October 23
BIGGEST BATTLE DAY
That famous photo of General Douglas MacArthur wading ashore -- and keeping his promise to return to the the Philippines -- was taken at Leyte Gulf. While the general was wading, the largest naval battle ever was beginning. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was an epic battle between the Japanese Imperial Navy and combined U.S. and Australian forces that was fought in four separate engagements near the islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon between October 23 and 26, 1944. 8 crucial facts about Leyte from Philippines expert Victorino Q. Abrugar:
1. The battle spanned more than 100,000 square miles of sea.
2. The largest battleships ever built were in action during the battle.
3. The battle involved more than 800 ships and 1,800 aircraft.
4. A total of 337,000 tonnage of ships sunk.
5. The opposing armadas carried a total of 200,000 soldiers.
6. The first organized kamikaze attacks by the Japanese were carried out.
7. Japan could have continued the war regardless of the atomic bombings had it not been for the damage it suffered at Leyte Gulf.
8. It happened because of MacArthur’s personal goal to liberate the Philippines.
Both on land and at sea, Japan lost decisively. Its air force and navy were hobbled in the battle(s) and became incapable of presenting a serious threat to the Allied forces. And without control of the Philippine archipelago, the Japanese were denied access to the oilfields of Indonesia, the lifeblood of the Japanese war effort.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
No portion of these files may be reproduced without the express, written permission of 440 International Inc.
