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Piso Point

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Piso Point is a former Japanese naval base throughout World War II which is located at the eastern portion of Davao Gulf, across from Davao City, Philippines. It was also a harbor for Japanese suicide boats which had been harassing American shipping in Davao Gulf. During the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese on May 14, 1945, many of the Japanese suicide boats were annihilated by the U.S. Navy.

History

Green mangrove trees hang over a moving body of water.
Overhanging mangrove trees (of different species) were used by the Japanese to hide their Suicide Boats to initiate camouflage attack against their enemies.

During World War II, When the Japanese invaded the southern Philippines, they occupied Davao City and Piso Point. Piso Point is also strategically located at the south with many overhanging trees which allow the Japanese to initiate camouflage attacks against their enemies.

However, in April 1945, The U.S. Army was given the mission to eradicate Japanese troops in Davao City and in both eastern and western portion of Davao Gulf.

On May 10, 1945, Edgar D. Hoagland, naval commander of the 24th Division of the U.S. army was given a special duty to survey the area for potential Japanese enemies hiding at the Davao valley including Piso Point. Although commander Hoagland did not witness any suspicious acts at first, he continued to patrol at the north leaving behind the LCI vessel. The LCI vessel was abruptly attacked by Japanese suicide boats. No one could trace the whereabouts of the Japanese suicide boats since these boats remained under camouflage with the aid of numerous overhanging trees and maze inlets.

On May 10, 1945, an anonymous tip from the guerillas brought Commander Edgar D. Hoagland together with his Patrol Torpedo boats at Piso Point once more. There, they have discovered that the Japanese have mastered the art of camouflage so well that they hid their suicide boats under mangroves with green, freshly cut palm leaves that enable them to be unseen at a distance greater than 100 yards. Credits are given to Marine Major Richard E. Maulsby, Pilot of a Marine Mitchell bomber and Marine First Lieutenant Doit L. Fish for discovering the hidden Japanese suicide boats.

Battle at Piso Point

On May 14, 1945, Edgar D. Hoagland, naval commander of the 24th Division of the U.S. army together with Ens. John Adams, USNR and their patrol torpedo boats approached Piso Point to destroy the remaining Japanese troops with their suicide boats. They won the battle against the Japanese troops and destroyed their remaining paraphernalia.

See also

References

  1. Republic of the Philippines: Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority
  2. "Piso Point, Philippines". Geographical names.
  3. "Piso Point (Philippines)". Gazetteering.
  4. ^ "Mindanao-VMB 611 PT Support, Piso Port May 1945". Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Eleven.
  5. "Rep of action off Piso Point, Davao Gulf, Mindanao Island, Philippines, 5/19/45". fold3.
  6. ^ Bulkley, Robert Johns. At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy. Paperback, July 24, 2010, pp. 429, 430.
  7. ^ Bulkley, Robert Johns. At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy. Paperback, July 24, 2010, p. 430.
  8. Bulkley, Robert Johns. At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy. Paperback, July 24, 2010, pp. 431-434.
  9. Robin L. Rielly (29 April 2013). American Amphibious Gunboats in World War II: A History of LCI and LCS(L) Ships in the Pacific. McFarland. pp. 191–192. ISBN 978-0-7864-7422-6.
  • Republic of the Philippines: Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority
  • Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey, US Army, Map Series 711 compiled in 19 from 1947 to 1953, Photographs, Department of Public Highways and Others.

Pacific war Online Encyclopedia: http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/M/i/Mindanao.htm

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