The U.S. Navy's "Patrol Squadron 101" and the Philippine Resistance

The U.S. Navy's "Patrol Squadron 101" and the Philippine Resistance

Date: 1942-1944

Story:

The story of the American military's direct collaboration with Filipino guerrillas following the Japanese conquest of the Philippines is a compelling, yet often overlooked, narrative. After the fall of Corregidor in May 1942, a small group of U.S. Navy officers and enlisted men from Patrol Squadron 101, along with a few other dispersed American military personnel, managed to evade capture. Instead of surrendering, they linked up with burgeoning Filipino resistance groups. These American-led guerrilla units played a vital, clandestine role: they established secret coastwatcher stations to report Japanese ship and aircraft movements, rescued downed Allied airmen, provided intelligence to Allied forces, and engaged in sabotage against Japanese installations. They operated deep behind enemy lines for years, enduring brutal conditions, constant danger, and isolation. Their remarkable resilience and the deep loyalty of the Filipino people who supported them proved critical in preparing the ground for General MacArthur's return to the Philippines in 1944.

Reference:

Keats, John. They Fought Alone. J.B. Lippincott Company, 1963. (Focuses on Wendell Fertig, a key American guerrilla leader).

Childers, James Saxon. War Eagles: The Story of the Eagle Squadron. D. Appleton-Century Company, 1943. (While about a different topic, the broader context of American resistance in the Philippines is covered in many histories).