Table of Data Points

Manila was the scene of the worst urban combat in the Pacific conflict and culminated in the total devastation of the city. The fall of the city ended almost three years of Japanese occupation in the Philippines.

The Allies had taken control of all strategically and economically important locations of Luzon by March, although pockets of Japanese resistance held out in the mountains until the unconditional surrender of Japan.

Under heavy air attack and hit by 7 torpedoes and 9 bombs, Zuikaku began listing heavily to port. The order to abandon ship was issued at 13:58 and the flag was struck. Zuikaku rolled over and sank at 14:14,

Largest battle in the history of naval warfare. After US troops invaded Leyte island ,as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied in SE Asia, Japan mobilized nearly all it's vesels in an attempt to defeat the invasion.

Allied forces under MacArthur's command, covered by aircraft from Halsey's carriers, landed at Leyte Island, fulfilling MacArthur's vow to return to the Philippines.