MacArthur and the PreWar Phillipines

October 1935 - MacArthur Appointed Military Adviser to the Commonwealth. The Philippine government is poor and reluctant to spend money. The Philippine Army budget is frozen at $8 million per year from 1937 to 1941.

September 1937 - FDR informs MacArthur he will be rotated back to the USA after the end of his 2 year tour (October 1937).

December 1937 - MacArthur Retires from US Army. His only position is head of the Philippine army. However, Eisenhower and several other US army officers remain to lend him assistance.

Oct 1935- July 1941 - MacArthur constantly requests FDR for increased military aid to build up the Philippine army but is refused. Under current US war plans the Philippines are considered "indefensible".

July19, 1941 Maj. Gen. Henry H. Arnold, chief of the newly created Army Air Forces, submits to Marshall, Stimson, and FDR a proposal to transfer to the Philippines of four heavy bombardment groups, consisting of 272 aircraft with 68 in reserve, and two pursuit groups of 130 planes each.

July 26, 1941 - MacArthur is recalled to active duty and made head of the USAFFE (US Armed Forces Far East). The current head of the US Army Philippine Department Major General Gunter is made redundant and returns to the US.

July 26, 1941 - The Philippine Army with 10 Divisions (120,00 men) is mobilized.

July 31, 1941 - MacArthur has the following US Army forces:

Filipino Scouts - 12, 000
31st US Army Regiment - 2,500
American Harbor Defense & Support Services - 5,000
US Air Corps - 2, 500
Total US Army - 22, 000

Tanks - 0
M1 Rifles -0
75mm Guns - 36 ( plus 48 in the Philippine Army)
105 mm artillery -0
Anti-aircraft guns -0
Radar sets -0

P-40B - 31
P-35 -52
B-17 -0
B-25 -0
Obsolete light bombers - 39
Obsolete fighter -16
Other (cargo, liaison, etc.) - 68

August 1, 1941 - War Department informs MacArthur that existing War Strategy has changed. Reinforcements will be sent pending shipping availability. General Marshall informs MacArthur that US plans to base hundreds of B-17s in the Philippines to deter Japanese aggression has been approved.

August 10, 1941 - MacArthur states the Philippine army has only 48 75mm guns is short machine guns, anti-tank guns and AAA. He requests 84,500 Garand rifles (M1), 330 .30-caliber machine guns, 326 .50-caliber antiaircraft machine guns, 450 37-mm. guns, 217 81-mm. mortars, 288 75-mm. guns with high-speed adapters, and over 8,000 vehicles of all types.

August 16, 1941 - War informs MacArthur that that the following units would sail from San Francisco between 27 August and 5 September: the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA) consisting of 76 officers and 1,681 enlisted men; the 194th Tank Battalion (less Company B), with 54 tanks, 34 officers, and 390 enlisted men; and one company (155 men) of the 17th Ordnance Battalion.

September 5, 1941 - MacArthur turns down Marshall's offer of a US national guard division since equipment, supplies and aircraft require priority. Marshall approves MacArthur's request for funds for airfield defense and promises to send additional AAA and radar sets.

September 6, 1941 - 9 B-17s arrive in Manila

October 2, 1941 - 50 P-40 fighter planes arrive in Manila.

November 4, 1941 - 26 B-17s arrive.

Late November 1941 - 26 P-40s arrive.

December 8th 1941 - Aircraft strength of FEAF:

P-40 - 107
B-17 - 35
P-35 - 52
Obsolete light bombers - 39
Obsolete fighter -16
Other (cargo, liaison, etc.) - 68

Radar sets in operation - 2
Clark Airfield for B-17s
Six other Airfields for fighters

Airfields bombproofed - 0
Airfields with AAA protection -1 (Clark AFB)
Total AAA in Philippines - 12 75mm & 24 37mm plus .50 Cal Machine guns
Del Monte Airfield established in Late November for B-17s.