US Army

The Battle for the Recapture of Corregidor

NCY-152

February 16 1945: The Battle for the Recapture of Corregidor, Philippines, fought between 16 February and 26 February, 1945, by American and Filipino liberation forces against the defending Japanese garrison on the island fortress, begins when the first of one thousand troopers of the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team (Lt. Col. George M. Jones), based at Mindoro, began dropping out of C-47 troop carriers of the U.S. Thirteenth Air Force (Gen. Nathan Farragut Twining) and to float down on the surprised Japanese defenders (6,550 troops under Maj. Gen. Rikichi Tsukada). This was the most vicious combat action in which the Combat Team engaged during its existence. The honours for recapturing the Rock, went to the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team of Lt. Col. George M. Jones and elements of Maj. Gen. Roscoe B. Woodruff's U.S. 24th Infantry Division. The U.S. suffered 207 killed, 684 wounded. Of the 6,550-strong Japanese garrison, only 50 survived.