at 1:00am the remaining force bombards the beachhead area, but causes little damage. This was one of the last Japanese surface unit attacks on an American beachheads during the Pacific War. The next day, the survivors of the fource return to Camranh Bay.

F1M2 Pete Tail 954-33
Abandoned at Magarin Bay

PT-300
Sunk December 18, 1944 by Ki-51 Sonia kamikaze attack

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Last Updated
June 23, 2023

 

Map
Map
Dec 15, 1944
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