|
The Southern Expeditionary Army Group was part of the
Japanese
military during the
World War II era. It was formed on
November 6,
1941, under
General Hisaichi Terauchi. He was given orders to seize
American,
British, and
Dutch territory and thus help launch the
Greater East Asia War.
The Greater East Asian War
The
14th Army was to take the
Philippines by March of
1942. The
16th Army was to take the
East Indies. The
15th Army was to take
Thailand. The
25th Army was to take
Malaya and
Singapore. The
5th Army Air Force Division was assigned to the Philippines.
The Invasion of the
Philippines
Plans for invasion of the Philippines were finalized on
November 13-15
at
Iwakuni,
Honshu, by
Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma,
Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata,
Vice Admiral Ibo Takahashi, and
Vice Admiral Nishizo Tsukahara.
These plans called for air attacks against the Philippines, beginning
on
X-Day, by the 5th Army Air Force Division and the
11th Naval Air Fleet. At this time,
army and
navy units were to land on
Batan Island,
Luzon (at:
Aparri,
Vigan, and
Legazpi), and at
Davao,
Mindanao, and there seize airfields. Following the elimination of
American airsupport, the main body of the 14th Army was to land at
Lingayen Gulf, while another force landed at
Lamon Bay. These forces were then to attack
Manila in a
pincer attack. After this, the islands of
Manila Bay were to be taken.
Composition of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group
-
Group Headquarters and Assets (General
H. Terauchi --
Saigon,
Indochina)
-
14th Army (Lt.
General M. Homma)
-
15th Army
-
16th Army
-
25th Army
-
3rd Army Air Force Division
-
5th Army Air Force Division
|
