| Original caption: “The liberators move against the Philippines. An armada of American power steams in impressive array along the coast of Leyte Island in the Philippines as dawn of A-Day bathes the Pacific in golden glory.” Original caption: “Dawn off Leyte on D-Day: A combat photographer of the United States Coast Guard recorded this scene of an armada of American sea might steaming along the coast of Leyte Island, Philippines, as D-Day dawned in the Pacific. Manned by coast guard and navy crews, these transports carried Yank invaders into action against the Japs.” 738 vessels of the 7th Fleet participated, of which 157 were combat ships, 420 amphibious types, 84 patrol, minesweeping, and hydrographic vessels, and 73 service ships. United States Army General Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964), Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area (SoPA), was in command while Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid (April 3, 1888 – November 17, 1972), Commanding Officer of 7th Fleet, was in charge of naval operations. The 6th United States Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Walter Krueger (January 26, 1881 – August 20, 1967), comprised the landing forces, which assembled at Hollandia and Manus. Landings on Dinagat and Suluan Islands, commanding the approaches to Leyte Gulf, were made on October 17, 1944, and on October 18 on Homonhon Island. Minesweepers then removed mines in Leyte Gulf, and demolition teams investigated landing beaches. These were followed by bombardment ships, which entered the Gulf on October 18, firing on shore installations, while 3rd Fleet carrier planes and 7th Fleet Escort Carriers neutralized Japanese airfields. At 1000 Hours on October 20, landings were made at 4 points along the western side of Leyte Gulf and a 5th landing occupied both sides of the Panaon Strait to the south. The A-Day landings were lightly opposed, with some mortar fire on the beaches, which were secured on October 20. By October 30, troops advancing and fighting against growing enemy resistance had captured Japanese airfields and controlled nearly all of Leyte Valley. Landings on the northern side of Leyte Island and on Bacol and Samar Islands were made on October 24. By the end of the month, enemy troops were being ferried from Cebu to the Ormoc Peninsula of Leyte and were slowing up our advance. By this time, American casualties were 835 killed, 2,779 wounded, and 345 missing, while 9,345 Japanese were reported killed and 179 captured. While no large-scale attacks by Japanese planes occurred during the unloading period that followed, small numbers of planes attacked the transport area frequently, and suicide tactics damaged some vessels. Between October 24-26, 1944, the Japanese fleet attempted to destroy American naval forces in the area, and 3 battles at Surigao Strait, off Samar, and off Cape Engano resulted in their defeat and rout. The Coast Guard operated several ships during the invasion of the Philippines. USS Cambria (APA-36) left Manus Island to become part of Task Group 79.2 for the Leyte operation. Cambria carried 75 officers and 1,102 enlisted men of the United States Army 96th Infantry Division. The landings on Leyte were made on October 20. The Cambria’s beach party remained on shore after the ship departed for Manus 3 days following the initial landing. The medical staff treated 70 casualties. Another trip was made to Leyte to transport 59 officers and 1,026 enlisted men of the United States Army 187th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who had been embarked at New Guinea. During the invasion of Leyte, the Coast Guard-manned attack transport USS Callaway (APA-35) came under 1 air raid to discharge her Army personnel and left at dusk under another. USS Leonard Wood (APA-12) sailed from Guam on November 3, 1944. Embarked were troops and equipment of the United States Army 7th Infantry Division. Leonard Wood arrived at Leyte Gulf on November 23 and debarked all troops and supplies. En route to Leyte and at Leyte Gulf, Transport Division 20, of which Leonard Wood was part, came under enemy air attack. The Wood sailed for Hollandia on November 24. The approach to Leyte by Coast Guard-manned USS Cavalier (APA-37) in a transport task force from Manus Island was made with grave caution. For the 1st time, the ship deployed her paravanes to protect itself against mines. An anticipated strong Japanese air opposition did not materialize, and only a few enemy planes appeared over the beaches on A-Day, October 20, 1944. Cavalier completed her unloading quickly despite frequent air alerts and protracted intervals of making smoke screens. Unscathed, the vessel sailed for Manus 2 days before the 2nd Battle of the Philippine Sea on October 25, 1944, in the 3 phases of which the Japanese fleet was decisively defeated. She again arrived at Leyte on November 18, 1944, with United States Army troops from Oro Bay, British New Guinea. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1459.jpg |
| Image Size | 934.68 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2928 x 2331 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Coast Guard |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | October 15, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Leyte |
| Country | Philippines |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-26-G-3539 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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