51st Division (Philippines)
The 51st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).
| 51st Division | |
|---|---|
 51st Philippine Division Emblem 1941-42 | |
| Active | 1941 - 9 April 1942 |
| Country | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Commonwealth of the Philippines |
| Branch | Philippine Army |
| Type | Infantry Division |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | South Luzon Force |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | BGen. Albert M. Jones |
WWII Philippine Army Divisions | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 41st Division (PA) | 61st Division (PA) |
History
The 51st Division was active from 1941 to April 9, 1942, whereupon it surrendered when Bataan fell. Previously it was active in the City of Manila, Southern Luzon. BGen. Albert M. Jones (USA) was the division's commander; the Chief of Staff was Col. Edwin E. Aldridge, Inf.;and Col. Adlai C. Young, Inf., was another notable division icer.
Combat Narrative
After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December 1941, it formed part of South Luzon Force (activated December 13, 1941) under Brig. Gen. George M. Parker Jr. The South Luzon Force controlled a zone east and south of Manila. Parker had the PA 41st and 51st Infantry Divisions and the 2nd Provisional Artillery Group of two batteries of the U.S. 86th Field Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts).[1]
When the Japanese began landing at Lamon Bay on December 24, 1941, South Luzon Force was badly dispersed. The 41st Division (PA) on the west coast was in position, but elements of the 51st Division along the east coast were in the process of movement.[2]
Order of battle
- 51st Infantry Regiment (PA)
- 52nd Infantry Regiment (PA)
- 53rd Infantry Regiment (PA) (Col. John R. Boatwright, Inf.)
- 51st Field Artillery Regiment (PA)
- 51st FA Regt HQ Company
- 1st Bn/51st FA Regt (PA) (75mm guns, 16x)
- 2nd Bn/51st FA Regt (PA) (2.95-inch pack howitzers, 4x)
- 3rd Bn/51st FA Regt (PA)
- 51st Engineer Battalion (PA)
- 51st Division Units
- 51st Division Headquarters & HQ Company
- 51st Medical Battalion
- 51st Signal Company
- 51st Quartermaster Company (Motorized)
- 51st QM Transport Company (Truck)
Sources
- Morton, Louis (1953). United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific: The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army.
- Whitman, John W. (1990). Bataan: Our Last Ditch : The Bataan Campaign, 1942. Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-87052-877-7.
Bibliography
- Morton, Louis. The Fall of the Philippines (Publication 5-2). Retrieved on 14 Feb 2017.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.