Location
Large island located to the south of the Visayan Sea, and to the west of Cebu.

Japanese Occupation
Northwest Negros was the Japanese 18th Army's most important base prior to the Leyte campaign.  Eight airstrips were on the island, most around the town of Bacold, protected by 13,500 Japanese, the largest concentration in the Visayas, commanded by Lt. General Takeshi.  Kono. After the fall of Leyte, these troops hope to delay any American landing, but did not have the strength to hold the airfields, instead holdout in the rugged north-west mountains.

American Landings
There was no pre-invasion bombardment for the March  29, 1945 landing on western Negros, to give the 40th Infantry Division, 503rd Parachute RCT joined by Filipino Guerillas gained the element of surprise, and their first objective was the Bago River bridge. A reinforced platoon landed ahead of the main force to prevent the Japanese from blowing this bridge, and allowed the Americans to advance toward Bacolod town.  As the main landing force advanced, they were only stopped by occasional defenses, liberating Bacolod and the coastal areas in a week. Then for six weeks the Japanese fought tenaciously in the north of the island, despite heavy air attacks and artillery. This resistance was finally overrun by late April, and remaining Japanese fled to the south with isolated battles until May, and defenses in the north until June 1945, and 6,000 Japanese survived the battle until the end of the war.  On April 26, 1945 the Americal Division made a landing on the south-east coast, and rapidly linked up with elements of the 40th Infantry division.  But, it took a month to neutralize the 1,300 Japanese in this area of the island.

Today
The island is divided into two provinces: Negros Occidental (western half), and Negros Oriental (eastern half).

References
Thanks to Tony Feredo and David Mason for additional information.

Carolina Airfield (Carolina de la Paz, Luisita)
Japanese built airfield, abandoned after the war

Alicante
Lat 10° 54' 0N Long 123° 1' 0E  Located on the north-east of Negros.

Alicante Airfield (Saravia)
Japanese built airfield, abandoned since the war

Talisay Airfield
Japanese built airfield

Fabrica
Lat 10° 35' 60N Long 122° 1' 0E

Fabrica Airfield
Japanese built airfield

P-38L Lightning Serial No 44-24845 Tail No 112
Pilot Major Thomas McGuire crashed January 7, 1945

Silay
Lat 10° 48' 0N Long 122° 58' 0E  Located about 10 kms north of Bocolod.

Silay Airfield
Main Japanese airfield for bombers and fighters.

Bacolod
Lat 10° 40' 0N Long 122° 57' 0E

Liberation
Prior to the American assault, the Japanese destroy part of the city and withdrew to the north-east, leaving only small delaying groups behind. Bacolod was was relativity undefeated and liberated March 30, 1945.

Bacolod Airfield
Used by the Japanese during the war.

La Carlota
Lat 10° 25' 24N Long 122° 55' 15E  Town located near the west coast of Negros, located about 40km south of Bocolod.

La Carlota Airfield
Primary airfield of the Japanese Army Air Force

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Last Updated
June 13, 2009