Location
Lat 14° 54' 38N Long 121° 2' 56E  Norzagaray is located Bulacan Province on Luzon in the Philippines. To the south is Manila. Located near the Ipo watershed and Ipo Dam.

American missions against Ipo and Norzagaray
January 14, 1945–June 28, 1945

Ipo Dam
The Ipo Dam is located near the confluence with the Ipo River and spans the Ipo River watershed area, supplying water to the Manila area. During the 1945 liberation, the Japanese defended the area from dug in positions. The Americans feared the Japanese out of desperation might poison the water supply.

As the US Army advanced towards the Ipo area, supporting artillery fire bombarded the area. On May 10, 1945 the US Army 43rd Infantry Division advanced on Ipo. Reaching Hill 815 and securing it on May 12, they push within site of the dam the following day. On May 17, an assault captured the dam intact. Enemy resistance in the Ipo area ends two days later.

Tony Feredo adds:
"I believe the nearest town to Ipo Dam would be Norzagaray. I have been Ipo dam when I was a young boy, a long time ago. At the VFP Museum (Veterans For Peace Museum) is a mural of the Battle of Ipo Dam, when Filipino guerillas helped flush out Japanese defenders from their position in the area. There is film footage of GIs firing bazookas at the entrance of the reservoir."

Ipo Airfield
Prewar airfield, disused today

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019