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 U.S. Army 1944 |
Location Panay Island is located in the Western Visayas (Region VI) in the Visayas (Visayas Islands) in the central Philippines. Also known as simply Panay. Today, Panay Island is divided into five provinces: Aklan Province, Antique Province, Capiz Province, Iloilo Province. Borders the Sulu Sea to the south and west and Jintotolo Channel (Jintotolo Strait) to the north and northeast and beyond the Sibuyan Sea. To the southeast is Guimaras Island and beyond Cebu Island and Negros Island. Wartime History On April 16, 1942 at dawn a Japanese landing force of 4,160 lands unopposed at Iloilo and Capiz (Roxas City) on Panay. The defending Panay Force of roughly 7,000 led by Col Albert F. Christie retires into the mountains to wage guerrilla warfare. Starting in late 1944 attacked by U.S. bombers and fighters until early May 1945. American missions against Panay Island October 26, 1944–May 6, 1945 On March 16, 1945 in preparation for the American landing, artillery spotting planes are flown into a guerrilla-built airstrip in northern Panay. On March 18, 1945 after brief naval gunfire bombardment and support from U.S. Marine Corps planes, Victor I Attack Group (TG 78.3) under Admiral Struble and the 542nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment (542nd EBSR) lands the U.S. Army 40th Division, 185th Infantry Regiment, reinforced and less the 108th RCT unopposed in the Tigbauan area. southeast coast of Panay. By March 20, 1945 organized resistance on Panay ends with the remaining Japanese withdrawing from Jaro into the mountains. References U.S. Army in World War II - Triumph in the Philippines Chapter XXXI The Central Visayan Islands pages 601-602, 603 (map), 604, 607, 619, Footnotes 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 19, 20 Contribute Information Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 16, 2026 |
 Map March 1945 |
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