Subic Bay was an American military base before
the war. Occupied by the Japanese Navy, and then recaptured
January 30, 1945 by the 38th Division. During the
war 27 known ships were sunk in the bay, including those both scuttled
and sunk.
After the war,
Subic Bay again served as an US Navy base and installation.
In the fall of 1992, when their lease expired, the base closed making
it the last US military posession in the Philippines. After initial
struggle from lossing the largest employer in the area, the area
has since developed into a resort and tourism area, today it is the
asia hub for FedEx.
USS Lanakai
A twomasted wooden schooner built in 1914 that originally
sailed under the name Hermes. Lanakai's claim to nautical fame is
that she was hastily commissioned as a US Navy ship only two days
before Pearl Harbor, and then ordered on a top secret mission by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Although still shrouded in mystery, recently declassified
documents have served to flesh out some details of this little known
drama, which was formally termed a "defensive information patrol." Several
historians have opined the White House ordered the mission to provoke
a Japanese attack that would force America into World War II. There
is a Treasure Quest article online
about the ship with more details.
PT-Boats and Barges
Following the Japanese occupation of Subic, American PT boats operating
from Manila Bay and environs launched nighttime forays against
enemy shipping docked near Olongapo. In January, 1942 two American
PT's mortally wounded a Japanese cruiser near Port Binanga, at
the top of the bay. Several days later two Japanese barges were
sunk.
On January 24 a 4,000 to 6,000-ton Japanese transport
went down off Sampaloc Point, near the entrance to the bay. American
aircraft also targeted enemy shipping. In March, 1942 four P-40 aircraft
attacked a convoy inside Subic, sinking a tanker, beaching another,
and destroying four motor launches. The only American casualty in
these attacks was PT-31, which was destroyed by grounding on January
20, 1942 and had to be abandoned by her crew.
Navy PBY
Declassified situation reports note that on the morning of December 11, 1941
Japanese Zero fighters swooped over the Zambales mountains and caught
seven US Navy PBY "Flying Boats" on the water. All seven were heavily
damaged in the ensuing attack and sunk at their moorings.
Zero Wrecks
At least one Zero was also hit and crashed into the bay. As the Japanese
continued their attacks in and around Subic, several more Zeros fell from
the sky. Morris Shoss, a former captain who served with a Philippine Scout
unit in Subic at this time, insists that al least 13 Zeros were downed
in the fighting. Virtually all of them, crashed into the bay.
Hell Ships Memorial
Memorial recently dedicated at Subic Bay.
Grande
Island
Island guarding the entrance to
Subic Bay with gun enplacments that still exisit to this day.
