Combat· World War II
Luzon Liberation
Following the Army's 9 January 1945 landing at Lingayen Gulf, Marine dive bombers came into their own on Luzon.
Operating from Mangaldan field as MAGSDAGUPAN, the seven SBD squadrons of MAG-24 and MAG-32 flew precision close air support directed from the front lines by Marine air liaison parties in radio jeeps, a radical departure from cumbersome Army control procedures. Their most famous work shielded the 1st Cavalry Division's flying-column dash to Manila, protecting its open flanks the whole 100-mile drive. Over the campaign the two groups flew 8,842 combat missions and dropped 19,167 bombs, earning lavish praise from Sixth Army commanders. Because the Marine contribution was aviation rather than ground assault, only scattered individual aircrew losses are recorded, with no consolidated Marine casualty total.
Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 580