| Original caption: “LSTs pouring army equipment ashore on Leyte Island in the Philippines.” Original caption: “LSTs unloading at Tacloban airfield. The causeways leading from the beach to the ships were built by bulldozers scraping sand and earth to each ship as it landed.” 20 landing ships, tank, pour army equipment ashore on Cataisan Point, near Tacloban City, Leyte, during the buildup of United States forces there, circa late October or early November 1944. Note the large number of vehicles parked on and near the airfield, as well as the very wet conditions there. The 2 most distant LSTs in the upper right are USS LST-740 and USS LST-1014. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-740 was laid down at the Dravo Corporation at their Neville Island, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shipyard on February 12, 1944, and launched into the Ohio River on April 8, 1944; sponsored by A. Jean Blocker (November 2, 1914 – May 1, 1985), the General Manager of Dravo Corporation’s cafeterias. United States Navy Lieutenant John Hampton (January 15, 1909 – December 4, 1997) was in command. USS LST-740 served in LST Flotilla 8, LST Group 22, LST Division 44. The ship served in operations at Morotai, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Mindanao, and Balikpapan. The ship served in the occupation of China and Japan from September 2 to October 23, 1945. Decommissioned on March 8, 1946, the ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 12. USS LST-740 earned 5 battle stars for World War II service. The vessel was sold to become a static carrier hulk for the Oil Transport Company of New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 14, 1948. Its final disposition is unknown. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-1014 was laid down on March 15, 1944, at Bethlehem Steel Company at the Fore River Shipyard, and launched into Mill Cove on April 16, 1944. United States Navy Reserve Lieutenant William H. Weldon (May 5, 1908 – October 4, 2002) commissioned USS LST-1014 as Captain on May 5, 1944. USS LST-1014 served in the Palau, Leyte, and Okinawa campaigns with LST Flotilla 16, LST Group 46, and LST Division 92. The ship served in the occupation of China and Japan on October 13-26, 1945. Decommissioned on March 6, 1946, the ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 17. USS LST-1014 earned 3 battle stars for its service during World War II. Sold to Construction Power and Merchandising Company, Brooklyn, New York, on September 12, 1946. Tacloban Airfield was the most crucial objective of the Palo Attack Group. After the 7th Infantry Regiment landed at White Beach to the south, they turned northward to advance northward up the Cataisan Peninsula and captured Tacloban Airfield. Immediately, the runway was repaired and expanded for American use. Within a week, the 1st American planes and units began arriving. On October 29, 1944, when the United States Navy withdrew from Leyte Gulf, Tacloban Airfield assumed control of direct air support over Leyte. Afterwards, Tacloban developed into a major airfield, used by both United States Army Air Force (USAAF) fighters, bombers, and transports, plus United States Navy land-based bombers. Since the assault troops had brought only limited supplies and ammunition with them, and at 1,500 miles from their nearest supply base at Hollandia, they were deep inside Japanese territory. The need for the immediate establishment and stocking of supply bases was especially urgent. On A-Day, October 20, 1944, because some of the LSTs offshore in the vicinity of Hill 522 and Palo were heavily shelled by the Japanese, the remaining LSTs were directed to the Cataisan Peninsula, where many of them discharged their loads on the Tacloban airfield, over which the supplies were scattered. The proposed runway and dispersal areas were strewn with hundreds of vehicles, together with thousands of tons of ammunition, rations, and petroleum products. Since there was only 1 egress road, the airstrip became tremendously congested. Another important cause of the congestion was the directive of General Headquarters that certain airfields were to be operational by a specific date. The United States Army Air Force had therefore loaded the vessels with a considerable number of service troops and a quantity of equipment that could not be used until the airfields were operational. When the construction of the airfields was delayed, these troops and equipment remained unemployed for many days, thereby cluttering the beaches and contributing to the congestion. Ironically, because of limited shipping space, they had displaced “engineers and other service troops which would have been of great value.” On November 8, an estimated 120,000 American troops were on Leyte. The rations of some of these were on board the vessels that had brought them to the island, and cargo was not being discharged at a satisfactory rate. Col. William N. Leaf, the supply officer of the 6th Army, did not believe that more than sufficient rations, clothing, and construction equipment to meet minimum requirements could be unloaded unless the discharge capacity of the ports was substantially increased. While this condition was not entirely satisfactory, it was not as bad as it appeared, since incoming units brought and discharged a 30-day supply for themselves. United States Army General Walter Krueger (January 26, 1881 – August 20, 1967) established a committee to determine the priority of discharge for various classes of cargo. On November 9, the committee gave top priority to the following items, in order of preference: ammunition, 1,400 tons per day; rations, 1,000 tons per day; bridge timber, no specified amount; landing field mats, 500 tons per day; and aviation gasoline, 1,000 drums per day. On November 27, the priorities committee reviewed the status of shipping in the harbors and established new priorities for cargo unloading. In order of priority, the following commodities were given preference: rations, ammunition, landing mats, and aviation gasoline. Not all the vessels followed the priorities established for cargo discharge. General Krueger ordered that “appropriate disciplinary action” be taken against any Army personnel responsible. Since successive resupply convoys arrived at Leyte before vessels of the preceding echelon had been unloaded, this congested the harbor. Since the Japanese were bombing the ship, the assistant G-4 of 6th Army suggested on December 2 that the number of vessels to be called forward from the rear area be kept to an absolute minimum. The time allocated for cargo discharge was steadily increased: from October 20 to November 3, it was 12 hours a day, from November 4 to 8, 18 hours a day, and from November 9 to December 25, 24 hours a day. During the 1st 30 days, the supplies in tons, stockpiled on Leyte or available on board ship for discharge, over and above current needs, increased as follows: October 20, 30,313; October 21-30, 128,051; October 31 – November 9, 193,838; and from November 10-19, 319,418. After the supplies were ashore and stored, the problem of getting them to the divisions and thence to the frontline troops presented tremendous difficulties. Nearly all types of transportation were utilized. As the roads disintegrated, a growing reliance was placed on water transportation. Naval vessels and amphibious vehicles were used to carry supplies as close as possible to the frontline troops, and motor vehicles transported them for the remaining distance whenever feasible. At other times, the troops and Filipino civilians often had to carry supplies by hand to the assault forces. In addition, there were many airdrops to soldiers who were otherwise completely cut off from the rest of the 6th Army. Today, Tacloban Airfield is named for Filipino politician Daniel Z. Romualdez (September 11, 1907 – March 22, 1965). | |
| Image Filename | wwii1468.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.13 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2908 x 2332 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | October 20, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Palo |
| State or Province | Leyte |
| Country | Philippines |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-80-G-272632 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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