Leyte Invasion
On 20 October 1944, the Navy put the Sixth Army ashore on Leyte. Japanese aerial counter-attacks damaged USS Sangamon (CVE 26) and a few other ships, but did not hinder the landings. Later in the day, General Douglas MacArthur gave his "I have returned" radio message to the Philippine people. If Leyte would be lost, the rest of the Philippines would soon follow, so the Japanese prepared to send five strong naval forces to drive off the American fleet and add troops for the fight. In the following days, this response led to WW II's biggest and most complex sea fight, the Battle of Leyte Gulf. (Naval History & Heritage Command)
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20 October 1944. Robert Driscoll, BM2c, USN, raises the first American Flag on the Leyte Beaches
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Japanese Zeke fighter banking of a skip bombing attack on USS Sangamon (CVE-26) on 20 October 1944. It was later shot down
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Leyte Landing, Fires started by pre-invasion bombardment of Leyte, 20 October 1944
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Filipinos wave to U.S. Troops, about 20 October 1944
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Leyte Landings, 20 October 1944. View taken by an SOC Seagull from USS Portland (CA-33)
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Leyte Landings, 20 October 1944. Landing craft running for shore
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MacArthur - Sergio Osmena - Philippines 23 Oct 1944
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Leyte, October 1944. General Douglas MacArthur inspecting the beachhead on Leyte Island, 20 October 1944
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USS LST-204, LSM-23, and landing craft, landing cargo at Leyte, 20 October 1944